Staff Product Designer, Design Systems

The Team

The Obsidian Design System team is a core pillar of the Tinder product org. Our mission is to improve consistency, efficiency, quality, and scalability of Tinder's product experience. As a systems team, we empower our product designers and engineers to build intuitive, cohesive, and delightful experiences for our global member base.

We care deeply about quality, craft, and partnership. We stay in tune with the evolving needs of our consuming teams, and believe a great system is both robust and flexible.

The Role

As a Staff Product Designer, Design Systems, you will lead the evolution of Tinder's design system strategy and execution. You will set a high bar for craft, champion user- and designer-centric thinking, and drive the system's adoption and impact across the organization.

You'll be responsible for delivering industry-leading systems work while shaping the vision, processes, and culture that make our entire product experience simpler, more inclusive, and more cohesive.

You will be an expert collaborator and mentor, a skilled storyteller, and a thoughtful systems thinker, balancing big-picture vision with tactical excellence.

Where you'll work :

This is a hybrid role and requires in-office collaboration three times per week in SF, LA, or NYC.

What You'll Do :

Drive Design System Strategy & Vision

Define and evolve the long-term vision for Tinder's design system in partnership with design, engineering, and product leaders.

Align the system's roadmap with Tinder's product strategy, ensuring the system accelerates delivery of high-quality, user-centered experiences.

Champion best practices in accessibility, inclusivity, and platform standards.

Lead Complex, Cross-Org Initiatives

Proactively identify systemic experience challenges across Tinder's product surfaces and lead efforts to address them holistically through the design system.

Facilitate cross-pillar discussions and working groups, ensuring alignment and buy-in from diverse stakeholders.

Navigate ambiguity and conflicting priorities to drive clarity and forward momentum.

Elevate Craft & Consistency

Design and deliver best-in-class components, patterns, documentation, and tooling.

Introduce new frameworks and models to improve how Tinder designs at scale.

Identify and address systemic interaction issues, raising the quality bar across all experiences.

Mentor and Inspire

Serve as an exemplar of design systems craft, strategy, and collaboration.

Provide mentorship and coaching to other designers on systems thinking, storytelling, and cross-functional influence.

Model and foster a culture of learning, constructive feedback, and design excellence.

Drive Adoption & Impact

Build strong partnerships with product designers and engineers across teams.

Actively gather and synthesize feedback, balancing the needs of consuming teams with strategic priorities.

Ensure the design system is widely understood, accessible, and easy to use, making it an essential tool for delivering cohesive, high-quality experiences.

Shape Team Culture

Play a leadership role on the Design Systems and broader Product Design teams.

Own and improve team rituals, ensuring effective, inclusive, and empathetic feedback loops.

Promote a user-centric, collaborative, and high-trust environment.

About You :

7+ years of experience as a Product Designer, with at least 5 years dedicated to building and evolving mobile design systems.

Proven track record of driving high-impact, cross-functional systems work with significant organizational reach.

Deep understanding of iOS, Android, and web platform guidelines and patterns.

Demonstrated excellence in visual and interaction design, with an eye for detail and a commitment to accessibility and inclusivity.

Skilled at navigating complex, ambiguous problem spaces with strong critical thinking and judgment.

Excellent communicator and storyteller who can tailor messages to diverse audiences, from engineers to senior executives.

Empathetic leader and mentor who uplifts the team, builds strong partnerships, and fosters a culture of learning and excellence.

Proactive, self-directed, and collaborative, with a passion for making design systems that help teams work smarter and deliver exceptional user experiences.

$ 200000- $260000 a year

The salary range for this position is $200,000-$260,000 Factors such as scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate's work experience, education / training, job-related skills, internal peer equity, as well as market and business considerations may influence base pay offered. This salary range is reflective of a position based in either San Francisco, Los Angeles or New York. This salary will be subject to a geographic adjustment (according to a specific city and state), if an authorization is granted to work outside of the location listed in this posting.