Design Director Jobs in Boston, MA
Design Director jobs in Boston are in strong demand, concentrated in the Seaport District, Back Bay, and Kendall Square across healthcare technology, biotech, consumer brands, and digital agencies. Employers hiring right now include Boston Athletic Association, Bevi, and Chewy. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
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At MERGE, we are Built Different. We are a marketing and technology agency purpose-built for the intersection of health and wellness—where human impact matters most. By weaving storytelling through technology, we move beyond traditional engagement to Whole Human Marketing. This approach recognizes that humans are multidimensional and complex, and uses AI to ensure every brand interaction feels natural, contextual, and relevant.
This commitment to human-first innovation is what brings us together and propels us forward. We are united by our North Star: to unite people and brands to empower healthier, happier lives.
Emerge to the Top of Your Career
At MERGE, we strive to create a superior work experience where talented and ambitious people grow. An experience that encourages people to think higher and feel deeper. An experience where people engage their minds and hearts to do the best work of their careers.
Associate Creative Director (Design)
As Associate Creative Director (Design), you will shape the digital and physical visual narrative for a fast-paced retail account [major Quick-Service Restaurant (QSR) account]. You are a digitally forward design lead—equally comfortable setting high-level creative vision, implementing and guiding design systems, and hands-on execution across dynamic digital touchpoints, retail environments, and integrated campaigns.
What You'll Do
- As a core member of the team, you'll craft visually compelling designs, ensuring a consistent and premium presence across diverse channels
- Produce high-quality assets across digital and animated menu boards, packaging, in-restaurant signage, mobile apps, and web, ensuring pixel-perfect accuracy and timely delivery within budget constraints.
- Strategically apply design systems across various touchpoints to ensure cohesive and unified execution.
- Engage in all facets of design, from quick comping and creating design systems to type treatments, consistently delivering polished design solutions
- Work seamlessly with client-side digital and development teams to create best-in-class UX/UI experiences
- Articulate the underlying strategy behind design projects, emphasizing the rationale ("why") over the deliverables ("what") to all team members
- Work seamlessly with the creative team, account managers, developers, studio designers, and most importantly, clients, fostering a collaborative and synergistic environment
- Guide and inspire other designers by providing valuable direction
- Has a strong understanding of copy direction and its emotional impact on design
- Design and/or direct design efforts across multiple mediums and touchpoints, ensuring consistency and alignment with strategic goals
- You are responsible for holistic project lifecycles—from interpreting high-level business objectives into pixel-perfect execution and measurable post-launch success
Qualifications
- 8+ years of design experience within an ad agency, digital shop, or creative studio, with a portfolio showcasing strong digital, responsive, and cross-channel work
- Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Digital Design, UI/UX, or equivalent practical experience
- Proficiency in Figma (auto-layout, components, prototyping) alongside deep mastery of the Adobe Creative Suite
- Design System Experience: Proven track record of designing digital and physical experiences using component-based design systems. Across both digital platforms and physical/print retail environments
- Demonstrated ability to manage, inspire, and direct a team of designers while managing multiple fast-paced projects simultaneously
- Prior experience with QSR, fast-casual, or high-volume retail brands is a major plus
#LI-
#LI-HYBRID
At MERGE, we're committed to fostering an environment where our team members can thrive in both their careers and personal lives, ensuring they feel supported and empowered to succeed.
MERGE believes in transparency and equity. In accordance with state regulations, we're proud to include salary ranges in our job postings to ensure fair compensation practices.
The salary range for this role is $88,450 - $129,750, based on the individual's skills, experience, qualifications, location, and other relevant factors. The salary pay range is subject to change and may be modified at any time.
MERGE is proud to invest in benefits that include meaningful Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, 401K, Lifestyle Spending Account, Employer Paid Life & Disability Insurance, Flexible Time off & Holidays plus many other benefits and rewards.
Applicants for employment in the US must have work authorization that does not now or in the future require sponsorship of a visa for employment authorization in the United States.
And here's how we live our values at MERGE
- Ability. Mastering our craft
- Agility. Delivering with a growth mindset
- Humility. Collaborating for shared success
MERGE is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer
MERGE welcomes and celebrates diversity regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, veteran status or people with abilities. We believe that the more diverse we are, the more creative our work will be!
At MERGE, we are Built Different. We are a marketing and technology agency purpose-built for the intersection of health and wellness—where human impact matters most. By weaving storytelling through technology, we move beyond traditional engagement to Whole Human Marketing. This approach recognizes that humans are multidimensional and complex, and uses AI to ensure every brand interaction feels natural, contextual, and relevant.
This commitment to human-first innovation is what brings us together and propels us forward. We are united by our North Star: to unite people and brands to empower healthier, happier lives.
Emerge to the Top of Your Career
At MERGE, we strive to create a superior work experience where talented and ambitious people grow. An experience that encourages people to think higher and feel deeper. An experience where people engage their minds and hearts to do the best work of their careers.
Associate Creative Director (Design)
As Associate Creative Director (Design), you will shape the digital and physical visual narrative for a fast-paced retail account [major Quick-Service Restaurant (QSR) account]. You are a digitally forward design lead—equally comfortable setting high-level creative vision, implementing and guiding design systems, and hands-on execution across dynamic digital touchpoints, retail environments, and integrated campaigns.
What You'll Do
- As a core member of the team, you'll craft visually compelling designs, ensuring a consistent and premium presence across diverse channels
- Produce high-quality assets across digital and animated menu boards, packaging, in-restaurant signage, mobile apps, and web, ensuring pixel-perfect accuracy and timely delivery within budget constraints.
- Strategically apply design systems across various touchpoints to ensure cohesive and unified execution.
- Engage in all facets of design, from quick comping and creating design systems to type treatments, consistently delivering polished design solutions
- Work seamlessly with client-side digital and development teams to create best-in-class UX/UI experiences
- Articulate the underlying strategy behind design projects, emphasizing the rationale ("why") over the deliverables ("what") to all team members
- Work seamlessly with the creative team, account managers, developers, studio designers, and most importantly, clients, fostering a collaborative and synergistic environment
- Guide and inspire other designers by providing valuable direction
- Has a strong understanding of copy direction and its emotional impact on design
- Design and/or direct design efforts across multiple mediums and touchpoints, ensuring consistency and alignment with strategic goals
- You are responsible for holistic project lifecycles—from interpreting high-level business objectives into pixel-perfect execution and measurable post-launch success
Qualifications
- 8+ years of design experience within an ad agency, digital shop, or creative studio, with a portfolio showcasing strong digital, responsive, and cross-channel work
- Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Digital Design, UI/UX, or equivalent practical experience
- Proficiency in Figma (auto-layout, components, prototyping) alongside deep mastery of the Adobe Creative Suite
- Design System Experience: Proven track record of designing digital and physical experiences using component-based design systems. Across both digital platforms and physical/print retail environments
- Demonstrated ability to manage, inspire, and direct a team of designers while managing multiple fast-paced projects simultaneously
- Prior experience with QSR, fast-casual, or high-volume retail brands is a major plus
#LI-
#LI-HYBRID
At MERGE, we're committed to fostering an environment where our team members can thrive in both their careers and personal lives, ensuring they feel supported and empowered to succeed.
MERGE believes in transparency and equity. In accordance with state regulations, we're proud to include salary ranges in our job postings to ensure fair compensation practices.
The salary range for this role is $88,450 - $129,750, based on the individual's skills, experience, qualifications, location, and other relevant factors. The salary pay range is subject to change and may be modified at any time.
MERGE is proud to invest in benefits that include meaningful Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, 401K, Lifestyle Spending Account, Employer Paid Life & Disability Insurance, Flexible Time off & Holidays plus many other benefits and rewards.
Applicants for employment in the US must have work authorization that does not now or in the future require sponsorship of a visa for employment authorization in the United States.
And here's how we live our values at MERGE
- Ability. Mastering our craft
- Agility. Delivering with a growth mindset
- Humility. Collaborating for shared success
MERGE is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer
MERGE welcomes and celebrates diversity regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, veteran status or people with abilities. We believe that the more diverse we are, the more creative our work will be!
See All 27 Design Director Jobs in Boston
Find roles in Boston that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Design Director JobsDesign Director Job Market in Boston
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software
- Construction & Real Estate
Design Director Jobs in Boston: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a design director job in Boston?
Focus on Boston's strongest hiring sectors: healthtech, biotech, financial services, and the city's active agency and consumer brand scene. The Seaport and Kendall Square corridors concentrate the most openings, while Back Bay holds many corporate and agency headquarters. Candidates who show cross-functional leadership, a portfolio that includes digital product work, and experience managing design systems tend to stand out in Boston's competitive market.
Which companies hire design directors in Boston?
Companies currently hiring design directors in Boston include Boston Athletic Association, Bevi, and Chewy, per current listings on Migrate Mate as of October 2026. Boston's employer mix skews toward healthtech platforms, biotech firms, financial services companies, and mid-size consumer and SaaS brands, many of which run in-house design teams large enough to need dedicated director-level leadership.
Are there remote design director jobs in Boston?
Yes, though director-level design roles lean toward hybrid rather than fully remote, since stakeholder alignment and team management typically require some in-person presence. About 62% of design director openings tied to Boston are remote or hybrid as of October 2026, with flexibility most common at SaaS and digital product companies headquartered in the Seaport and Kendall Square areas.
How can I get a design director job in Boston with little or no experience?
The most realistic path is moving up from a senior designer or design lead role within a Boston healthtech, biotech, or agency environment, where organizations often promote from within. Look for principal designer or design manager openings at mid-size Seaport and Kendall Square companies as a stepping stone. Building a portfolio that demonstrates team leadership, cross-functional collaboration, and ownership of a full product design cycle gives local hiring managers a concrete reason to consider you.
Which industries hire the most design directors in Boston?
Most design director openings in Boston sit in Technology & Software and Construction & Real Estate, per current listings on Migrate Mate as of October 2026. Boston's concentration of teaching hospitals, life sciences firms, and venture-backed healthtech startups creates steady demand for design leaders who can translate complex clinical and scientific information into clear, user-centered digital experiences.
Related Jobs in Massachusetts
See All 27 Design Director Jobs in Boston
Find roles in Boston that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Design Director Jobs