Design Engineer

Who We Are

Murmuration is a nonprofit organization that amplifies the power of civic engagement by providing data, digital tools, and research-driven insights to community-focused organizations so that together we can create an America where everyone can lead healthy, free, and dignified lives.

Every day, people are trying to shape our future for the better. Fighting for water that's safe to drink. Schools that serve students equitably. Gun laws that make sense. And rallying people who care like we do. And yet too often the skillful organizers working to mobilize communities lack access to technology that could supercharge their efforts. Knocking on every door instead of knowing which will open most easily. And going up against outside interests that have half the heart, but twice the tools.

In communities across America, Murmuration's partners are leveraging our data, tools, and insights to help thousands of organizers orchestrate millions of individual people to do big things together. Demand big things together. To create the world they want. Together.

About the Position

At our core, we believe that research and data only become powerful when they're transformed into tools and artifacts that people can actually use and understand. Making complex information accessible, intuitive, and actionable is an unsolved challengeand we're looking for someone eager to help solve it.

As a Design Engineer on our research engineering team, you'll focus on building prototypes and thoughtful, responsive web experiences that make sophisticated data and research feel simple. You'll serve as the team's expert for standing up interfaces and tools, and you'll work closely with a cross-functional team of curious engineers, data scientists, researchers, and product folks to bring ideas to life. Together, we'll experiment, iterate, and learn what works best to empower researchers, decision makers, and organizers through design and technology.

We think it's a great fit for someone who thrives at the intersection of design and engineeringsomeone who's comfortable with data but loves building frontend experiences and connecting them to backend systems, and occasionally even contributing to building entirely new systems to support features and functionality.

Job Level: IC3

What You'll Do

• Design, build, and maintain clean, responsive user interfaces within the Research Division using React and modern frontend technologies;
• Design interface layouts and interaction flows in Figma when needed, especially for new features or rapid prototyping;
• Translate Figma designs into accessible, performant, pixel-perfect components;
• Implement reusable component patterns and help evolve our internal design system;
• Integrate interfaces with backend APIs and ensure smooth data presentation (without requiring complex wrangling or transformation);
• Work closely with research engineers, product, and data research teams to align on user needs and UX strategy;
• Ensure interfaces follow best practices in accessibility, responsiveness, and performance;
• Dig into the backend and work on upstream features or pipelines as needed;
• Optimize frontend performance, ensuring smooth integration of real-time and static datasets into visualizations and interfaces; and
• Stay current on the latest trends and technologies in data visualization, frontend development, and civic tech to continuously improve Murmuration's tools and workflows.

Requirements

• 4+ years of experience in UI engineering or full-stack roles with a strong focus on frontend;
• Proficiency in React or similar component-based frameworks, with experience in building and managing production web applications;
• Experience designing and developing full web applications that include data visualization components (e.g., dashboards, charts, maps, or interactive filters);
• Experience with Redux or similar state management libraries;
• Familiarity with TailwindCSS or similar utility-first CSS frameworks for efficient, scalable styling;
• Experience translating Figma or similar design files into production-ready code;
• Strong design sensibilitytypography, color, layout, and accessibility best practices;
• Familiarity with integrating frontend code with backend APIs (REST/GraphQL);
• Exposure to light backend development or formatting data for frontend use;
• Strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail, especially when optimizing frontend performance and rendering large datasets;
• Proven track record of collaborating within small, agile teamscomfortable wearing multiple hats and contributing across disciplines; and
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to explain technical and design concepts to non-technical stakeholders.

Nice to Haves

• Experience working in civic tech, advocacy, or nonprofit sectors;
• Exposure to performance tuning and optimizing large-scale web apps;
• Familiarity with accessibility audits and testing tools (e.g., axe, Lighthouse);
• Experience contributing to or building design systems; and
• Knowledge of user testing practices and iterative design cycles.

Talented Design Engineers come from all walks of life and career. If you are passionate about civic engagement and technology, please apply, even if you do not check every box!

Benefits

Location and Compensation

The Design Engineer is a full-time, salaried position with a comprehensive benefits package (more detail below). It is based anywhere in the U.S. The starting salary range for this position is $105,000 - $130,000 and is commensurate with experience. This pay range reflects what the organization expects to offer for this position at the time of posting. In alignment with applicable laws, compensation will be determined based on the applicant's skills, qualifications, experience, and the specific requirements of the role. Please note that the organization may adjust this pay range as needed.

Our Culture of Care

We work hard to create a culture of care to ensure that our staff are best equipped to lead happy, healthy, and balanced lives. To that end, we offer a comprehensive benefits package which includes:

• Health, vision, and dental insurance with 100% of premiums covered for you and qualifying family members;
• Retirement benefits with a 5% employer match;
• A flexible unlimited PTO plan;
• Generous paid parental leave;
• Pre-tax commuter benefits;
• A company laptop;
• A flexible remote work environment;
• A home office setup stipend for all new employees;
• Monthly reimbursement for remote work expenses;
• A yearly professional development fund;
• Mental health and wellness benefits through Calm and Better Help;
• Yearly in-person staff retreats; and
• A welcoming culture that celebrates diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.

At Murmuration, we believe a vibrant, representative democracy depends on the inclusion of diverse voices, lived experiences, and perspectives. The best ideas don't come from a single person or ideology they emerge at the intersection of different backgrounds, identities, and viewpoints. We are proud of our commitment to building an organization and culture shaped by respect, empathy, and collaboration, where our team's diversity fuels innovation, civic engagement, and meaningful change. We welcome new colleagues who will help us nurture this collective effort. Join us.

An Equal-Opportunity Employer with a Commitment to Diversity

Murmuration is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, and as an organization committed to diversity and the perspective of all voices, we consider applicants equally of race, gender, color, sexual orientation, religion, marital status, disability, political affiliation and national origin. We reasonably accommodate staff members and/or applicants with disabilities, provided they are otherwise able to perform the essential functions of the job.

Note: Murmuration is two organizations working together to pursue our mission of amplifying the power of civic engagement: Murmuration Research Institute, a 501(c)(3) that conducts research to identify, design, and create the data, tools, and insights that build healthier and more equitable communities; and Murmuration, Inc., a 501(c)(4) that supports organizations working across the country on the nation's most challenging issues with access to data, tools, and research that build healthier and more equitable communities.