UI/UX Designer, Design Language

About Sift

At Sift, we’re accelerating the advent of next-generation machines, improving life on and off the planet. We’re at an inflection point where connected machines will shape nearly everything we do, and Sift is building the data infrastructure that underpins their engineering, manufacturing, and operation.

Our system is inspired by processes and software built at SpaceX for Dragon, Falcon, Starlink, and Starship. We’re a fast-growing startup with engineers and operators from SpaceX, Google, Palantir, and Astra, backed by top investors in the sector. We’re looking for high-performing teammates to define how Sift is experienced, from core product to customer touchpoints.

About the Role

We’re hiring a UI/UX Designer to create and own Sift’s visual design language — shaping how engineers interact with our platform.

This is not a surface-level branding role. You’ll work closely with product, engineering, marketing, and leadership to design intuitive, scalable systems that let users stay in flow while tackling complex technical problems. You’ll build a design system that reflects the sophistication of Sift and scales across every product surface.

Key Responsibilities

• Define and maintain Sift’s design system, including reusable components and patterns.

• Translate complex architectures and telemetry workflows into clear, intuitive visuals.

• Visualize large-scale, high-frequency data in ways that are both beautiful and informative.

• Partner with marketing, product, engineering, and customers to ensure design resonates with technical users.

• Create reusable templates, frameworks, and patterns to increase speed and consistency.

• Ensure every design reflects the precision and quality of Sift’s platform.

• Act as a visual translator, bridging technical complexity with design clarity.

What You Bring

• 8+ years of experience in UI/UX, design systems, or data visualization.

• Strong portfolio demonstrating visual clarity, systems thinking, and technical storytelling.

• Experience designing for B2B SaaS or infrastructure-oriented products.

• Proven ability to transform technical input into clear visual outputs (diagrams, workflows, visual systems).

• Comfort working independently while leading cross-functional projects.

• Proficiency in Figma; familiarity with motion design or front-end implementation a plus.

• Clear communication skills; able to explain design rationale to technical and non-technical stakeholders.

• Curiosity for technical audiences, complex systems, and design problem-solving.

Bonus Points

• Experience in aerospace, defense, autonomy, or energy.

• Background in system modeling (mechanical, software, or process).

• Prior work on developer documentation, architecture explainers, or product walkthroughs.

Portfolio Required: Please include a link to your portfolio or design examples. Applications without visual work samples will not be reviewed.

Location:

We’re looking for candidates who can collaborate in person twice a week in the SF Bay Area and join the team at Sift’s headquarters in El Segundo, CA for a full week every two months. We’re open to relocating candidates to San Francisco or considering those already based in the Los Angeles area for the right fit.

Salary range: $160,000 - $200,000 per year. Plus equity and benefits.

Eligibility:

U.S. Person Required: Must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or protected individual such as an asylee or refugee in compliance with ITAR (International Traffic in Arms Regulations) / EAR (Export Administration Regulations) regulations.