UI/UX Engineer and Design Technologist

Alameda, California

Whissle
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Who we are

Whissle is an innovative AI company dedicated to original multi-modal speech-and-language research, building transformative services and products.

Our powerful cloud API provides:
  • Real-time speech & language services - open and programmable solutions for your needs.
  • Conversational Bot - a smart assistant designed to control IoT devices and answer everyday inquiries.
  • Insights Studio - a browser-based audio-video editing tool tailored for creators.
Next up: we are developing native desktop apps (Electron/Tauri) and mobile apps (React Native/Expo) for these offerings. This is where you come in.

Your Role

Design
  • Transform concepts into user flows, wireframes, and polished Figma designs for web, desktop, and mobile interfaces.
  • Establish motion specifications (such as token streaming, waveform scrubbing, and timeline zoom).
Implementation
  • Create reusable components in React / React Native using TypeScript & Tailwind with shadcn/ui.
  • Develop interactive prototypes in Storybook or Expo that connect with our speech API (WebSocket/WebRTC).
Design System Ownership
  • Enhance our design system's color, typography, iconography, spacing, and motion tokens; ensure Figma and code libraries are synchronized.
Quality Advocacy
  • Promote accessibility (WCAG 2.2), maintain performance budgets, and ensure responsive design across various breakpoints.
Collaboration
  • Work closely with product designers, full-stack engineers, and researchers; participate in design reviews and support mentoring of interns.
You'll Excel Here If You Have
  • 3-6 years of experience delivering production UI that aligns with your high-fidelity designs.
  • Proficiency in Figma (including auto-layout, variants, interactive components, and Dev Mode).
  • Experience with React 18 / Next.js and TypeScript.
  • Some exposure to at least one of the following: React Native, Expo, Electron, or Tauri.
  • Comfort with Tailwind CSS (or similar utility classes) and component libraries like shadcn/ui.
  • Familiarity with front-end testing tools (Jest, React Testing Library) and component documentation (Storybook/Chromatic).
  • A solid understanding of accessibility principles and inclusive design practices.
  • Effective communication of design rationale in a dynamic, asynchronous setting.
Bonus Points For
  • Experience with audio/video UX patterns (like waveform displays, timeline markers, FFmpeg processing).
  • Knowledge of working with real-time streams (WebSockets, WebRTC).
  • Experience designing IoT dashboards or conversational UI.
  • Contributions to open-source design systems or tooling.
Compensation & Benefits
  • Ownership That Matters - receive a significant early-stage equity grant that vests over four years with a one-year cliff, allowing you to grow alongside Whissle.
  • Deferred-Salary Upside - we accrue your cash salary from day one and distribute it in a lump sum at our next funding or revenue milestone, providing a founder-style financial upside without the founder-level risk.
  • Remote-First Environment - enjoy flexible hours, minimal meetings, and an asynchronous communication style.
  • Quarterly Hack-Weeks - dedicate time to passion projects, explore new technologies, and collaborate with the team.
Why You Will Love Working With Us
  • Modern Tech Stack - work with React 18, Next.js 14 App Router, Expo, Tauri, Vercel, and GitHub Actions.
  • Creative Focus - contribute to tools designed for creators, developers, and everyday smart-home users.
  • Transparent Culture - access open roadmaps, clear milestones, and direct communication with founders.
Ready to Join Us?

  1. Send us your résumé and portfolio (including live Figma links or interactive demos).
  2. Describe a product where you designed and built the UI by yourself.
Date Posted: 11 May 2025
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