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Founding Product Designer

GovWellNew York, NYProduct & Engineering
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Salary
$180K - $200K USD
Job type
Full-time
Work mode
Remote
Posted
24 Sept 2026
Status
Open · checked 7d ago

About this role

GovWell is hiring a Founding Product Designer for a full-time, hybrid role based in New York City with remote flexibility. This position suits an experienced individual contributor ready to build the design function from the ground up and transform complex local government workflows.

Role Overview

Government software has historically forced users to pick between outdated systems and new tools that cannot handle real-world administrative complexity. GovWell aims to bridge this gap by creating AI-powered software that turns intricate bureaucratic workflows into simple and intuitive experiences. As the Founding Product Designer, the candidate will act as the first design leader to establish principles, build systems, and redefine the visual and interactive identity of the core platform. Initially serving as a hands-on individual contributor reporting directly to the CTO and Co-Founder Ben Cohen, the person in this role will eventually grow and lead a dedicated design team. The hybrid work arrangement requires regular in-person collaboration at the New York City headquarters at least three days per week, with the flexibility to work remotely.

Key Responsibilities

Formulate the core design vision, establishing principles that ensure products are intuitive, differentiated, and distinctly aligned with GovWell.
Upgrade the visual design and interaction patterns of the main platform while preserving the deep functionality required by public servants.
Create native AI experiences that seamlessly assist government workers instead of functioning as bolted-on chatbots.
Develop and maintain a comprehensive design system with reusable components, patterns, and guidelines to accelerate product and engineering delivery.
Engage closely with government personnel, contractors, residents, and local business owners to translate real user needs into thoughtful designs.
Collaborate daily with the Head of Product and software engineers across all phases from initial exploration to final implementation.
Establish the internal design operations from scratch and eventually hire and mentor a world-class team.

Requirements

Proven experience designing intuitive and visually appealing products for highly complex use cases.
Strong capability as a hands-on product designer capable of transforming ambiguous problems into polished experiences.
Exceptional product judgment with the ability to challenge assumptions, simplify workflows, and influence product direction.
Deep familiarity with AI tools and thoughtful perspectives on integrating artificial intelligence into software.
Ability to establish efficient design systems that empower teams to move faster without adding unnecessary bureaucracy.
Clear communication skills to guide founders, product managers, engineers, and customers through design decisions.
Capability to seamlessly pivot between multi-year product visions and fine-grained interface details.
Enthusiasm for starting as a hands-on individual contributor with the long-term goal of building a team.
High empathy to understand the unique requirements of government staff and residents without requiring prior govtech experience.

Skills and Tools

Figma
Lovable
Cursor

Salary and Benefits

Annual salary range between $180,000 and $200,000 USD, determined by prior experience
Equity and stock options
Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance coverage
401(k) retirement program
Flexible paid time off (PTO)

About the Company

Founded in 2023, GovWell builds an AI operating system designed to modernize local government administration for municipalities and counties across more than 35 states. The platform replaces legacy software to decrease internal processing times for permits and licenses by up to 95 percent. Backed by $35M in funding from investors including Insight Partners, Work-Bench, and Bienville Capital, the hyper-growth startup maintains its headquarters in New York City.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should visit the official GovWell careers page to submit an application for this position.

Skills and tech stack

Questions candidates ask

Where is this job located?

This is a hybrid position based out of the GovWell headquarters in New York City, requiring regular in-person collaboration at least three days per week alongside remote work flexibility.

Who does the Founding Product Designer report to?

The role reports directly to Ben Cohen, the CTO and Co-Founder of GovWell.

What is the salary range for this role?

The annual salary band is $180,000 to $200,000 USD, with final offers determined by the candidate's level of experience.

Is prior government technology experience required?

No prior govtech experience is required, though candidates must demonstrate strong empathy and the ability to understand the needs of government staff and residents.

What tools are utilized in the design process?

The design tooling stack includes Figma, Lovable, and Cursor.

Ready to apply?

The application is on the official GovWell careers page.

Apply on company site