We're looking for a Principal Product Designer to join our design team. At Ethena design is part of our business strategy, not a service function. This role will own the design of new product features while helping shape how we build, using AI-driven development to move fast without sacrificing quality. You'll be a key contributor to Ethena's growing product surface area and the design practice itself.
Report to the VP of Design
Own the end-to-end design process for new product features from early concept through to shipped, collaborating closely with product and engineering throughout
Leverage AI tools throughout your process (we use Cursor and Claude Code to accelerate design iterations and rely on working prototypes to test ideas before shipping)
Communicate and rationalize design decisions to internal and external stakeholders, keeping users' needs centered throughout
Own our qualitative research practice and work directly with users to turn insights into product direction
Shape short- and long-term product planning as the design voice, partnering with product and engineering from discovery through delivery
A track record of shipping product at a high-growth startup; you know what it takes to get things over the line
A genuine fascination with users and a talent for translating messy research into clear product direction
Able to reduce complex problems to the right balance of flexibility, power, and ease of use
AI-first in how you work, with a clear-eyed view of where they add value
An excellent communicator who can manage up and collaborate across functions, making the case for good design without needing to fight for it
A self-starter who thrives in a hands-off management environment, takes ownership with a 'roll up your sleeves mentality', is comfortable with ambiguity, and drives work forward with minimal oversight
We're a startup so we're not just looking for someone to run a playbook. We want you to help build it.
Passion for what we're building here at Ethena and a strong alignment with our core values (which includes an impeccable sense of humor)