1
Founding Engineer, UX & Design at Cua | Y Combinator
www.ycombinator.comOverview
Cua is building the infrastructure that enables general-purpose AI agents to safely and scalably use real computers and applications.
We’re a small team backed by Y Combinator and top-tier investors, and our open-source tools are already used by thousands of developers. As a Founding Engineer, UX & Design, you’ll own how developers experience Cua - shaping everything from product flows and dashboards to the open-source contributions developers see every day.
We’re looking for someone who blends strong frontend engineering skills with a sharp design sense. You’ll collaborate with the founding team to turn complex infrastructure into intuitive, delightful developer experiences, defining the look, feel, and usability of our product.
Your work will define how the next generation of AI agents is built, debugged, and deployed by thousands of developers worldwide.
Responsibilities
Own the UI/UX across the Cua platform - from developer onboarding flows to dashboards and tools for managing agent environments
Build and maintain frontend systems (Next.js, Tailwind, shadcn/ui or similar) and work closely with backend engineers to integrate APIs
Translate complex infrastructure into simple, usable product experiences for developers
Collaborate with open-source contributors and early users to refine product usability and design
Contribute to docs, guides, and visual materials that help grow the ecosystem
Participate in product discussions, drive the user-facing roadmap, and help shape long-term product vision
Qualifications
Required:
2+ years of frontend or full-stack engineering experience
Strong design sensibility and ability to craft intuitive user interfaces
Proficiency in TypeScript/React (Next.js preferred) and modern frontend libraries (Tailwind, shadcn/ui, etc.)
Experience turning product requirements into polished user experiences
Comfortable designing in Figma and translating designs into production code
Excited about open-source, developer tools, and working in a fast-moving startup environment
Preferred:
Experience contributing to open-source projects
Strong visual/interaction design portfolio or past work examples
Familiarity with developer tools or infrastructure products
Interest in AI/ML, agents, or developer-facing AI workflows
Based in or willing to relocate to SF
What We Offer
Early-stage ownership - Join as a founding engineer with equity and high influence
Real traction - 9k+ GitHub stars and a fast-growing developer community
Product ownership - Full scope over design, frontend, and UX decisions
Impact - Define the developer experience for the next wave of AI infrastructure
How to Apply
Please include:
Your portfolio, Dribbble, or GitHub (required)
A short note on the most impactful UI/UX or product experience you’ve designed
Bonus: try building something with Cua (https://github.com/trycua/cua) or suggest UX improvements - we notice contributors
The base salary range for this role in San Francisco is $100,000–$150,000 USD per year, depending on experience and skill level. This role also includes equity and other benefits.
Cua AI, Inc. is committed to fair and transparent compensation. We encourage applicants from all backgrounds to apply, regardless of gender, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnicity, or belief.
Personal data will be handled in accordance with the GDPR (EU Regulation 2016/679) and other applicable data privacy laws.
You must log in or register to comment.