Hi Chainloop team.
I saw you’re looking for a Founding Design Engineer.
I’m Nico, a design engineer based in South Africa. I’ve been building interfaces, design systems and products for the last 15+ years.
Work history
Most recently, I’ve been Altostrat’s founding design engineer, shaping how people and agents work together. I design and build the client-facing apps (Electron, iOS and Android), the marketing site and the brand. I also co-founded Owners Circle.
I’ve worked remotely for most of my career, as both a freelancer and employee. I’ve built design systems from the ground up and taken products from 0 → 1 for companies like Simvida, Imagemakers and Stream.
Why Chainloop
This role feels close to the work I’ve been doing at Altostrat. I like being hands-on with both design and code, and building systems that help people and agents make better interfaces.
Let’s talk.
I’d love to talk about what you’re building and how I could contribute as your founding design engineer.
Connect
Testimonials
FAQ
I turn early ideas into working prototypes, make complex products easier to use, and build design systems. I’m most useful when you need someone who can connect product thinking, interface design and frontend implementation.
I work remotely and asynchronously with product teams. I take ownership of open-ended problems: identifying what needs attention, proposing a direction and following through to production. Written updates, shared prototypes and early feedback keep decisions visible and the team involved.