> Markdown version of [/jobs/ext/1621490-sr-design-engineer-spectrum-desktop](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/jobs/ext/1621490-sr-design-engineer-spectrum-desktop). Every page supports `.md` or `Accept: text/markdown`. Links point to the HTML versions so they work for humans too. Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md). --- # Sr Design Engineer, Spectrum Desktop - **Company:** Adobe Systems - **Location:** San Francisco, CA, United States - **Experience:** Expert - **Salary:** $177,900.0 - $257,550.0 - **Contract:** Permanent contract - **Skills:** JavaScript (Programming Language), Computer Animation, Microsoft Windows, Adobe After Effects, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Livecycle Designer, Adobe InDesign, Adobe Premiere Pro, Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), Artificial Intelligence, Apple Mac Systems, Software Applications, Computing Platforms, Build Automation, C++ (Programming Language), Code Review, Human-Computer Interaction, Python (Programming Language), Software Engineering, System Software, TypeScript, Visual Effects, Adobe, Objective C++ - **Published:** July 31, 2026 - **Apply:** https://adobe.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/external_experienced/job/San-Francisco/Sr-Design-Engineer--Spectrum-Desktop_R170763 ## About the Role * 5+ years of software engineering experience, with deep production C++ expertise * Strong systems-design experience, including framework or platform architecture * Depth in at least one UI framework area, such as layout, animation, rendering, theming, or performance * Experience building cross-platform software for Windows and macOS * A track record of solving complex technical problems while keeping software fast, reliable, and maintainable * Design sensibility, strong communication skills, and experience developing alignment across design and engineering teams * Experience with Objective-C, JavaScript/TypeScript, Python are a plus! About Adobe Design ## Description Drover is the framework behind many of Adobe's flagship desktop applications. It is the foundation that powers the user interface of some of the most widely used software Adobe ships, from Photoshop to Illustrator to Premiere Pro to After Effects and more. We're looking for a Senior Design Engineer to work on Drover. This is a high-ownership systems role focused on modernizing how Adobe's desktop products are built, and how they look and feel. You will influence the technical implementation and ongoing support of Adobe's design system, Spectrum, defining how designs come to life across our desktop UI. This is a unique opportunity to innovate. Bringing a modern design system to a high-performance native framework raises genuinely interesting problems, and we want someone to go deep on them: layout and adaptive sizing, animation and motion, compositing and rendering, theming, and the performance work that makes all of it feel amazing. If you care about the craft of building beautiful, fast, native user experiences we'd love to meet you. What you'll do * Partner with designers, engineers, and product teams * Modernize Drover's UI foundations for fast, polished, native experiences * Shape framework capabilities, APIs, and abstractions that help product teams ship UI faster and more consistently * Prototype, validate, and ship new UI capabilities through close collaboration * Build automation, validation, and performance systems that make quality measurable at scale * Participate in design and code reviews, helping set the standard for UI craft * Use AI-assisted tools thoughtfully while maintaining high standards for correctness, performance, and quality ## Related Videos - [3x Performance: A Humbling Journey](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/100165-3x-performance-a-humbling-journey) - [Learn Enough Design to Be Dangerous](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/577-learn-enough-design-to-be-dangerous) - [Are Code Reviews Worth It? Insights from 16 Years of Review Data](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1135-are-code-reviews-worth-it-insights-from-16-years-of-review-data) - [Do TypeScript without TypeScript](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/327-do-typescript-without-typescript) - [NoCode LiveCode: Leveraging AI Tools to Craft Fully Functional Apps!](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1169-nocode-livecode-leveraging-ai-tools-to-craft-fully-functional-apps) - [WeAreDevelopers LIVE - CSS is DOOMed](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1851-wearedevelopers-live-css-is-doomed) ## Related Articles - [Dev Digest 133 - Back to Front](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/474-dev-digest-133-back-to-front) - [Dev Digest 130 - The Diablo is in the details](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/470-dev-digest-130-the-diablo-is-in-the-details) - [Dev Digest 120 - Apple and peers](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/455-dev-digest-120-apple-and-peers) - [Are design and development really just the same thing?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/520-are-design-and-development-really-just-the-same-thing) - [Dev Digest 129 - Now that's what I call private data!](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/468-dev-digest-129-now-that-s-what-i-call-private-data) - [Dev Digest 103 - Superb Owl Trafficking](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/388-dev-digest-103-superb-owl-trafficking)