Overview
Shields Group Search is working with a fast-growing, venture-backed construction-tech startup
that is building the next-generation operating system for commercial HVAC, Electrical, and Plumbing suppliers and subcontractors.
Background Our client is building the next-generation operating system for commercial HVAC, Electrical, and Plumbing suppliers and subcontractors. Over the past year, their V1 quoting product has scaled to 250+ quotes per day and grown to $1.5M+ ARR, with adoption across many of the top suppliers in North America. Fresh off an $11M Series A (backed by leading construction-tech investors), they are entering their next phase of growth, with product and engineering at the center of everything they build next.
About the Role They are looking for a
Founding Product Designer
to own and elevate design across the entire platform as the company scales from early traction to industry leadership.
This role is ideal for someone who loves 0 to 1 product work, thrives in fast cycles, and is excited to bring modern, thoughtful design to an industry that has historically lacked it.
As the founding designer, you will shape the design philosophy, systems, and execution from the ground up. You will bring clarity to ambiguous spaces, move quickly without sacrificing craft, and work directly with the CPO, engineering, and go-to-market teams. As the company grows, there will be opportunities to take on broader design leadership, including building and leading the design function.
Responsibilities
Own UX and UI across the web app, internal tools, and future product lines, turning complex technical workflows into simple, confident experiences
Build the design system from scratch, including components, patterns, and frameworks that help the entire team ship faster and with more consistency
Apply strong visual taste with clean hierarchy and polished UI so every surface feels thoughtful and trustworthy
Bring definition to ambiguity by turning loose ideas into crisp concepts, prototypes, and clear tradeoffs for the team to react to
Pair user conversations with product usage data to understand behavior and anchor decisions in real customer needs
Work closely with engineering, the CPO, and the broader product team to drive strategy, narrative, and end-to-end UX coherence
Raise the bar on design culture through high standards for craft, communication, iteration, and cross-functional collaboration
Qualifications
5+ years of product design experience with true end-to-end ownership, ideally in B2B or complex workflows. Strong consumer design experience also works
Excellent visual design skills with strong UI, clear hierarchy, and attention to detail
A user plus data thinker who blends qualitative learning with usage patterns and analytics
Energized by 0 to 1 work and fast-paced environments, comfortable moving quickly from concept to prototype to shipped product
A clear communicator who exposes their thinking and collaborates smoothly with engineering and product
Someone who operates with real ownership, is proactive and resourceful, and makes confident decisions with imperfect information
Strong across interaction design, visual design, and prototyping. Bonus if you have front-end experience or have used AI coding tools like Cursor
Excited by the opportunity to grow into a broader design leadership role as the company scales
Compensation and Benefits
Salary: $200K to $250K base
Equity: Meaningful, founder-level equity grant depending on experience
Perks: Free lunches and dinners, onsite in NYC
This is a
full-time, in-person role
located in
NYC’s Flatiron District , steps from Madison Square Park and Union Square.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
that is building the next-generation operating system for commercial HVAC, Electrical, and Plumbing suppliers and subcontractors.
Background Our client is building the next-generation operating system for commercial HVAC, Electrical, and Plumbing suppliers and subcontractors. Over the past year, their V1 quoting product has scaled to 250+ quotes per day and grown to $1.5M+ ARR, with adoption across many of the top suppliers in North America. Fresh off an $11M Series A (backed by leading construction-tech investors), they are entering their next phase of growth, with product and engineering at the center of everything they build next.
About the Role They are looking for a
Founding Product Designer
to own and elevate design across the entire platform as the company scales from early traction to industry leadership.
This role is ideal for someone who loves 0 to 1 product work, thrives in fast cycles, and is excited to bring modern, thoughtful design to an industry that has historically lacked it.
As the founding designer, you will shape the design philosophy, systems, and execution from the ground up. You will bring clarity to ambiguous spaces, move quickly without sacrificing craft, and work directly with the CPO, engineering, and go-to-market teams. As the company grows, there will be opportunities to take on broader design leadership, including building and leading the design function.
Responsibilities
Own UX and UI across the web app, internal tools, and future product lines, turning complex technical workflows into simple, confident experiences
Build the design system from scratch, including components, patterns, and frameworks that help the entire team ship faster and with more consistency
Apply strong visual taste with clean hierarchy and polished UI so every surface feels thoughtful and trustworthy
Bring definition to ambiguity by turning loose ideas into crisp concepts, prototypes, and clear tradeoffs for the team to react to
Pair user conversations with product usage data to understand behavior and anchor decisions in real customer needs
Work closely with engineering, the CPO, and the broader product team to drive strategy, narrative, and end-to-end UX coherence
Raise the bar on design culture through high standards for craft, communication, iteration, and cross-functional collaboration
Qualifications
5+ years of product design experience with true end-to-end ownership, ideally in B2B or complex workflows. Strong consumer design experience also works
Excellent visual design skills with strong UI, clear hierarchy, and attention to detail
A user plus data thinker who blends qualitative learning with usage patterns and analytics
Energized by 0 to 1 work and fast-paced environments, comfortable moving quickly from concept to prototype to shipped product
A clear communicator who exposes their thinking and collaborates smoothly with engineering and product
Someone who operates with real ownership, is proactive and resourceful, and makes confident decisions with imperfect information
Strong across interaction design, visual design, and prototyping. Bonus if you have front-end experience or have used AI coding tools like Cursor
Excited by the opportunity to grow into a broader design leadership role as the company scales
Compensation and Benefits
Salary: $200K to $250K base
Equity: Meaningful, founder-level equity grant depending on experience
Perks: Free lunches and dinners, onsite in NYC
This is a
full-time, in-person role
located in
NYC’s Flatiron District , steps from Madison Square Park and Union Square.
#J-18808-Ljbffr