Role Overview

Block, the company behind Square, Cash App, and other transformative financial products, is pioneering a new era of design intelligence. We're seeking a talented Design Engineer, Design Intelligence to build systems and tools that empower teams to turn ideas into real, usable products with unprecedented clarity, speed, and confidence. This role sits at the thrilling intersection of design, engineering, and AI, focusing on making high-quality craft accessible, collaborative, and scalable.

Imagine creating AI-assisted tools that translate design intent into programmable systems, prototype generative interfaces, and automate workflows for designers and developers alike. At Block, AI isn't an add-on—it's woven into the core creative process. You'll experiment thoughtfully, balancing innovation with user-centric care, and collaborate across teams to unlock new possibilities. This Bay Area-based position is perfect for builders who thrive on learning in motion and shaping the future of design at a world-class company.

With Block's commitment to an inclusive economy, you'll contribute to tools that democratize design expertise, enabling more people to participate, learn, and innovate together. If you're passionate about design systems, AI agents, and multimodal experiences, this is your chance to make a lasting impact.

Key Responsibilities

As a Design Engineer on the Design Intelligence team, you'll drive hands-on innovation. Here are your core responsibilities:

• Design, build, and iterate on AI-assisted tools that streamline workflows for designers and developers.
• Transform design intent and brand guidelines into flexible, programmable systems and intelligent agents.
• Prototype cutting-edge interface patterns, from generative AI to agent-driven and multimodal interactions.
• Develop extensible infrastructure like plugins, automation scripts, and team-adoptable workflows.
• Partner with design and engineering leads to integrate AI seamlessly into Block's product ecosystem.
• Conduct responsible experiments with emerging tech to evolve design-engineering practices.
• Scale design capabilities across teams, making advanced tools accessible beyond specialists.
• Champion collaborative problem-solving, fostering shared progress over siloed heroics.
• Document prototypes, share insights, and evolve tools based on real user feedback.
• Explore multimodal frontiers like voice, vision, and gesture-based AI interactions.
• Build for diverse platforms, including potential iOS integrations with modern dev practices.
• Contribute to open-source or internal projects that advance generative and agentic design.
• Ensure long-term impact through systems thinking and scalable architecture.

These tasks position you at the forefront of AI design engineering, directly influencing Block's product quality and team velocity.

Qualifications

We value diverse paths—professional, academic, or independent. Key qualifications include:

• Shipping real software/tools that solve tangible problems.
• Hands-on design engineering or systems experience.
• Strong command of modern front-end tech stacks.
• AI/ML exposure via APIs, LLMs, or agents.
• Deep familiarity with designer/engineer tools (Figma, Adobe Suite, etc.).
• Portfolio of collaborative productivity tools.
• Bonus: Creative collaborations with art/motion designers.
• Bonus: Open-source or generative projects.
• Bonus: Multimodal interface exploration.
• Bonus: Mobile/iOS development expertise.

No perfect resume required—just curiosity, resilience, and a builder's mindset.

Salary & Benefits

Earn a competitive salary estimated at $180,000 - $250,000 USD yearly (based on experience), plus equity. Block offers top-tier benefits:

• Full health/dental/vision coverage.
• 401(k) matching.
• Unlimited PTO and parental leave.
• Professional growth stipends.
• Wellness and commuter perks.
• Free meals and modern Bay Area offices.

Why Join Block?

Block is more than fintech—it's a mission to build an inclusive economy. Work on high-impact projects with AI, design, and engineering luminaries in the Bay Area. Enjoy a collaborative culture, cutting-edge tech, and real ownership. Your work will scale to millions, redefining design intelligence globally.

Bay Area perks include vibrant tech hubs, networking, and Block's employee-centric environment prioritizing diversity and innovation.

How to Apply

Ready to pioneer design intelligence? Submit your resume, portfolio, and a note on your favorite AI-design project. Block's hiring process includes interviews with design/eng leads. We prioritize inclusive hiring—apply today!