Design Director Jobs in California
Design Director jobs in California are among the most active in the country, concentrated in technology, entertainment, consumer goods, and digital product companies, with openings from senior individual contributors through executive creative leads. Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego account for the largest share of postings, anchored by employers like Apple, Google, and Warner Bros. Discovery, all of which maintain significant design leadership functions in the state. Product design direction, brand and visual identity, and UX leadership are the specialties California employers pursue most consistently. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Day - 08 Hour (United States of America) This is a Stanford Health Care job.
A Brief Overview
The Director – Facilities Plan & Design manages a single or multidisciplinary departmental team responsible for delivering programming, planning, and design services from concept through closeout for one or more functional areas. Responsible for day-to-day management of multiple Stanford Health Care (SHC) projects ensuring each project remains on scope, on schedule and within budget. Responsible for the various phases of the project including operational readiness, business continuity and operational planning and activation efforts related to the projects prior to first patient day including the space planning team consisting of licensing, fit-up, workflows, and education and training. Leads Facilities Planning & Design project team members assigned to complex projects and facilities within Stanford Health Care's portfolio. Director provides guidance to the project teams, including the project management and operational teams focused on delivering business continuity, effective communications and operational gains through facilitation, evaluation and decision-making processes across the operational areas, related to detailed design, furniture, fixtures, & equipment (FF&E) validation, and workflow development to be implemented in the new facilities. Represents Space Planning to multidisciplinary teams of physicians, SHC leadership and staff through the discovery, change, and implementation efforts needed to realize the desired level of operational functionality upon opening of the new facilities. Partner with SHC executive leadership, School of Medicine faculty, operational leaders and change managers, design/construction and facilities services management teams to ensure that resources are acquired, leveraged, and managed effectively to meet the goals of the organization. The Director functions as a change agent, facilitator, consultant, coach, and leader to support the department. This position is part of the leadership team within the Business Unit related to operational readiness and reports to the Executive or Senior Director.
Locations
Stanford Health Care
What you will do
- Lead a multidisciplinary team to deliver programming, planning, and design services from feasibility through activation for assigned portfolios.
- Translate business and operational plans into program requirements, test fits, feasibility studies, and master planning concepts; ensure alignment with capital and operational priorities.
- Establish and maintain standards, templates, and guidelines for space, medical planning, interiors, wayfinding/signage, art integration, and documentation quality.
- Ensure compliance with applicable codes and regulations (e.g., HCAI/CBC, FGI, ADA) and with Stanford Health Care policies, safety standards, and planning guidelines.
- Partner with Facilities Construction and other stakeholders to define scope, schedule, and budget; support project governance, risk management, and change control for planning and design decisions.
- Manage team staffing, workload, and performance; recruit, coach, and develop planners, designers and project managers; support succession planning and cross‑functional capability building.
- Oversee vendor and consultant engagements (e.g., architects, planners, interior designers, art and signage consultants), ensuring clear scopes, performance expectations, and auditable documentation.
Education Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree required. Bachelor’s degree in Architecture, Interior Architecture/Design, Planning, Landscape Architecture, Facilities Planning, Business/Public Administration, or a closely related field from an accredited college or university preferred.
- Master’s degree in Architecture, Planning, Business/Public Administration, or related field preferred.
Experience Qualifications
- Ten (10) years of progressively responsible and directly related work experience in healthcare facilities planning, design, architecture, or a closely related field.
- At least three (3) years of experience managing multidisciplinary teams and portfolios in a healthcare or academic medical center environment.
- California Architect license or NCIDQ certification preferred, LEED AP and/or EDAC/ACHA credentials a plus.
Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Knowledge of healthcare development and facility planning strategies, techniques, and methods (e.g., space, medical, interior, architectural planning).
- Working knowledge of HCAI/CBC, FGI, ADA, and related regulatory frameworks; ability to interpret and apply codes and standards to planning and design solutions.
- Ability to develop and manage project and program budgets, make financial projections, and prepare reports and presentations for leadership.
- Demonstrated ability to plan, organize, motivate, mentor, direct, and evaluate the work of others; ability to lead cross‑functional teams in a matrixed environment.
- Strong communication and relationship‑building skills, including the ability to work effectively with clinical, administrative, and physician leaders and external partners.
Licenses and Certifications
- PMP - Project Mgmt Professional preferred . Lean Six Sigma Certification preferred .
These principles apply to ALL employees:
SHC Commitment to Providing an Exceptional Patient & Family Experience
Stanford Health Care sets a high standard for delivering value and an exceptional experience for our patients and families. Candidates for employment and existing employees must adopt and execute C-I-CARE standards for all of patients, families and towards each other. C-I-CARE is the foundation of Stanford’s patient-experience and represents a framework for patient-centered interactions. Simply put, we do what it takes to enable and empower patients and families to focus on health, healing and recovery.
You will do this by executing against our three experience pillars, from the patient and family’s perspective:
- Know Me: Anticipate my needs and status to deliver effective care
- Show Me the Way: Guide and prompt my actions to arrive at better outcomes and better health
- Coordinate for Me: Own the complexity of my care through coordination
Equal Opportunity Employer Stanford Health Care (SHC) strongly values diversity and is committed to equal opportunity and non-discrimination in all of its policies and practices, including the area of employment. Accordingly, SHC does not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity and/or expression, religion, age, national or ethnic origin, political beliefs, marital status, medical condition, genetic information, veteran status, or disability, or the perception of any of the above. People of all genders, members of all racial and ethnic groups, people with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply. Qualified applicants with criminal convictions will be considered after an individualized assessment of the conviction and the job requirements.
Base Pay Scale: Generally starting at $91.68 - $121.48 per hourThe salary of the finalist selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to, internal equity, experience, education, specialty and training. This pay scale is not a promise of a particular wage.
See All 93 Design Director Jobs in California
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Find Design Director JobsDesign Director Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Design Director Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring



Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software
- Electronics & Hardware
- Consulting & Professional Services
- Insurance
- Manufacturing
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in design director jobs across California.
- Bachelor's or master's degree in design, visual communications, or a related creative field
- 10 or more years of progressive design experience with at least three in a leadership role
- Demonstrated portfolio of brand, product, or UX work shipped at scale
- Experience managing multidisciplinary design teams across research, visual, and motion disciplines
- Proficiency in Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, and collaborative product development workflows
- Background collaborating with product management and engineering in an agile environment
Design Director Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a design director in California?
Becoming a design director in California typically starts with a bachelor's degree in graphic design, industrial design, interaction design, or a closely related field, often supplemented by an MFA or an MBA with a design focus for those targeting large technology or entertainment companies. California does not require a state-issued license for design directors, so the path is built around progressive portfolio work, leadership credibility, and domain expertise in the sector you are targeting, whether that is consumer technology, film and media, or consumer packaged goods.
Which companies hire design directors in California?
Employers hiring design directors in California right now include Meta, ServiceNow, and Turner & Townsend Pty Limited, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of October 2026. California's concentration of major technology headquarters, streaming platforms, and global consumer brands means design director roles appear at both household-name corporations and well-funded growth-stage companies.
Which California cities have the most design director jobs?
San Francisco, San Jose, and Los Angeles account for the most design director openings in California. Los Angeles dominates because of its entertainment, streaming, and consumer brand industries, San Francisco and the broader Bay Area draw volume from enterprise software and consumer technology headquarters, and San Diego contributes a steady share driven by biotech, defense contractors, and digital health companies that increasingly invest in design leadership.
Are there remote design director jobs in California?
Yes, and more than most senior creative roles. About 66% of design director openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of October 2026, reflecting the field's compatibility with distributed collaboration tools. Strategic and brand-focused design director positions tend to be the most remote-accessible, while roles involving physical product development, retail environments, or on-set production generally require an in-person presence.
How can I get hired as a design director in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is securing a senior designer or design lead role first, then building toward director-level scope over time. In California, large technology companies like Apple and Google run structured design residency and associate programs that develop early-career designers, and entertainment studios often bring in associate creative directors from art director or brand designer backgrounds. A strong portfolio demonstrating end-to-end ownership, even from freelance or agency work, carries significant weight with California hiring teams evaluating first-time director candidates.
Where can I find and apply to design director jobs in California?
You can find and apply to design director jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings across industries and experience levels. Find roles that fit your background and apply directly through the listings.
See All 93 Design Director Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Design Director Jobs