a16z is hiring a Design Systems Lead to own and evolve its design systems infrastructure. The role sits within the design function and is accountable for the quality, consistency and reach of brand systems, templates, and AI-powered tools used firm-wide.
What you'll do
- Take ownership of the design systems function, setting direction and standards
- Translate brand systems into scalable templates, components and frameworks across platforms
- Build repeatable systems for high-volume design needs like presentations and social assets
- Write and maintain markdown-based brand documentation and style references
- Build high-functioning AI skills from scratch using structured prompts and frameworks
- Vibe-code lightweight apps and custom tools for design use cases
- Create tools and templates letting non-designers produce polished, on-brand work
- Partner with designers to distill visual systems into usable building blocks
- Spot patterns in repeatable work and continuously improve systems based on feedback
- Train people across the firm on tools and systems via documentation or walkthroughs
- Work with project manager and media ops team to track adoption and efficiency gains
What we're looking for
- 4+ years experience in brand design, design systems, product design or related field
- Deep command of visual identity, able to diagnose and resolve design issues systematically
- Strong Figma skills building and maintaining design systems, libraries and components
- Fluency in typography, layout and considered design details
- Experience writing and scaling AI skills, structuring reference frameworks and instruction sets
- Comfortable vibe-coding lightweight apps, generators or custom tools
- Active use of AI tools like Claude, Codex, Krea or Midjourney
- Instinct to build comprehensive solutions to recurring design problems
- Natural collaborator with low ego and high empathy across teams
Good to know
- Open to candidates based in San Francisco Bay Area, CA or New York City, NY