Design Director Jobs in Washington
Design Director jobs in Washington are in active demand, with the strongest concentration in technology, consumer products, and interactive media, and openings at every level from senior individual contributor through executive creative leadership. Seattle anchors the market, with Bellevue and Redmond close behind, where companies like Microsoft, Amazon, and Boeing maintain substantial in-house design organizations. The most sought-after specialties in Washington are product design leadership, brand and experience design, and design systems strategy. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Showing 5 of 10+ Design Director jobs
WHAT MAKES US EPIC?
At the core of Epic's success are talented, passionate people. Epic prides itself on creating a collaborative, welcoming, and creative environment. Whether it's building award-winning games or crafting engine technology that enables others to make visually stunning interactive experiences, we're always innovating.
Being Epic means being a part of a team that continually strives to do right by our community and users. We're constantly innovating to raise the bar of engine and game development.
DESIGN
What We Do
Put your design skills to work at a cutting-edge company that challenges the norm. From character and level design to competitive gameplay and system design, help shape the future of interactive entertainment at Epic.
What You'll Do
As the Senior Director of Design focusing on Fortnite, you will be responsible for leading and collaborating with a multidisciplinary team of developers to guide Fortnite modes to success from ideation to ship. Working with senior leadership, you will carry the game's vision and Epic's goals forward while making hard calls on quality and priorities, and, above all, be creatively excited and engaged in creating an unforgettable, fun experience for our players.
In this role, you will
- Collaborate with senior leadership to define a vision and business goals for a season within Fortnite Battle Royale, Reload, and more shooter modes.
- Manage a design team and hone the design craft for Fortnite.
- Hold that design vision across the company with clarity and excitement, and inspire the design team to follow you; uphold Epic's design and gameplay quality bar
- Oversee design and development from start to finish - From leading ideation with the team and shaping a timeline of engagement across the whole season, to making tough decisions on quality and scope throughout production
- Establish a design roadmap that drives multiple seasons, along with system roadmaps that underpin those seasons.
- Work with Product Managers and Analytics teams to gain insights from player metrics and marketplace data, then translate those insights into actionable goals to improve the player experience; work with Production, discipline leads, and HR to manage staffing, feature scope, production milestones, and hiring
- Be part of a multidisciplinary leadership team - monitoring the culture and performance of the overall Fortnite development organization
- Focus on mentoring and empowering the design team to be independently successful and make solid decisions without your involvement; foster curiosity and healthy risk-taking
What we're looking for
- Experience leading game teams from a director or other high-level design leadership perspective
- Rich background in game systems that operate at scale.
- An expert-level background in a creative craft you can speak to and draw from
- A deep understanding of what makes games tick at all levels, with a particular focus on what makes them fun, immersive experiences
- A keen understanding of what makes the Battle Royale genre work is required
- Passion and excitement for applying yourself to highly complicated problem spaces
- Excellent soft skills; you are able to navigate the day-to-day ups and downs of working with a large team across many disciplines and locations with ease
- An eye and passion for helping to creatively shape a product that goes beyond the game team
If you have a portfolio/reel/website you'd like to share, please hyperlink it to your resume or submit it as an attachment with your application.
EPIC JOB + EPIC BENEFITS = EPIC LIFE
Our intent is to cover all things that are medically necessary and improve the quality of life. We pay 100% of the premiums for both you and your dependents. Our coverage includes Medical, Dental, a Vision HRA, Long Term Disability, Life Insurance & a 401k with competitive match. We also offer a robust mental well-being program through Modern Health, which provides free therapy and coaching for employees & dependents. Throughout the year we celebrate our employees with events and company-wide paid breaks. We offer unlimited PTO and sick time and recognize individuals for 7 years of employment with a paid sabbatical.
Pay Transparency Information
The expected annual base pay range(s) for this position are detailed below. Each base pay range is relevant only for individuals who are residents of or will be expected to work within the specified locale. Compensation varies based on a variety of factors, which include (but aren't limited to) things such as skills and competencies, qualifications, knowledge, and experience. In addition to base pay, most employees are eligible to participate in Epic's generous benefit plans and discretionary incentive programs (subject to the terms of those plans or programs).
ABOUT US
Epic Games is a leading interactive entertainment company. For over 30 years we've been making award-winning games and engine technology that empowers others to make visually stunning games and 3D content that bring environments to life like never before. Epic's award-winning Unreal Engine technology not only provides game developers the ability to build high-fidelity, interactive experiences for PC, console, mobile, and VR, it is also a tool being embraced by content creators across a variety of industries such as media and entertainment, automotive, and architectural design. As we continue to build our Engine technology and develop remarkable games, we strive to build teams of world-class talent.
Like what you hear? Come be a part of something Epic!
Epic Games deeply values diverse teams and an inclusive work culture, and we are proud to be an Equal Opportunity employer. Learn more about our Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy here.
Note to Recruitment Agencies: Epic does not accept any unsolicited resumes or approaches from any unauthorized third party (including recruitment or placement agencies) (i.e., a third party with whom we do not have a negotiated and validly executed agreement). We will not pay any fees to any unauthorized third party. Further details on these matters can be found here.
WHAT MAKES US EPIC?
At the core of Epic's success are talented, passionate people. Epic prides itself on creating a collaborative, welcoming, and creative environment. Whether it's building award-winning games or crafting engine technology that enables others to make visually stunning interactive experiences, we're always innovating.
Being Epic means being a part of a team that continually strives to do right by our community and users. We're constantly innovating to raise the bar of engine and game development.
DESIGN
What We Do
Put your design skills to work at a cutting-edge company that challenges the norm. From character and level design to competitive gameplay and system design, help shape the future of interactive entertainment at Epic.
What You'll Do
As the Senior Director of Design focusing on Fortnite, you will be responsible for leading and collaborating with a multidisciplinary team of developers to guide Fortnite modes to success from ideation to ship. Working with senior leadership, you will carry the game's vision and Epic's goals forward while making hard calls on quality and priorities, and, above all, be creatively excited and engaged in creating an unforgettable, fun experience for our players.
In this role, you will
- Collaborate with senior leadership to define a vision and business goals for a season within Fortnite Battle Royale, Reload, and more shooter modes.
- Manage a design team and hone the design craft for Fortnite.
- Hold that design vision across the company with clarity and excitement, and inspire the design team to follow you; uphold Epic's design and gameplay quality bar
- Oversee design and development from start to finish - From leading ideation with the team and shaping a timeline of engagement across the whole season, to making tough decisions on quality and scope throughout production
- Establish a design roadmap that drives multiple seasons, along with system roadmaps that underpin those seasons.
- Work with Product Managers and Analytics teams to gain insights from player metrics and marketplace data, then translate those insights into actionable goals to improve the player experience; work with Production, discipline leads, and HR to manage staffing, feature scope, production milestones, and hiring
- Be part of a multidisciplinary leadership team - monitoring the culture and performance of the overall Fortnite development organization
- Focus on mentoring and empowering the design team to be independently successful and make solid decisions without your involvement; foster curiosity and healthy risk-taking
What we're looking for
- Experience leading game teams from a director or other high-level design leadership perspective
- Rich background in game systems that operate at scale.
- An expert-level background in a creative craft you can speak to and draw from
- A deep understanding of what makes games tick at all levels, with a particular focus on what makes them fun, immersive experiences
- A keen understanding of what makes the Battle Royale genre work is required
- Passion and excitement for applying yourself to highly complicated problem spaces
- Excellent soft skills; you are able to navigate the day-to-day ups and downs of working with a large team across many disciplines and locations with ease
- An eye and passion for helping to creatively shape a product that goes beyond the game team
If you have a portfolio/reel/website you'd like to share, please hyperlink it to your resume or submit it as an attachment with your application.
EPIC JOB + EPIC BENEFITS = EPIC LIFE
Our intent is to cover all things that are medically necessary and improve the quality of life. We pay 100% of the premiums for both you and your dependents. Our coverage includes Medical, Dental, a Vision HRA, Long Term Disability, Life Insurance & a 401k with competitive match. We also offer a robust mental well-being program through Modern Health, which provides free therapy and coaching for employees & dependents. Throughout the year we celebrate our employees with events and company-wide paid breaks. We offer unlimited PTO and sick time and recognize individuals for 7 years of employment with a paid sabbatical.
Pay Transparency Information
The expected annual base pay range(s) for this position are detailed below. Each base pay range is relevant only for individuals who are residents of or will be expected to work within the specified locale. Compensation varies based on a variety of factors, which include (but aren't limited to) things such as skills and competencies, qualifications, knowledge, and experience. In addition to base pay, most employees are eligible to participate in Epic's generous benefit plans and discretionary incentive programs (subject to the terms of those plans or programs).
ABOUT US
Epic Games is a leading interactive entertainment company. For over 30 years we've been making award-winning games and engine technology that empowers others to make visually stunning games and 3D content that bring environments to life like never before. Epic's award-winning Unreal Engine technology not only provides game developers the ability to build high-fidelity, interactive experiences for PC, console, mobile, and VR, it is also a tool being embraced by content creators across a variety of industries such as media and entertainment, automotive, and architectural design. As we continue to build our Engine technology and develop remarkable games, we strive to build teams of world-class talent.
Like what you hear? Come be a part of something Epic!
Epic Games deeply values diverse teams and an inclusive work culture, and we are proud to be an Equal Opportunity employer. Learn more about our Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy here.
Note to Recruitment Agencies: Epic does not accept any unsolicited resumes or approaches from any unauthorized third party (including recruitment or placement agencies) (i.e., a third party with whom we do not have a negotiated and validly executed agreement). We will not pay any fees to any unauthorized third party. Further details on these matters can be found here.
See All 10 Design Director Jobs in Washington
Find roles in Washington that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Design Director JobsDesign Director Jobs by City in Washington
Where Washington roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Design Director Job Market in Washington
A snapshot from current Washington openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software
What Washington Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in design director jobs across Washington.
- Bachelor's or master's degree in design, HCI, or a closely related field
- Seven or more years of progressive design experience including team leadership
- Proven ability to build and mentor multidisciplinary design teams
- Portfolio demonstrating end-to-end design strategy and shipped product work
- Experience partnering with product management and engineering in Agile environments
- Proficiency with Figma, design systems, and cross-functional stakeholder communication
Design Director Jobs in Washington: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a design director in Washington?
Becoming a design director in Washington follows a portfolio-and-promotion path rather than a state licensing requirement, since the role carries no Washington-issued credential or exam. Most candidates progress from senior designer or design lead roles, building a portfolio of shipped products and team leadership experience. Washington employers, especially those in the Seattle technology corridor, weight demonstrated cross-functional ownership and design system experience heavily when making director-level hiring decisions.
Which companies hire design directors in Washington?
Employers hiring design directors in Washington right now include DSV, Chewy, and Oracle, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of October 2026. Washington's concentration of large technology headquarters and enterprise software companies means many of these openings sit inside mature in-house design organizations with established teams.
Which Washington cities have the most design director jobs?
Seattle, Bellevue, and Kent account for the largest share of design director openings in Washington. Seattle drives the majority of demand through its density of technology and consumer-product companies, while Bellevue and Redmond reflect the large campuses of companies like Microsoft and Amazon, whose design organizations generate consistent director-level hiring across product, brand, and research disciplines.
Are there remote design director jobs in Washington?
Yes, and more than most fields, since design director work centers on strategy, critique, and cross-functional alignment that translates well to distributed teams. About 100% of design director openings tied to Washington are remote or hybrid as of October 2026, reflecting the technology sector's established comfort with distributed leadership. Roles that involve managing physical or environmental design studios tend to require more regular on-site presence.
How can I get hired as a design director in Washington with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is landing a senior designer or design lead role at a Washington technology or consumer-products company and building toward director-level scope from there. Companies like Microsoft and Amazon run structured rotational and associate programs that place designers into product teams where director-adjacent responsibility grows quickly. A strong portfolio showing systems thinking, mentorship, and cross-functional projects, combined with any UX research or design systems credentials, gives candidates from adjacent roles like product manager or creative strategist a meaningful edge.
Where can I find and apply to design director jobs in Washington?
You can find and apply to design director jobs in Washington on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings across the state. Find roles that fit your experience and apply directly to the employers posting them.
See All 10 Design Director Jobs in Washington
Find roles in Washington that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Design Director Jobs