What is a Design Engineer?

We recently published a job offering for a “Design Engineer (Web/Brand) role and soon after, someone on LinkedIn asked, 

Sounds great Lukas - but maybe you have to explain quickly what the hell a design engineer is.. 🤷‍♂️

I anticipated this question, as the role of “Design Engineer” is evolving in 2024. In a recent blog post, I explained how we’re transforming the way we create and explore digital experiences for our customers. Traditionally, Figma served as the starting point, with much of the work done within the design tool. This was followed by a handoff to frontend developers, often leading to a disconnect between design and code.

However, we embrace a new approach called “Native Design Flow,” where Figma and code are integrated from day one of the project. This ensures a seamless alignment between design and development from the very beginning.

This shift naturally impacts our team structure and how we approach design projects. Enter the new role of the “Design Engineer.”

Design Engineer Definition.

My definition: A Design Engineer is a role between "Design and Engineering". Somebody who is exploring visual designs in Figma and translating them into web-native experiences – and vice-versa.

While NETNODE didn’t coin the term, I encountered it in early 2024 while reading blog posts. Multiple internal discussions in the summer of 2024 made me reconsider how we approach design at NETNODE. Recent team changes also brought this concept to the forefront.

The term “Design Engineer” resonated with me, especially in the context of our tech-driven company. As outlined in the blog post “Native Design Flow,” advancements in AI, modern frontend frameworks, and cloud tools have enabled us to rethink how we build digital experiences.

Are you a Design Engineer?

Apply: https://jobs.netnode.ch/job/design-engineer-web-brand