Design Developer, Opinion

The role

A front-end development post on the Opinion desk at The New York Times, building digital storytelling experiences for Opinion readers. The work mixes engineering with visual and editorial judgement, from storyboards and shared ideas to tools, templates and complex multi-part systems built to deadline. The role reports to the Deputy Editor, Design, and is represented by the NewsGuild of NY.

What you'll do

• Build responsive, pixel-accurate experiences and product features with art directors, editors and engineers
• Assess designs for technical feasibility, accessibility and performance, and suggest alternatives where needed
• Make interactive prototypes and propose responsive layouts, animations and transitions
• Integrate, debug and optimise video, audio and animation assets so they load quickly on all devices and browsers
• Carry out thorough QA so that typography, spacing, colour and micro-interactions match the specification at every screen size
• Build and maintain reusable templates, tools and documentation for editorial workflows
• Onboard and train designers on front-end systems to make handoffs smoother
• Support the company's journalistic independence and mission

About you

• At least five years of creative front-end development using HTML, CSS, JavaScript and Figma
• A strong grasp of visual design fundamentals: typography, layout, motion and interaction
• Familiar with Git and collaborative coding workflows
• Willing to learn new technologies, including emerging AI API toolsets
• Desirable: a passion for journalism and visual storytelling
• Desirable: experience with Svelte, WebGL, three.js, canvas, React, After Effects, Cinema4D, Blender or Maya
• Desirable: experience in motion design, data visualisation, or video and audio work
• Desirable: a strong understanding of layout hierarchy, visual consistency, motion timing and typography
• Desirable: comfortable in a fast-moving newsroom, including occasional breaking-news hours at nights and weekends
• Desirable: an interest in audience analytics

What's on offer

• Possible variable pay such as an annual bonus and restricted stock, depending on the role
• Medical, dental and vision cover, and flexible spending accounts
• 401(k) with company match, and an employee stock purchase plan
• Paid holiday, paid sick days and paid parental leave
• Tuition reimbursement and professional development programmes

The process

• Apply with a CV and cover letter; a LinkedIn profile and portfolio link are optional
• Application work must be your own; generative AI tools may not be used to produce substantive application or interview content

The details

• Salary: $113,945.85 – $136,000 base
• Location: New York, NY; in the office four days a week
• Level: 5+ years; a NewsGuild of New York union role

How to apply

Apply through The New York Times careers site. The listing asks applicants not to use generative AI for the substance of their application.