Principal Product Designer, Core Experience

ABOUT TIN CAN Tin Can is building a safer, simpler way for kids to connect — without smartphones. We're creating screen-free, delightful devices and services that let families call the people who matter most, free from the noise of today's digital world. We're building a bold, authentic, nostalgic, and kinda quirky brand that resonates with folks who want something simpler & better for their kids than the tech-infused lives we're currently living (and who have a sense of humor about it). As we gear up to scale to thousands of families, we're ready to bring on a designer to help make it happen. THE ROLE Kids want a phone that just works. Parents want to know exactly what it's doing. Designing for both, at once, without either one feeling like an afterthought — that's the role. We're looking for a Principal UX Designer to own the experience of Tin Can from a family's first consideration to their eight millionth call. That means the app parents live in (contacts, quiet hours, their whole relationship with the device) and it means onboarding and retention, the moments that turn a new box on the counter into something a family can't imagine living without. This isn't just a design-what's-asked-of-you role. You'll run research to understand what's actually working and what isn't, partnering with Product to figure out what to do next, not just how to build it. You'll work closely with the Head of Product, Engineering, and Brand so that software, hardware, and brand feel like one coherent product rather than a set of one-offs. This is a hands-on senior IC role: You'll do the design work yourself, and you'll establish the patterns, flows, and design language that let us scale design deliberately, including with AI, over time. WHAT YOU'LL DO - Own design across the whole software experience, shaping the core Tin Can experience, the stuff that keeps the phone ringing - Run research yourself, talk to families, watch where things break, to set your next move - Shape what we build next, not just how; you're a strategic thought partner to Product, not just an executor - Build the patterns and design language that help the team and when appropriate, AI, move fast but meet our bar - Get hands-on: prototype it, write the copy, sit with an engineer until it’s right WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR - 10+ years designing and shipping consumer digital products, with clear examples of owning complex experiences end to end - Excellent visual design craft, with a gift for making complex workflows feel simple - A strong systems thinker who builds reusable foundations, not just one-off screens - A strategic partner to Product who shapes what we build next, not just how - Fluency using AI as a design multiplier (exploration, prototyping, production), and genuine interest in building a foundation the team can scale with it - Excellent judgment around user trust, safety, and quality, especially designing for kids and the parents who trust us - Ability to set direction and move independently, with little oversight - Hands-on and scrappy approach; you'd rather build the component or run the test yourself than wait on someone else - Low-ego and collaborative vibes; you share credit and pitch in on problems that aren't yours WHY JOIN TIN CAN - We're building tech that protects childhood: We're on a quest to give kids a more analog childhood — one with real conversations, real connection, and way less screen time. No doomscrolling, data mining, or dopamine traps — just a simpler, better way for kids to stay in touch. This is a rare opportunity to build something that truly matters. - You'll set the foundation, not inherit one: As our first dedicated UX owner, you'll define how the software experience looks, feels, and scales — with the autonomy and backing of the founding team to do it right. - Small, high-trust team: Every company says "team," but at Tin Can it means something different. We're a small, mission-driven group that genuinely has each other's backs — profes…