Principal Product Designer, Design Systems (Hybrid)

Hi, Future Homie!

At Homebase, you’ll join a team that’s bold, fast-moving, and obsessed with helping small businesses thrive. We build with empathy, act with urgency, and take big swings that drive real-world impact. Here, every Homie shows up to raise the bar, support one another, and celebrate wins as a team.

We’re not just building an app—we’re building unstoppable teams. So what do you say, are you in?

 📍Your Impact Starts Here

We're looking for a Principal Product Designer who sees design systems as a force multiplier. You'll build the foundations that let every designer at Homebase do their best work—creating patterns, tools, and standards that compound over time. This isn't about policing pixels; it's about architecting the infrastructure that makes exceptional product experiences repeatable and scalable. You sweat the small details because you know they're not small—they're what separates software that feels considered from software that just works.

This role isn't merely about establishing processes; it's about laying down strong foundations that propel speed and precision hand in hand. You will be the architect of how our AI-driven, mobile-first platform takes shape—guiding every element from its inception to its impeccable execution. Your designs will set the standard that all product teams aspire to meet.

These are the key ways you’ll contribute and create impact in this role:

• Own the system with laser-focus: Drive end-to-end ownership of our design system, setting uncompromising standards for visual design, interaction patterns, and component quality that scale across products.

• Champion of Craft: Set the gold standard with work that is pixel-perfect, thoughtfully detailed, and meticulously executed, serving as a benchmark for excellence.

• Balance scale with unmatched quality: Develop robust governance, tooling, and frameworks to maintain visual consistency and craft standards as the team and product suite grow.

• Sculpt our AI design ethos: Pioneer the integration of AI design elements across products with finesse and intentionality, making intelligence feel intuitive and distinctly ours.

• Master platform-specific nuances: Drive exceptional iOS and Android experiences with deep respect for platform conventions and the subtle details that separate good from exceptional.

• Seamless design-engineering integration: Partner with engineers using code or high-fidelity prototypes to validate decisions and ensure implementation matches your exacting vision.

• Elevate our collective design acumen: Mentor and guide designers on systems thinking and craft excellence, fostering a culture where quality is non-negotiable.

• Build the kind of design system other companies look to emulate.

🚀 The Foundation for Success - These are the experiences and strengths that will set you up for success in this role:

• Proven design systems experience at scale: 10+ years crafting exceptional experiences for complex consumer products, with 4-5+ years specifically building and scaling design systems where quality and velocity coexist.

• Exceptional visual design mastery: Deep command of typography, spacing, color theory, hierarchy, motion, and interaction design—your portfolio demonstrates relentless attention to craft.

• Platform precision expert: You understand what makes iOS feel like iOS and Android feel like Android, and you design with deep respect for platform conventions.

• Scaling expertise: You’ve successfully grown design systems from supporting small teams to enabling dozens or hundreds of designers across multiple products—you know how to scale craft.

• AI UX fluency: Proven ability to integrate AI into product experiences with thoughtful, polished execution that feels native, not bolted on.

• Technical depth: Code or prototype at high fidelity to explore ideas and collaborate effectively with engineering on implementation details.

• Detail obsessed: You notice the 2-pixel misalignment. You see the inconsistent spacing. You fix it because you can’t not fix it.

• Quality champion with proven impact: Track record of measurably raising the craft bar across teams and products through your work, mentorship, and leadership.

Bonus points if you bring:

• Led design systems at high-growth consumer companies (Stripe, Airbnb, Figma, Spotify, Uber, Shopify, etc.).

• Scaled systems supporting 50+ designers across multiple product lines.

• Background in theming systems, content design at scale, or complex B2B products.

• Public contributions showcasing exceptional craft (speaking, writing, open source work).

• Portfolio demonstrating both systematic thinking and pixel-perfect execution across platforms.

• Experience, background in, or understanding of front-end technologies (JavaScript, HTML, CSS)

🤝  The Homie Way - These principles guide everything we do—from how we work and make decisions to how we show up for each other.

• 💡 Be Customer Obsessed – Solve problems with empathy and creativity.

• ⚡ Move Fast, Learn Fast – Experiment, take action, and grow every day.

• 🎯 Own Your Impact – Think big, focus on what matters, and make decisions you stand behind.

• 🏆 Master Your Craft – Excellence fuels impact—show up, step up, and make your mark.

• 🏅 Win Together – Put goals over roles, lead with trust, and connect to our mission and each other.

What We Offer (United States)

• 💰 Ownership & Financial Security: Stock options + 401(k) with 4% match

• 🏥 Comprehensive Healthcare: Medical, dental, and vision coverage + FSA options

• ⏰ Flexible Time: Flexible PTO + company holidays

• 👶 Family Support: Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave (after 6 months of service)

• 🛡️ Protection Plans: Life insurance + short/long-term disability coverage

• 🌟 Work Your Way: Work From Anywhere Month + meeting-free weeks yearly

• 🍽️ Workspace Perks: Meals provided, commuter benefits, team offsites, and Customer Days

• 💼 Our Hybrid Rhythm: We believe collaboration drives impact. That’s why Tuesdays and Wednesdays are our required in-office days—a time to move faster as a team, build deeper connections, make better decisions, and build together.

What We Offer (Canada)

• 💰 Ownership & Savings: Stock options + TFSA/RRSP with 4% company match

• 🏥 Health & Wellness: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision for you and your dependents

• ⏰ Time Flexibility: Flex time off + company holidays + designated focus periods

• 👶 Family Support: Maternity/Parental Leave EI top-up support offered (after 6 months of service)

• 🌟 Work Your Way: Work From Anywhere Month + meeting-free weeks yearly

• 🛡️ Protection Plans: Life insurance + short/long-term disability coverage

• 🍽️ Workspace Perks: Meals provided, team offsites, and Customer Days

• 💼 Our Hybrid Rhythm: We believe collaboration drives impact. That’s why Tuesdays and Wednesdays are our required in-office days—a time to move faster as a team, build deeper connections, make better decisions, and build together.

What to Expect During the Interview Process

• Meet the Talent Acquisition team, Ivana L.

• Meet the Hiring Manager, Christan F.

• Participate in a Panel interview with Cross-functional Partners

• Meet the Head of Product Design, Jan S.

• Background Check + Offer Stage

• Welcome to the team, Homie 🎉

💜 Belonging at Homebase - We're committed to fostering a welcoming space where every Homie can be their full self. Experience comes in many forms—so if you're excited about this role, even if you don’t meet 100% of the qualifications, we encourage you to apply! 

Homebase will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance.

👋 Hey, We’re Homebase

Unstoppable teams start here.

Homebase is the everything app for hourly teams—built to simplify the day-to-day and superpower local businesses. With tools for scheduling, time clocks, payroll, communication, HR, and more, we help teams stay connected and in control. Today, over 100,000 small (but mighty) businesses rely on us to make work radically easier. Together, we’ve tracked over a billion hours for 2.5+ million workers—and we’re just getting started.

At Homebase, we celebrate diversity and are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We welcome all candidates and do not discriminate based on any legally protected status. If you need accommodations during the hiring process, please let us know—we’re committed to ensuring fair and equitable access for all.