--- title: 'Principal Product Designer, Core Experience at Tin Can' canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/principal-product-designer-core-experience-tin-can-seattle-p18sm7qhpmd3' type: 'job' last_seen: '2026-09-09' --- # Principal Product Designer, Core Experience at Tin Can - **Company:** Tin Can - **Location:** Seattle, WA - **Compensation:** $170k–$195k - **Employment:** full-time - **Work type:** onsite - **Posted:** 2026-08-12 - **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-09 - **Apply:** https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/tin-can/34114e07-79b4-4813-a061-fb49337d5598 ## Job description ## ABOUT TIN CAN Tin Can is building a safer, simpler way for kids to connect — without smartphones. We're creating screen-free, delightful devices and services that let families call the people who matter most, free from the noise of today's digital world. We're building a bold, authentic, nostalgic, and kinda quirky brand that resonates with folks who want something simpler & better for their kids than the tech-infused lives we're currently living (and who have a sense of humor about it). As we gear up to scale to thousands of families, we're ready to bring on a designer to help make it happen. ## THE ROLE Kids want a phone that just works. Parents want to know exactly what it's doing. Designing for both, at once, without either one feeling like an afterthought — that's the role. We're looking for a Principal UX Designer to own the experience of Tin Can from a family's first consideration to their eight millionth call. That means the app parents live in (contacts, quiet hours, their whole relationship with the device) and it means onboarding and retention, the moments that turn a new box on the counter into something a family can't imagine living without. This isn't just a design-what's-asked-of-you role. You'll run research to understand what's actually working and what isn't, partnering with Product to figure out what to do next, not just how to build it. You'll work closely with the Head of Product, Engineering, and Brand so that software, hardware, and brand feel like one coherent product rather than a set of one-offs. This is a hands-on senior IC role: You'll do the design work yourself, and you'll establish the patterns, flows, and design language that let us scale design deliberately, including with AI, over time. ## WHAT YOU'LL DO - Own design across the whole software experience, shaping the core Tin Can experience, the stuff that keeps the phone ringing - Run research yourself, talk to families, watch where things break, to set your next move - Shape what we build next, not just how; you're a strategic thought partner to Product, not just an executor - Build the patterns and design language that help the team and when appropriate, AI, move fast but meet our bar - Get hands-on: prototype it, write the copy, sit with an engineer until it’s right ## WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR - 10+ years designing and shipping consumer digital products, with clear examples of owning complex experiences end to end - Excellent visual design craft, with a gift for making complex workflows feel simple - A strong systems thinker who builds reusable foundations, not just one-off screens - A strategic partner to Product who shapes what we build next, not just how - Fluency using AI as a design multiplier (exploration, prototyping, production), and genuine interest in building a foundation the team can scale with it - Excellent judgment around user trust, safety, and quality, especially designing for kids and the parents who trust us - Ability to set direction and move independently, with little oversight - Hands-on and scrappy approach; you'd rather build the component or run the test yourself than wait on someone else - Low-ego and collaborative vibes; you share credit and pitch in on problems that aren't yours ## WHY JOIN TIN CAN - We're building tech that protects childhood: We're on a quest to give kids a more analog childhood — one with real conversations, real connection, and way less screen time. No doomscrolling, data mining, or dopamine traps — just a simpler, better way for kids to stay in touch. This is a rare opportunity to build something that truly matters. - You'll set the foundation, not inherit one: As our first dedicated UX owner, you'll define how the software experience looks, feels, and scales — with the autonomy and backing of the founding team to do it right. - Small, high-trust team: Every company says "team," but at Tin Can it means something different. We're a small, mission-driven group that genuinely has each other's backs — professionally and personally. You'll be joining a tight-knit crew where your ideas and instincts matter from day one. - Room to explore, not just execute: You'll have the space to explore new ideas, challenge assumptions, and shape an experience that reflects our values of trust, simplicity, and care. If you're excited by the idea of shaping how thousands of families experience something simpler and better for their kids, please reach out. We can't wait to meet someone who's ready to jump in, set the bar, and help us grow. ## About Tin Can ## Company Overview - **One-liner**: Tin Can builds a screen-free, Wi-Fi-enabled landline for kids that allows them to call approved contacts without the distractions of a smartphone. - **Entity Type**: Private (Seed stage) - **Headquarters**: Seattle, Washington, United States - **Founded**: 2024 - **Founders**: Chet Kittleson, Max Blumen, and Graeme (last name not publicly available) ## Core Business - **Primary industry**: Consumer Services / Kids’ Communication Hardware - **Target customers**: B2C – parents of children aged 4–13 who want a safe, screen-free phone option - **Mission**: “Bring back the freedom of the old-school landline, updated for today’s families.” ## Products & Services - **[Tin Can Device](https://tincan.kids/)**: A custom-designed, Wi-Fi-connected landline handset with no screen, no apps, no camera, and no browser. It plugs into a wall and connects over Wi-Fi. Parents manage contacts and quiet hours via a companion mobile app. - **[Can2Can Plan](https://tincan.kids/)**: Free unlimited calling between two Tin Cans, no subscription required. - **[Party Line Plan](https://tincan.kids/)**: $9.99/month subscription that allows the child to call any regular phone number (grandparents, parents’ cells, etc.) in addition to other Tin Cans. Includes 911 emergency calling. - **Parent App**: iOS/Android app for approving contacts, setting quiet hours, and managing Do Not Disturb schedules. ## Market Standing - **Valuation**: Not publicly disclosed - **Total Funding**: $5.75 M - Pre-Seed (May 2025): Led by PSL Ventures (9 investors) - Seed (Oct 2025): $3.5 M led by Data Tech Fund and PSL Ventures (8 investors) - **Notable Investors**: PSL Ventures, Data Tech Fund, Greylock (participated in a prior round) - **Growth Signals**: - Used by families in 30+ U.S. states with zero paid marketing (organic word-of-mouth) - Headcount grew from ~2 to 27 employees (+1,167% YoY) - Received 40 early prototypes hand-installed in one Seattle neighborhood; demand spread rapidly ## Competitive Advantages - **True screen-free experience**: No apps, no texts, no browser – pure voice calling. Eliminates the risks of smartphones (social media, addictive apps, stranger danger). - **Parental control without complexity**: Parents manage everything via a simple app; kids get independence without internet access. - **Wi-Fi landline model**: Works with existing home Wi-Fi, no need for a cellular plan or smartphone. - **Emergency calling**: 911 always available, even without a subscription. - **Free Can2Can network**: Encourages peer-to-peer calling among friends who also have Tin Cans. ## Strategic Focus - Scaling production of the fully custom hardware (designed from the ground up) - Expanding the user base beyond the initial 30 states through word-of-mouth and targeted marketing - Building out the team (active job postings for engineering, design, marketing, and customer experience) - Maintaining a mission-driven culture focused on intentional technology for kids ## Why Work Here - **Culture**: Mission-driven startup focused on real human connection and “keeping childhood full of imagination, not notifications.” Team is passionate about intentional tech. - **Work environment**: Hybrid/in-office options available. HQ is in Seattle with an in-office workspace; some roles are remote or hybrid. - **Growth opportunity**: Early-stage company (27 employees) with rapid growth – employees can have outsized impact. - **Perks**: Not detailed publicly, but typical startup perks (equity, flexible schedule) likely. The company emphasizes a “no surprises” approach to its product. - **Team composition**: Small, cross-functional team with specialists in customer service, design, engineering, and operations. ## Sources 1. [tincan.kids](https://tincan.kids/) 2. [tincan.kids - About page](https://tincan.kids/pages/about-tin-can) 3. [Built In - Tin Can Careers](https://builtin.com/company/tin-can) 4. [LinkedIn - Tin Can](https://www.linkedin.com/company/tincankids) 5. [Jobs page - Ashby](https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/tin-can) ## Other roles at Tin Can - [PR Coordinator](https://feeny.ai/job/pr-coordinator-tin-can-seattle-mvqpms9y8k9p) — Seattle, WA - [International Expansion Lead](https://feeny.ai/job/international-expansion-lead-tin-can-seattle-pj7hjmxgbvzy) — Seattle, WA - [Senior Software Engineer, Reliability](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-software-engineer-reliability-tin-can-seattle-ahjjhenhwe6t) — Seattle, WA - [Senior VoIP Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-voip-engineer-tin-can-seattle-w5dxw7d2wg59) — Seattle, WA - [Growth and Brand Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/growth-and-brand-engineer-tin-can-seattle-2wpwwc20rty2) — Seattle, WA - [Lifecycle Marketing Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/lifecycle-marketing-manager-tin-can-seattle-3cpz78792ak9) — Seattle, WA - [Senior Product Designer, Acquisition & Conversion](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-product-designer-acquisition-conversion-tin-can-seattle-2he14k0estfj) — Seattle, WA - [Staff Product Manager, Conversion](https://feeny.ai/job/staff-product-manager-conversion-tin-can-seattle-mc396qdg6atm) — Seattle, WA - [Senior Product Manager, Acquisition & Brand](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-product-manager-acquisition-brand-tin-can-seattle-856wp4tax1h0) — Seattle, WA - [Associate Creative Director](https://feeny.ai/job/associate-creative-director-tin-can-seattle-e2rzq8yhx458) — Seattle, WA