Design Systems Designer - NODA AI
Design Systems Designer –
Location: Austin, TX (Hybrid on-site, with up to 30% travel)
Requirement: U.S. citizenship with ability to obtain security clearance
About NODA
NODA is a veteran-owned, venture-backed technology company that is transforming how unmanned systems collaborate in complex, mission-critical environments. We are developing next-generation solutions that enable the autonomous orchestration of heterogeneous unmanned systems across air, sea, land, and space with vital applications in the defense, intelligence, and commercial sectors.
We are building the design foundation for our tactical military interface platform, and establishing a comprehensive design system that ensures consistency, efficiency, and scalability across our product ecosystem. Our design systems work empowers teams to build mission-critical interfaces with speed and confidence while maintaining the highest standards of quality and usability.
Joining NODA means working on meaningful technology that pushes the boundaries of autonomy alongside a team that thrives on innovation, rapid iteration, and collaboration.
The Role
We are seeking a Senior to Lead Design Systems Designer to establish, evolve, and maintain NODA's design system from the ground up. This role requires a systematic thinker who can create scalable component libraries, comprehensive documentation, and design infrastructure that empowers product teams to build consistent, high-quality experiences efficiently. You'll work at the intersection of design, engineering, and product to define patterns, standards, and tools that scale across our growing platform. This position offers the opportunity to shape the design systems practice and grow into a leadership role as our design organization expands.
Key Responsibilities
Build and maintain a comprehensive design system in Figma including component libraries, patterns, styles, and variables that serve our tactical military interface platform
Create detailed component specifications with precise documentation of all states, variants, interactions, measurements, and behaviors for engineering implementation
Collaborate with product designers and engineers to identify reusable patterns and establish consistent design language across the platform
Develop and maintain design system documentation including usage guidelines, principles, best practices, and implementation examples
Establish design tokens for colors, typography, spacing, and other foundational elements to ensure consistency between design and code
Work closely with engineering to ensure accurate implementation of design system components and maintain design-development parity
Conduct component audits and refine existing patterns to improve consistency, accessibility, and usability
Create and maintain master component architecture that supports complex use cases including battle management, asset tracking, and operational interfaces
Define contribution models and workflows for how product designers submit new patterns or modifications to the design system
Build tools, templates, and resources that increase design team efficiency and consistency
Stay current with design system best practices, accessibility standards, and emerging patterns in the industry
Evangelize the design system across the organization and provide training and support to design and engineering teams
Required Qualifications
5+ years of design experience with at least 2+ years focused on design systems, component libraries, or design infrastructure
Expert proficiency in Figma including advanced component architecture, variants, auto-layout, variables, and design system organization
Strong understanding of frontend development concepts including HTML, CSS, and component-based frameworks (React, Vue, etc.)
Proven experience creating comprehensive design documentation and specifications for engineering teams
Deep knowledge of interaction patterns, accessibility standards (WCAG), and responsive design principles
Experience establishing and maintaining design tokens and style foundations across digital products
Strong systems thinking and ability to identify patterns and create scalable solutions
Excellent communication skills with ability to advocate for design system adoption and educate teams
U.S. citizenship
Preferred Qualifications
Experience building design systems for complex products (B2B, enterprise, consumer, or technical applications)
Background in designing complex interfaces such as data-dense dashboards, operational software, consumer applications with sophisticated features, or products with multiple interconnected systems
Familiarity with design system tools and platforms beyond Figma (Storybook, zeroheight, etc.)
Knowledge of design ops practices and workflows that improve team efficiency
Understanding of military/defense interface requirements or designing for mission-critical applications
Experience mentoring designers on design system adoption and best practices
Skills & Attributes
Systematic and detail-oriented approach with commitment to precision and consistency
Strong problem-solving abilities to create elegant solutions for complex component requirements
Collaborative mindset with ability to balance system consistency with product team needs
Technical aptitude to communicate effectively with engineers and understand implementation constraints
Proactive approach to identifying opportunities for system improvements and efficiency gains
Excellent organizational skills to manage component library architecture and documentation
Passion for craft and creating tools that empower other designers
Growth mindset and desire to establish best-in-class design systems practices
What We Offer
Hybrid work environment
Competitive pay
Flexible time off
Generous PTO policy
Federal holidays
Generous health, dental, and vision benefits
Free OneMedical membership
Growth Path at NODA
Senior to Lead Design Systems Designers have opportunities to advance into Lead and Principal Design Systems roles, take on design operations and tooling responsibilities, transition into broader Design Infrastructure or Platform Design positions, or grow into Design Systems Management as NODA's design organization and product ecosystem expands.
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and welcome applicants from all backgrounds. All qualified individuals will receive consideration for employment regardless of race, age, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.