Staff Front-End Engineer - Design Systems

Overview

Join Canva in transforming global design experiences through innovative technology. This role focuses on evolving Canva’s frontend infrastructure by building a cross-platform portable React component library that operates seamlessly on web and mobile via React Native. As the platform shifts towards a mobile-first strategy, you will help bridge web and native mobile UI development at scale, functioning at the forefront of design system innovation.

Key Responsibilities

• Take full ownership of the Portable UI Platform, delivering reusable React components that serve multiple key Canva surfaces by the end of 2026.
• Design solutions that abstract complex cross-platform challenges so product teams benefit effortlessly from portable UI capabilities.
• Establish standards for building, distributing, and consuming portable components, ensuring scalable and robust design system architecture used by 800+ engineers.
• Mentor colleagues through design and code reviews, guiding the transition from web-first to cross-platform engineering practices.
• Collaborate across product teams to prioritize work, address needs, and encourage adoption of platform capabilities.
• Lead strategic technical decisions within the Design System Evolution team and contribute broadly to the design system’s future direction.
• Innovate design system approaches aligned with AI advancements to support faster development, empower non-technical UI creators, and enhance visual language.
• Shape frontend engineering standards and best practices throughout Canva.

Candidate Profile

• Proven experience leading or contributing significantly to design systems, with a passion for platform stewardship.
• In-depth knowledge of web fundamentals including HTML, CSS, JavaScript/TypeScript, React, and Web APIs.
• Hands-on expertise in cross-platform UI development using React Native.
• Track record of delivering complex, multi-team projects with scalable and reliable technical solutions.
• Strong communication skills facilitating effective collaboration across diverse teams.
• Balance between visionary strategic thinking and detailed technical execution.
• Adept at dissecting large ambiguous problems into manageable decisions considering tradeoffs.
• Commitment to fostering technical excellence and continuous learning culture.
• Curiosity about leveraging AI to enhance developer and design workflows.
• Demonstrated awareness of accessibility principles and eagerness to continue learning.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience advocating for technical goals and managing significant technical changes in a leadership or contributor role.
• Skills in stakeholder engagement and technical internal advocacy.
• Ability to write accessible code compliant with specifications like WCAG 2.2 AA.
• Exposure to native or hybrid app development environments.

About the Team

The Design System Evolution team pioneers advanced design system capabilities extending Canva’s UI framework to new platforms and technologies. Collaboration across multiple design system teams supports creating consistent, scalable UX. This role offers a senior engineering opportunity to guide a mature design system at a global scale.

Benefits and Culture

• Equity ownership opportunities to share in the company’s success.
• Inclusive parental leave supporting all parents and carers.
• Annual allowance for wellbeing, social activities, and office setup.
• Flexible leave policies promoting work-life balance and personal wellbeing.

Additional Information

Hiring focuses on skills, experience, and cultural fit. Name pronouns and any reasonable interview accommodations can be shared upon application. All interview processes are virtual. We encourage applications from diverse backgrounds regardless of exact skill matches.