Staff Designer

MZLA Technologies Corporation (MZLA) is a wholly owned, for-profit subsidiary of the Mozilla Foundation and home to Thunderbird, our flagship open-source email and productivity platform empowering more than 20 million people around the world. While part of the Mozilla portfolio of companies, MZLA operates independently in both identity and organizational structure from the Mozilla Foundation and Mozilla Corporation.

Everything we build at MZLA is open source, developed transparently and in collaboration with a global community of contributors. This open approach shapes not only our products but also how we work: collaboratively, inclusively, and with a shared commitment to building technology that puts users first. We believe privacy and productivity should coexist, and that people deserve powerful digital tools without surrendering control of their data.

MZLA is a small but growing team of 50+ people distributed across seven countries. As we evolve Thunderbird from a single application into a suite of privacy-respecting productivity tools, we’re introducing new products and services that remain independent of big tech ecosystems. Our unique revenue model combines community donations that keep Thunderbird freely available with subscriptions for new cloud-based services, allowing us to grow and innovate while remaining independent and true to our values.

To learn more, visit www.thunderbird.net

The Opportunity:

As a Staff Designer, you will operate at a system level, shaping clear, connected experiences across our desktop, web, and mobile products. You’ll partner closely with engineering and product leadership to define direction, establish shared frameworks, and lead complex initiatives from discovery through delivery.

This role combines strategic influence with hands-on execution. You’ll identify system-wide opportunities, translate research and business context into scalable experience patterns, and drive cohesive, accessible design across platforms. You’ll also elevate design craft across the organization by mentoring others and setting a high standard for quality, clarity, and usability.

This is a full-time, remote position working with colleagues across multiple regions and time zones.

What you’ll do: 

• Lead complex, cross-team design initiatives from problem framing and discovery through shipped outcomes.
• Map end-to-end user journeys to identify system-level gaps and define scalable experience solutions.
• Produce high-quality design artefacts, including flows, wireframes, prototypes, and documentation, that create alignment and enable confident implementation.
• Shape experience frameworks, visual systems, and design standards that scale across platforms and teams.
• Translate research, analytics, and business context into clear recommendations, actionable plans, and long-term experience strategy.
• Lead and guide user research and usability testing efforts, synthesizing insights into practical product decisions.
• Set and uphold a high bar for usability, accessibility, and visual craft, embedding inclusive design standards across products by default.
• Facilitate planning sessions, design workshops, and design reviews that drive alignment and clarity.
• Mentor designers and influence cross-functional partners to strengthen user-centered thinking and design quality.

What you’ll bring: 

• 10+ years of professional experience in user experience and interface design, including leadership of complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives.
• Demonstrated ability to operate strategically while delivering high-quality, hands-on design work.
• Experience creating and evolving scalable design systems and interaction patterns across web, desktop, and/or mobile platforms.
• Strong systems thinking, with the ability to connect journeys, architecture, and interface patterns into coherent experiences.
• Experience planning and conducting user research and usability testing, translating insights into product decisions.
• A portfolio demonstrating leadership across shipped work, including problem framing, decision rationale, collaboration, and measurable impact.
• Experience mentoring designers and influencing cross-functional teams in distributed environments.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with comfort navigating ambiguity and driving clarity.

Bonus points for:

• Experience working in open-source or community-driven environments.
• Public representation of design through talks, writing, or community engagement.
• Fluency in multiple languages for collaboration across a global community.
• Comfort contributing to light front-end implementation or code-based prototypes.
• Deep empathy, with the ability to build trust, navigate conflict, and keep teams aligned under pressure

Work Environment:

You’ll work with passionate staff and open-source community members from all over the globe to support the mission and objectives of MZLA and Thunderbird. Strong communication and documentation skills are essential for effective collaboration.

What you’ll get:

We benchmark our base salaries to local markets and target the 60th percentile of the peer market. The salary ranges for this role are:

• US: $150,000 - $170,000 USD 
• Canada: $125,000 - 145,000 CAD
• UK: £72,000 - £86,000 GBP

We may consider candidates with strong skills but less than the required experience. Title, level and compensation will be determined based on qualifications and experience.

In addition to competitive salaries, we offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your whole self.

Work & Career

• Fully remote work & schedule flexibility
• Latest Laptop 
• Discretionary Annual Bonus Program
• Monthly Remote Work Stipend
• Annual Professional Development Stipend
• Access to Udemy Learning Platform
• Industry Conferences
• Company All Hands

Rest & Play

• 24 days PTO per year (prorated) 
• Your Birthday
• Year-end Company Shutdown
• 9 Wellbeing Days
• Public Holidays
• Other Paid Leave
• Quarterly Wellbeing Stipend for Personal / Family Activities

Health & Family

• 401(k) / RRSP / Pension Contributions
• Health, Dental, & Vision Insurance
• Disability Insurance
• Life Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program 
• Paid Parental Leave
• Paid Sick Days 

Work Eligibility:

Applicants must reside in and have permanent work authorization for the country location(s) specified in the posting. We are unable to consider applicants outside of these markets at this time. And, we do not provide visa sponsorship.

How to Apply:

Please apply directly through our career page. We carefully review every cover letter and screening question, so take the time to answer each fully. We also value authenticity. We want to hear your perspective, not a bot’s. It's fine to use AI to polish your writing, but not to write your answers. Candidates who submit unoriginal AI generated answers will be disqualified from further screening. 

MZLA Technologies Corporation (MZLA) Commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion

MZLA believes in the value of diverse creative practices and forms of knowledge, and knows diversity, equity and inclusion are crucial to and enrich the company’s core mission. We encourage applications from everyone, including members of all equity-seeking communities, such as (but not limited to) women, racialized and Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, persons of all sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions.

We are an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race (including hairstyle and texture), religion (including religious grooming and dress practices), gender, gender identity, gender expression, color, national origin, pregnancy, ancestry, domestic partner status, disability, sexual orientation, age, genetic predisposition, medical condition, marital status, citizenship status, military or veteran status, or any other basis covered by applicable laws. Mozilla will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics or any other unlawful behavior, conduct, or purpose. 

We will ensure that qualified individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, as appropriate. Please contact us at hiringaccommodations@thunderbird.net to request accommodation.

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