Design Lead Jobs in Massachusetts
Design Lead jobs in Massachusetts are in strong demand, with active hiring concentrated in digital product, UX/UI, and brand strategy roles at organizations ranging from early-career to senior principal level. Boston, Cambridge, and Somerville anchor most of the market, where employers like Wayfair, HubSpot, and Massachusetts General Hospital's digital health division consistently seek design leads across product, service, and marketing design. In-demand specializations include product design leadership, design systems, and accessibility-focused UX. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
Find Design Lead JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 22+ Design Lead jobs
PA’s Design, Engineering and Science (DES) function helps our clients conceive, build and scale complex physical and digitally connected products. We combine the application of deep science, world-class engineering and people-centered design to address major shifts in markets, from early-stage innovation through to regulated, real-world deployment at scale.
Our globally integrated team of 400+ specialists across the US, UK and Ireland works at the intersection of innovation strategy, product development and applied R&D. We partner with organizations ranging from ambitious start-ups to established global leaders across Health & Life Sciences, Defense, Consumer, Industrial, Transport and Energy sectors.
Our capabilities span human insights, industrial design, user experience, human factors, software, electronics, mechanical engineering, research and scientific testing, enabling us to take ideas from concept to scalable reality. We are recognized for tackling complex challenges where technical depth, commercial impact and real-world delivery matter most.
Job description
Based in Boston, MA, the US Design Practice Lead leads the Design capability in the US, driving the successful delivery of complex, multidisciplinary work, developing high-performing teams and ensuring the effective deployment of design capability in support of client outcomes and business growth.
Operating within the broader DES leadership model, this role translates global Design capability strategy into regional execution.
The role is accountable for:
- The effective deployment of design capability across client work and strategic opportunities
- The performance of delivery teams, ensuring work is high quality, commercially impactful and aligned to client needs
- The development and growth of the US Design practice and its people
- The contribution of the practice to business growth, including supporting business development and proposition development
- The application of design within complex and regulated product development environments
- Building PA’s position as a leading design partner within the Health & Life Sciences and Consumer sector and beyond
- Ensuring alignment with Health & Life Sciences growth priorities and opportunities across MedTech focus areas including diagnostics, drug delivery, surgical & interventional technologies, digital health, and other regulated healthcare applications.
As the senior design leader in the US, the Practice Lead bridges global capability, delivery, client engagement and market development across a complex multidisciplinary environment.
What We're Looking For
We are looking for a senior design leader who combines deep design expertise with strong experience in development of regulated MedTech physical and digital solutions.
You will bring experience leading multidisciplinary product development programs, from early opportunity identification and concept development through to implementation and commercialization. You will understand how design contributes to successful outcomes within technical, engineering-led, and regulated environments.
You will be comfortable working alongside engineers, scientists, quality specialists and program leaders, ensuring design plays a meaningful role in solving complex client challenges and creating differentiated products and services.
You will bring strong commercial awareness, with experience shaping opportunities, supporting business development and converting pipeline into high-value work.
You will have a proven track record of building high-performing teams, developing talent and strengthening capability while fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation and excellence.
Above all, you are motivated by delivering meaningful outcomes for clients and advocating human-centered design as a source of competitive advantage within complex product development environments.
Core Duties
Lead the US Design Practice
Own the performance, development and day-to-day operation of the Design capability in the US, ensuring alignment with global priorities while building capability to support growth across the Health & Life Sciences GTM and other sectors which Design supports.
Deliver Complex Multidisciplinary Programs
Lead and oversee the delivery of complex programs from early ideation through implementation, ensuring high-quality outcomes, effective collaboration and successful client delivery across both innovative and regulated product development environments.
Build and Maintain Senior Client Relationships
Act as a trusted advisor to clients, helping shape problems, guide solutions and strengthen long-term relationships.
Drive Business Development and Growth
Identify opportunities, shape propositions and bring market insight and design perspectives to support the conversion of pipeline into strategic, high-value engagements.
Drive Best Practice
Own the consistent application of design methods, tools and standards across delivery. Promote excellence in design practice while ensuring alignment with Quality Management Systems and regulated development frameworks where appropriate.
Develop High-Performing Teams and Capability
Build, lead and develop a strong design team, including coaching senior talent, strengthening capability, supporting career development and leading effective workforce planning and deployment.
Champion Design in Technical and Regulated Environments
Advocate for human-centered design within multidisciplinary product development teams, ensuring design contributes meaningfully to technical feasibility, user needs, commercial objectives and regulatory requirements.
Represent PA and the Design Capability
Serve as a visible ambassador for Design across internal and external communities, championing the value of design within PA, Jacobs and the wider DES ecosystem.
Qualifications
About You
- Senior design leader with strong client-facing and delivery experience
- Proven track record leading complex multidisciplinary product development programmes
- Significant experience within MedTech
- Strong understanding of how design operates within multidisciplinary product development environments
- Expertise in complex and regulated product development and medical device development processes
- Experience working within Quality Management Systems, particularly ISO 13485
- Knowledge of applicable regulatory frameworks and standards
- Strong commercial awareness with a track record of contributing to growth and business development
- Forward-looking perspective on design, healthcare innovation and emerging MedTech trends
- Experienced in building, leading and developing high-performing teams
- Passionate about advocating for human-centered design within technical and engineering-led environments
- Credible with senior clients, stakeholders and leadership teams
- Strong operator, able to balance delivery excellence, team performance and business growth
- Structured, pragmatic and outcome-focused
- Collaborative and effective within a broader leadership model
Essential Experience
- Bachelor's or Master's degree in Design, Design Research, or a related discipline
- 15+ years' experience within product development, innovation consulting or outsourced product and technology development
- Significant experience within the MedTech sector
- Experience leading multidisciplinary teams spanning design, engineering and scientific disciplines
- Proven success building and developing high-performing design teams and capability
- Strong understanding of design's role within complex product development programs
- Experience contributing to business development, opportunity shaping and commercial growth
Desirable Experience
- Experience across drug delivery, diagnostics, digital health, and/or surgical & interventional technologies
- Experience providing sector-focused thought leadership
- Knowledge of emerging healthcare technologies and future market trends
- Cross-sector experience in consumer, industrial and/or wellness categories
Additional information
Why Join Us?
This is an opportunity to lead and shape a market-leading design practice within one of PA's most important growth sectors.
You will combine design leadership, healthcare innovation and commercial impact, helping clients solve some of the most complex challenges in regulated product development while building exceptional teams and capability.
In doing so, you will play a key role in ensuring that design capability translates into outstanding client outcomes, meaningful innovation and sustained growth across PA's Health & Life Sciences business.
PA’s Design, Engineering and Science (DES) function helps our clients conceive, build and scale complex physical and digitally connected products. We combine the application of deep science, world-class engineering and people-centered design to address major shifts in markets, from early-stage innovation through to regulated, real-world deployment at scale.
Our globally integrated team of 400+ specialists across the US, UK and Ireland works at the intersection of innovation strategy, product development and applied R&D. We partner with organizations ranging from ambitious start-ups to established global leaders across Health & Life Sciences, Defense, Consumer, Industrial, Transport and Energy sectors.
Our capabilities span human insights, industrial design, user experience, human factors, software, electronics, mechanical engineering, research and scientific testing, enabling us to take ideas from concept to scalable reality. We are recognized for tackling complex challenges where technical depth, commercial impact and real-world delivery matter most.
Job description
Based in Boston, MA, the US Design Practice Lead leads the Design capability in the US, driving the successful delivery of complex, multidisciplinary work, developing high-performing teams and ensuring the effective deployment of design capability in support of client outcomes and business growth.
Operating within the broader DES leadership model, this role translates global Design capability strategy into regional execution.
The role is accountable for:
- The effective deployment of design capability across client work and strategic opportunities
- The performance of delivery teams, ensuring work is high quality, commercially impactful and aligned to client needs
- The development and growth of the US Design practice and its people
- The contribution of the practice to business growth, including supporting business development and proposition development
- The application of design within complex and regulated product development environments
- Building PA’s position as a leading design partner within the Health & Life Sciences and Consumer sector and beyond
- Ensuring alignment with Health & Life Sciences growth priorities and opportunities across MedTech focus areas including diagnostics, drug delivery, surgical & interventional technologies, digital health, and other regulated healthcare applications.
As the senior design leader in the US, the Practice Lead bridges global capability, delivery, client engagement and market development across a complex multidisciplinary environment.
What We're Looking For
We are looking for a senior design leader who combines deep design expertise with strong experience in development of regulated MedTech physical and digital solutions.
You will bring experience leading multidisciplinary product development programs, from early opportunity identification and concept development through to implementation and commercialization. You will understand how design contributes to successful outcomes within technical, engineering-led, and regulated environments.
You will be comfortable working alongside engineers, scientists, quality specialists and program leaders, ensuring design plays a meaningful role in solving complex client challenges and creating differentiated products and services.
You will bring strong commercial awareness, with experience shaping opportunities, supporting business development and converting pipeline into high-value work.
You will have a proven track record of building high-performing teams, developing talent and strengthening capability while fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation and excellence.
Above all, you are motivated by delivering meaningful outcomes for clients and advocating human-centered design as a source of competitive advantage within complex product development environments.
Core Duties
Lead the US Design Practice
Own the performance, development and day-to-day operation of the Design capability in the US, ensuring alignment with global priorities while building capability to support growth across the Health & Life Sciences GTM and other sectors which Design supports.
Deliver Complex Multidisciplinary Programs
Lead and oversee the delivery of complex programs from early ideation through implementation, ensuring high-quality outcomes, effective collaboration and successful client delivery across both innovative and regulated product development environments.
Build and Maintain Senior Client Relationships
Act as a trusted advisor to clients, helping shape problems, guide solutions and strengthen long-term relationships.
Drive Business Development and Growth
Identify opportunities, shape propositions and bring market insight and design perspectives to support the conversion of pipeline into strategic, high-value engagements.
Drive Best Practice
Own the consistent application of design methods, tools and standards across delivery. Promote excellence in design practice while ensuring alignment with Quality Management Systems and regulated development frameworks where appropriate.
Develop High-Performing Teams and Capability
Build, lead and develop a strong design team, including coaching senior talent, strengthening capability, supporting career development and leading effective workforce planning and deployment.
Champion Design in Technical and Regulated Environments
Advocate for human-centered design within multidisciplinary product development teams, ensuring design contributes meaningfully to technical feasibility, user needs, commercial objectives and regulatory requirements.
Represent PA and the Design Capability
Serve as a visible ambassador for Design across internal and external communities, championing the value of design within PA, Jacobs and the wider DES ecosystem.
Qualifications
About You
- Senior design leader with strong client-facing and delivery experience
- Proven track record leading complex multidisciplinary product development programmes
- Significant experience within MedTech
- Strong understanding of how design operates within multidisciplinary product development environments
- Expertise in complex and regulated product development and medical device development processes
- Experience working within Quality Management Systems, particularly ISO 13485
- Knowledge of applicable regulatory frameworks and standards
- Strong commercial awareness with a track record of contributing to growth and business development
- Forward-looking perspective on design, healthcare innovation and emerging MedTech trends
- Experienced in building, leading and developing high-performing teams
- Passionate about advocating for human-centered design within technical and engineering-led environments
- Credible with senior clients, stakeholders and leadership teams
- Strong operator, able to balance delivery excellence, team performance and business growth
- Structured, pragmatic and outcome-focused
- Collaborative and effective within a broader leadership model
Essential Experience
- Bachelor's or Master's degree in Design, Design Research, or a related discipline
- 15+ years' experience within product development, innovation consulting or outsourced product and technology development
- Significant experience within the MedTech sector
- Experience leading multidisciplinary teams spanning design, engineering and scientific disciplines
- Proven success building and developing high-performing design teams and capability
- Strong understanding of design's role within complex product development programs
- Experience contributing to business development, opportunity shaping and commercial growth
Desirable Experience
- Experience across drug delivery, diagnostics, digital health, and/or surgical & interventional technologies
- Experience providing sector-focused thought leadership
- Knowledge of emerging healthcare technologies and future market trends
- Cross-sector experience in consumer, industrial and/or wellness categories
Additional information
Why Join Us?
This is an opportunity to lead and shape a market-leading design practice within one of PA's most important growth sectors.
You will combine design leadership, healthcare innovation and commercial impact, helping clients solve some of the most complex challenges in regulated product development while building exceptional teams and capability.
In doing so, you will play a key role in ensuring that design capability translates into outstanding client outcomes, meaningful innovation and sustained growth across PA's Health & Life Sciences business.
See All 22 Design Lead Jobs in Massachusetts
Find roles in Massachusetts that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Design Lead JobsDesign Lead Jobs by City in Massachusetts
Where Massachusetts roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Design Lead Job Market in Massachusetts
A snapshot from current Massachusetts openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Retail
- Manufacturing
- Medical Devices
- Science & Research
- Technology & Software
What Massachusetts Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in design lead jobs across Massachusetts.
- Bachelor's or master's degree in graphic design, interaction design, or a related field
- Five or more years of professional design experience with at least two years in a lead or senior role
- Proven ability to manage and mentor a team of designers through the full project lifecycle
- Expert proficiency in Figma, Sketch, or equivalent collaborative design and prototyping tools
- Portfolio demonstrating end-to-end design ownership across digital products or brand systems
- Strong communication skills for presenting design rationale to cross-functional and executive stakeholders
Design Lead Jobs in Massachusetts: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a design lead in Massachusetts?
Becoming a design lead in Massachusetts typically starts with a bachelor's degree in graphic design, interaction design, or a closely related field, though some employers accept equivalent portfolio experience. There is no state-issued license required for this role in Massachusetts. Employers here place significant weight on a strong portfolio, demonstrated leadership on cross-functional projects, and familiarity with the product-driven culture common at Boston and Cambridge technology and health-tech companies.
How much do design leads make in Massachusetts?
Design leads in Massachusetts earn a median of about $149,320 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $78,470 for the lowest 10% to over $218,270 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire design leads in Massachusetts?
Employers hiring design leads in Massachusetts right now include MITRE, Whoop, and Amazon, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of October 2026. Massachusetts's concentration of technology, health-tech, and consumer brands means design lead roles appear across both large enterprise organizations and growth-stage companies headquartered in Greater Boston.
Which Massachusetts cities have the most design lead jobs?
Boston, Bedford, and North Reading have the most design lead openings in Massachusetts. Boston and Cambridge lead because they anchor the state's technology, life sciences, and higher education sectors, which drive consistent demand for product and UX design leadership, while surrounding cities like Somerville and Waltham attract openings from mid-size software and health-tech companies that have grown alongside the region's startup ecosystem.
Are there remote design lead jobs in Massachusetts?
Yes, and more than many fields. About 50% of design lead openings tied to Massachusetts are remote or hybrid as of October 2026, reflecting how well design collaboration tools support distributed teams. The parts of the role most commonly done remotely include design reviews, cross-functional stakeholder meetings, and individual creative work, while in-person presence is more often expected for team onboarding and executive presentations.
How can I get hired as a design lead in Massachusetts with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is securing a senior individual contributor design role first, then building toward a lead title by taking on mentorship and project ownership. At Massachusetts employers like Wayfair and HubSpot, associate or mid-level product designer positions frequently open to recent graduates from programs at MassArt, Northeastern, or Rhode Island School of Design. A portfolio featuring end-to-end case studies and any experience coordinating with engineers or researchers will strengthen your application considerably.
Where can I find and apply to design lead jobs in Massachusetts?
You can find and apply to design lead jobs in Massachusetts on Migrate Mate, which lists current Massachusetts openings updated regularly. Search the available roles, find the ones that fit your background and target location, and apply directly to the employer through each listing.
See All 22 Design Lead Jobs in Massachusetts
Find roles in Massachusetts that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Design Lead Jobs