Join Our Team at Wanderboat
Wanderboat is an AI map search for local discovery — think “TikTok meets Google Maps,” designed for real-world exploration. We combine our POI search engine, multi-step Thinking Agent, and Vision Understanding model to see the world the way you do. No walls of text — just curated feeds + a map that surface the best dining, shows, attractions, hotels, and experiences wherever you are.
We’re post-Series A (~$100M post), backed by top-tier investors, and seeing breakout traction in NYC, SF, Chicago, and LA with more than 6M organic monthly visit.
We believe the new opportunity of search and recommendation should come from great content instead of garbage websites. Therefore, we built our first-party content index, search and personalization system. It’s a first-of-its-kind AI-powered map search and local vibe-driven community, not a wrapper on APIs. If you’re excited about agentic workflow, multi-modal search, living in the moment, and rethinking the future of maps and content, we want to talk.
Role Overview
We’re seeking a Product Designer (UX/UI) with 1–3 years of experience to help shape Wanderboat into the most delightful way to discover the real world—restaurants, local gems, events, and trips—through an AI-native, feed + map experience.
You’ll own high agency on end-to-end product design across mobile and web, working closely with engineering, product, and AI/ML to turn complex capabilities (multimodal understanding, personalization, agentic flows) into interfaces that feel simple, human, and obvious. This is a high-impact role for someone who loves craft, moves fast, and thinks in systems.
Responsibilities
Own the Product Design Experience
- Own end-to-end design across Wanderboat’s feed, map, search, place pages, itinerary tools, and creator and community experiences.
- Turn product strategy and complex ideas into intuitive user flows, wireframes, prototypes, and polished interfaces that are ready to ship.
- Raise the bar for usability and visual craft while helping the product feel cohesive across responsive web and mobile platforms.
Design Thoughtful AI Experiences
- Partner closely with product, engineering, and AI teams to turn intelligent capabilities into clear, useful, and trustworthy user experiences.
- Design natural, agent-like interactions that guide users from asking and exploring to refining ideas and taking action.
- Translate model outputs into approachable UI patterns with thoughtful controls, explanations, personalization, and “why this” transparency.
Shape Map and Location-Based Experiences
- Use maps as more than a utility—design them as engaging visual surfaces for discovering, comparing, and planning places.
- Create balanced, responsive map experiences that keep geographic context, content, and controls easy to understand.
- Develop adaptable map patterns for different user needs, screen sizes, and discovery scenarios.
Build an Engaging Community Experience
- Draw inspiration from leading content and community platforms while creating experiences that feel distinctly Wanderboat.
- Design warm, inclusive, and encouraging interactions that motivate users to share recommendations, create content, and connect with others.
- Adapt creator and user-generated content patterns across feeds, place pages, profiles, and other relevant product surfaces.
Learn, Test, and Improve
- Conduct lightweight user research and usability testing to uncover real needs, behaviors, and pain points.
- Combine qualitative insights, product data, and rapid experimentation to improve activation, engagement, and retention.
- Advocate for accessibility, clarity, and practical usability so the product works for real people in real-world moments.
What We’re Looking For
Consumer Product Design Experience
- Around 1–3 years of product design experience, with a track record of shipping mobile-first B2C products or consumer apps.
- A portfolio that demonstrates end-to-end product thinking—from understanding the problem and exploring ideas to explaining decisions and delivering polished solutions.
- Strong foundations in product, interaction, and visual design, with a sharp eye for usability and craft.
- A strong sense of modern visual aesthetics and the ability to create AI experiences that feel distinctive, polished, and high quality.
Strong Execution and Collaboration
- Proficiency in Figma and experience creating clear, organized, engineer-friendly designs and specifications.
- Comfortable working in a fast-moving startup environment where priorities may shift, feedback comes quickly, and designers are expected to move ideas forward with confidence.
- A thoughtful, low-ego collaborator who communicates openly, welcomes feedback, and can advocate for design decisions with clear rationale.
Curiosity and Growth Mindset
- Excited about AI, machine learning, local discovery, creator tools, and community-driven products.
- Eager to grow your craft, learn from design partners, and contribute your own perspective along the way.
- Motivated by the opportunity to have meaningful ownership and impact within a small, agile team.
Bonus Points
Relevant Product Experience
- Experience designing feed, map, search, marketplace, local discovery, or community-based experiences.
- Familiarity with creator ecosystems, user-generated content, social products, or other platforms shaped by community participation.
- An interest in dining, events, travel, and everyday local experiences—and strong instincts for what makes them worth discovering and sharing.
AI, Growth, and Systems Thinking
- Experience designing products powered by AI or ML, including personalization, recommendations, ranking, explainability, or agent-like interactions.
- Experience conducting usability studies, running experiments or A/B tests, or partnering closely with growth teams.
- Familiarity with design systems, component libraries, scalable UI patterns, and modern prototyping practices.
Interaction Craft
- Ability to create lightweight motion prototypes or communicate interaction ideas clearly.
- Strong opinions about motion, transitions, feedback, and the small details that make a product feel polished.
- Curiosity about new tools and emerging interaction patterns—and a willingness to experiment thoughtfully.
Why Join Us
- Backed and battle-tested: We’re backed by top investors, and our team includes former builders from Microsoft AI, Meta, and Google—people who’ve shipped at scale and still care about craft.
- Real mission, real human impact: Wanderboat exists to help people get off screens and back into life—finding places worth going, with people worth being with.
- AI that actually ships: You’ll design where AI meets reality: making powerful intelligence feel calm, friendly, and useful.
- High ownership, high trust: You won’t be “one pixel in a big org.” You’ll drive core experiences and see your work in users’ hands fast.
- Taste matters here: We’re building something people love to use—not just something that “works.”
- A team that cares: We move quickly, we’re direct, and we’re kind. We sweat the details and we celebrate progress.
Learn more:
https://wanderboat.ai
Pay: $80,000.00 - $130,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Vision insurance
Experience:
Work Location: In person
