Design Engineer

About the Job

EarthDNA is seeking a talented UX Designer / Design Engineer (Design Tech) to lead the design and user experience for Project S.H.O.E.S., a groundbreaking AI-powered mobile platform that will transform how consumers interact with footwear sustainability and the EarthDNA website. This role combines innovative product design, technical implementation, and sustainability-focused thinking to create an intuitive mobile experience that makes complex AI technology accessible to everyday users.

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You will be responsible for designing a mobile-first experience that enables consumers and industry  to instantly scan, identify, and determine optimal paths for their footwear (resale, repair, or recycling) while making sustainability engaging and rewarding. This is a unique opportunity to shape a product that will directly impact environmental sustainability, potentially diverting 30% of footwear waste from landfills.

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Key Responsibilities Include

• Design the complete mobile application experience for iOS and Android platforms
• Ability to work with AI tools in the design process
• Create intuitive user flows for core features
• Develop dark mode and light mode interfaces optimized for battery efficiency
• Design gamification elements to drive user engagement and retention
• Create visual representations of complex data (pricing trends, environmental impact, material recovery value)

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Design System & Component Library

• Establish a comprehensive design system ensuring consistency across all touchpoints
• Create reusable component libraries for rapid feature development
• Define typography, color palettes, spacing systems, and interaction patterns
• Document design principles and guidelines for engineering handoff
• Ensure accessibility compliance (WCAG 2.1 AA standards)

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User Research & Testing

• Conduct user research with target demographics (Massachusetts consumers, retailers)
• Design and facilitate usability testing sessions for MVP and beta releases
• Analyze feedback from 1,000+ beta users and 25 retail partners
• Create user personas and journey maps for different stakeholder groups
• Iterate designs based on quantitative and qualitative feedback

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Technical Implementation

• Collaborate with engineering team to ensure feasible implementations
• Create responsive designs optimized for mobile performance (<100ms response times)
• Design camera viewfinder overlays and AR guidance for shoe scanning
• Prototype micro-interactions and animations using tools like Framer or Principle
• Work within technical constraints (mobile AI processing, edge computing limitations)

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Sustainability & Impact Visualization

• Design compelling visualizations for environmental impact metrics
• Create engaging ways to display: CO2 emissions avoided, Materials recovered, Economic value unlocked Community impact scores
• Develop reward/incentive interfaces that motivate sustainable behavior
• Design educational content that makes circular economy concepts accessible

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Cross-functional Collaboration

• Partner with AI/ML engineers to understand model capabilities and limitations
• Work with data scientists to visualize complex analytics (ValueLens™ predictions)
• Collaborate with sustainability experts to accurately represent environmental data
• Coordinate with brand partners (New Balance, Vibram) on co-branding opportunities
• Support marketing team with app store assets and promotional materials

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Required Qualifications

• 4+ years of UX/UI design experience with focus on mobile applications and website
• Strong portfolio demonstrating B2B or consumer-facing mobile app design
• Proven experience with camera-based or AR/computer vision interfaces
• Expertise in design tools (Figma)
• Experience with prototyping tools (Framer, Principle, ProtoPie)
• Understanding of mobile platform guidelines (iOS Human Interface Guidelines, Material Design)
• Experience designing for technical/complex products made simple for consumers

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Technical Understanding

• Familiarity with mobile development constraints and best practices
• Basic understanding of AI/ML capabilities and limitations
• Experience working with engineering teams in agile environments
• Knowledge of responsive design and performance optimization
• Understanding of accessibility standards and inclusive design

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Design Thinking

• Strong problem-solving skills with user-centered approach
• Ability to balance business goals, technical constraints, and user needs
• Experience with data visualization and information architecture
• Portfolio showing work that simplifies complex processes
• Demonstrated ability to design for behavior change

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Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with sustainability, circular economy, or environmental tech products
• Background in fashion, retail, or e-commerce platforms
• Experience designing gamification systems or reward mechanisms
• Knowledge of marketplace/two-sided platform design patterns
• Familiarity with blockchain/NFT/digital twin concepts
• Experience with design engineering (HTML/CSS/JavaScript implementation)
• Previous work on products serving diverse demographics
• Experience with products that reached 100,000+ users

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How to Apply

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