Hi! We're Forerunner.
Stronger, more resilient communities are built by the people inside government and regulated industries who keep critical infrastructure running. But they're working against real headwinds: fragmented data, field crews without the right tools, and high-stakes decisions made without a complete picture.
Forerunner exists to fix that. We build intelligent software that connects the systems these agencies and firms already rely on, fills the gaps those systems can't, and turns fragmented information into decisions and actions that reduce liability, surface revenue, and prevent small problems from becoming emergencies.
About the position
Great design builds trust. At Forerunner, it also helps communities adapt to change.
We're looking for a Senior Product Designer to own complex, cross-functional work — from defining problem spaces and success metrics to shipping polished, accessible workflows. We're still early. That means there's no established playbook, priorities shift as we learn from customers, and you'll regularly need to make good decisions with incomplete information. Some days you'll be deep in discovery and systems thinking; other days you'll sweat interaction details, unblock engineering on a tight timeline, or step back and help the team figure out what we should even be building. If you thrive on variety, move comfortably between vision and detailed execution, and can stay grounded when the ground shifts — you'll feel right at home.
Your work will help public and private agencies manage assets, enforce codes, track grants, and more — the everyday decisions that keep communities safe and running. You'll set a high bar for clarity and responsibility, because when those services affect people's lives and futures, design can't be an afterthought.
What You'll Do
Discover & Define
Partner with PM + Eng to clarify problems, define scope, and set measurable outcomes — even when the problem is still fuzzy and the roadmap is evolving.
Lead discovery: interviews, task analyses, field / context research; turn insights into strategy.
Anticipate edge cases, constraints, and operational realities early — and adapt when new information changes the picture.
Design & Deliver
Design end-to-end flows across web and mobile, from low-fi to high-fi. Move quickly when speed matters; go deep when quality demands it.
Prototype fast (Figma, Claude Code), validate with users, and iterate — sometimes across multiple competing directions at once.
Drive implementation with engineering and run final design reviews before launch. Roll up your sleeves when the situation calls for it.
Systematize
Contribute to our design system (Figma + component library), building scalable, accessible patterns — and know when to build new patterns versus reuse existing ones.
Document rationale and decisions so teams can move faster with confidence, even as priorities shift.
Collaborate & Influence
Build trusted relationships with PM, Eng, and CS; facilitate alignment in ambiguity and help the team make decisions when there isn't a clear right answer.
Communicate clearly to drive decisions and tell compelling product stories — in a scrappy Slack message or a polished review, whatever the moment calls for.
Share feedback generously and collaboratively; help raise the quality bar across teams.
About you
You've led complex product design projects before — from early discovery through launch — and influenced product direction, not just executed on it.
Your portfolio shows systems thinking, crisp UX, and an ability to simplify complex workflows.
You bring depth in user research and product judgment: you know how to frame problems, validate solutions, and connect design choices to measurable outcomes.
You're fluent in Figma and Claude Code workflows and comfortable building and evolving design systems; you can prototype at multiple fidelities to communicate ideas.
You're a clear communicator who can tell compelling product stories and align cross-functional partners — and you can do it without waiting for perfect information.
You're genuinely comfortable with ambiguity and shifting priorities. You've worked in environments where the plan changed mid-sprint, where you had to make your best call without all the answers, and where scrappiness was a virtue. You didn't just survive that — you liked it.
You're resourceful. When you don't have a dedicated researcher, a UX writer, or a full component library, you figure it out. You make thoughtful decisions about when to go deep and when to ship.
You're collaborative and humble — you elevate teammates, welcome feedback, and contribute to design culture.
(Typically this means 5–8 years of experience in product design or equivalent depth — but we care more about the impact you've had than the exact number of years.)
Bonus: experience in civic tech, climate tools, or other high-stakes, data-heavy domains.
Our team has a lot to offer
Forerunner is an early stage company with an interdisciplinary team. We are motivated by seemingly intractable problems and work hard to support one another.
High bar. We sweat details in flows, interactions, and storytelling because great design builds trust. Last year, our team spoke at Figma's Config about design for climate resilience (watch here) — a reflection of how seriously we take design craft across the company.
Mission-driven. Our mission orients our business strategy and pushes us to work with a sense of urgency. We're in the weeds — our entire team spends time engaging with partners in the field to better understand the real-world problems they face.
Small team, real ownership. We're still building the plane while flying it. You'll have more ownership here than you would at a larger company — and more responsibility to go with it. What you ship matters, and you'll feel that every day.
Remote-first. We have small offices in San Francisco and Portland, ME. Many members of our team work remotely. We offer schedule flexibility for all of our employees and ask for accountability in return.
We want you to be happy and healthy. Forerunner offers competitive compensation, health/vision/dental coverage, commuter benefits, and a quarterly wellness reimbursement so you can define what “health” means to you.
Compensation. The salary range for this position is $160,000–$190,000. This posting may span more than one career level. Compensation is determined based on a variety of factors, including an individual’s skills, experience, and qualifications.
Forerunner is an equal opportunity employer committed to embracing diversity and the perspectives of individuals from all backgrounds.