Founding Product Designer
Parrot (YC F25), San Francisco, CA, United States
About Parrot
Parrot is building the TikTok for language learning – real native videos, interactive subtitles, and AI-generated activities that help people learn the same way they learned their first language.
We believe in immersion‑first learning, grounded in second‑language acquisition research and comprehensible input. Our goal is to make learning natural, fun, and effective – powered by real content, not artificial drills.
We launched in February 2025, already have thousands of active users, and are now hiring our first Founding Product Designer to join the core team and help us scale to millions.
Why This Role Matters
Design at Parrot is not a support function. It is core to how the product works, feels, and grows.
As Our Founding Product Designer, You Will
Redesign and elevate the core product experience
Work directly with the CPO and founders to shape product direction
Influence activation, retention, and meaningful progress through thoughtful UX
Establish the foundations of our design system
Set the visual and experiential standard for the company
What You’ll Work On
Conduct user research and translate insights into product direction
Design complete user journeys and reusable patterns
Create wireframes and interactive prototypes
Craft high‑fidelity mobile UI
Partner with engineering through implementation to ensure quality
Iterate based on usage data and qualitative feedback
What We’re Looking For
We’re looking for a designer who combines strong product thinking with exceptional visual craft and cares deeply about building something simple, accessible, and effective.
Core Strengths
Strong mobile portfolio (iOS/Android experience preferred)
Exceptional eye for layout, hierarchy, typography, spacing, and color
Deep UX thinking – you understand behavior, not just screens
Fluent in Figma (components, auto‑layout, variants, prototyping)
Comfortable leading work independently in a fast‑moving environment
Product & Analytical Mindset
You care about retention, learning progress, and long‑term user success
You’re comfortable forming hypotheses and iterating based on data
You can articulate why a design decision improves a metric or reduces friction
Prototyping & Modern Tools
We move quickly and value designers who can accelerate feedback loops.
You Can
Build interactive prototypes that mirror real product behavior
Validate ideas early through realistic, testable demos
Use AI tools to explore variations and iterate quickly
Expected Tools
Figma
Vibe coding
The Kind of Designer Who Thrives Here
Have strong taste and high standards
Sweat the details
Think in systems, not just screens
Care about simplicity and real user progress
Want meaningful ownership in an early‑stage product
Bonus
Experience at a venture‑backed company
Background in consumer mobile apps
Interest in language learning or education
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Parrot is building the TikTok for language learning – real native videos, interactive subtitles, and AI-generated activities that help people learn the same way they learned their first language.
We believe in immersion‑first learning, grounded in second‑language acquisition research and comprehensible input. Our goal is to make learning natural, fun, and effective – powered by real content, not artificial drills.
We launched in February 2025, already have thousands of active users, and are now hiring our first Founding Product Designer to join the core team and help us scale to millions.
Why This Role Matters
Design at Parrot is not a support function. It is core to how the product works, feels, and grows.
As Our Founding Product Designer, You Will
Redesign and elevate the core product experience
Work directly with the CPO and founders to shape product direction
Influence activation, retention, and meaningful progress through thoughtful UX
Establish the foundations of our design system
Set the visual and experiential standard for the company
What You’ll Work On
Conduct user research and translate insights into product direction
Design complete user journeys and reusable patterns
Create wireframes and interactive prototypes
Craft high‑fidelity mobile UI
Partner with engineering through implementation to ensure quality
Iterate based on usage data and qualitative feedback
What We’re Looking For
We’re looking for a designer who combines strong product thinking with exceptional visual craft and cares deeply about building something simple, accessible, and effective.
Core Strengths
Strong mobile portfolio (iOS/Android experience preferred)
Exceptional eye for layout, hierarchy, typography, spacing, and color
Deep UX thinking – you understand behavior, not just screens
Fluent in Figma (components, auto‑layout, variants, prototyping)
Comfortable leading work independently in a fast‑moving environment
Product & Analytical Mindset
You care about retention, learning progress, and long‑term user success
You’re comfortable forming hypotheses and iterating based on data
You can articulate why a design decision improves a metric or reduces friction
Prototyping & Modern Tools
We move quickly and value designers who can accelerate feedback loops.
You Can
Build interactive prototypes that mirror real product behavior
Validate ideas early through realistic, testable demos
Use AI tools to explore variations and iterate quickly
Expected Tools
Figma
Vibe coding
The Kind of Designer Who Thrives Here
Have strong taste and high standards
Sweat the details
Think in systems, not just screens
Care about simplicity and real user progress
Want meaningful ownership in an early‑stage product
Bonus
Experience at a venture‑backed company
Background in consumer mobile apps
Interest in language learning or education
#J-18808-Ljbffr