Design Lead Jobs in New York

Design Lead jobs in New York are among the most active in the country, with strong demand concentrated in technology, consumer products, financial services, and media, at levels from mid-career individual contributor through senior director. The heaviest hiring is in New York City, with additional openings in Brooklyn's tech corridor and White Plains. Employers with a lasting presence here include Google, Verizon, and Estée Lauder Companies. The most sought-after specialties are product design leadership, brand and visual systems, and UX strategy. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.

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Overview

Open roles35
Top employerWSP
Top cityNew York, NY
Cities hiring10
Work type38% On-site
Top industryConsulting

Showing 5 of 35+ Design Lead jobs

Capital One
Design Research Lead - Manager Level
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Capital One
Added 1d ago
Design Research Lead - Manager Level
Capital One
New York, New York
Customer Service
Customer Success
Customer Support
10,000+

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Information Technology Senior Management Forum
Design Research Lead - Manager Level
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Information Technology Senior Management Forum
Added 1d ago
Design Research Lead - Manager Level
Information Technology Senior Management Forum
New York, New York
Customer Support
IT Support
Technical Program Management
$150k - $205k/yr
51-200

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BNY
Product Design Lead
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BNY
Added 2d ago
Product Design Lead
BNY
New York, New York
Software Engineering
Solutions Engineering & Architecture
Technical Product & Program Management
Technical Program Management
$116k - $190k/yr
10,000+

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Gymshark
Spatial Design Lead
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Gymshark
Added 3d ago
Spatial Design Lead
Gymshark
New York, New York
Cloud Architecture
Solutions Architecture
Specialized Engineering
Systems Administration
$123k - $160k/yr
Hybrid
501-1,000

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WSP
Assistant Vice President, Track Design Lead
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WSP
Added 4d ago
Assistant Vice President, Track Design Lead
WSP
New York, New York
Specialized Engineering
Civil & Structural Engineering
Project & Program Management
Engineering (Non-Software)
Civil Engineering
Project Management
$115k - $186k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's

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Design Lead Jobs by City in New York

Where New York roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Albany
3 jobs
Buffalo
2 jobs
Syracuse
2 jobs
Rochester
2 jobs
Queens
1 job
Victor
1 job
Brooklyn
1 job
Schenectady
1 job

Design Lead Job Market in New York

A snapshot from current New York openings, updated as new roles post.

Who's Hiring

WSP
WSP3 open roles
BNY
BNY2 open roles
Ryder System
Ryder System2 open roles

Top Industries Hiring

  • Consulting & Professional Services
  • Technology & Software
  • Energy
  • Manufacturing
  • Science & Research

What New York Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in design lead jobs across New York.

  • Bachelor's or master's degree in design, human-computer interaction, or a related field
  • Five or more years of design experience with at least two years leading a team
  • Strong portfolio demonstrating shipped products or brand systems at scale
  • Proficiency in Figma, Sketch, or equivalent design and prototyping tools
  • Experience collaborating cross-functionally with product, engineering, and marketing teams
  • Excellent communication skills for presenting design rationale to senior stakeholders

Design Lead Jobs in New York: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a design lead in New York?

Design lead is not a licensed or state-regulated role in New York, so the path runs through experience and portfolio rather than a credentialing board. Most employers in New York expect a degree in a design discipline, several years of hands-on design work, and a demonstrable record of mentoring designers or owning a product area end to end. Building experience at New York agencies, in-house teams, or startups is the most common route to a leadership title.

How much do design leads make in New York?

Design leads in New York earn a median of about $137,320 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $80,060 for the lowest 10% to over $280,320 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.

Which companies hire design leads in New York?

Employers hiring design leads in New York right now include WSP, BNY, and Ryder System, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. New York's concentration of technology firms, financial institutions, and consumer brands means design lead roles appear across a wide range of industries and company sizes.

Which New York cities have the most design lead jobs?

New York, Albany, and Buffalo have the most design lead openings in New York. Manhattan dominates because of its dense cluster of technology companies, media groups, and corporate headquarters, while Brooklyn and any suburban markets on the list reflect employer campuses or remote-tolerant postings from companies headquartered in the city.

Are there remote design lead jobs in New York?

Yes, and more than most fields. About 62% of design lead openings tied to New York are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, reflecting the screen-based and collaborative-tools nature of the work. Strategic and systems-focused design lead roles tend to be the most remote-friendly, while positions that require close collaboration with physical product or retail teams are more likely to require in-office presence.

How can I get hired as a design lead in New York with little or no experience?

The most realistic entry path is moving into a lead role from a senior individual contributor position at a New York company, rather than applying for lead titles directly. Large New York employers in tech and consumer goods often post associate product designer or senior designer roles that include informal mentorship responsibilities, which builds the credentials needed to step into a lead title. A strong portfolio focused on systems thinking, user research, and cross-functional projects gives candidates the clearest edge in this market.

Where can I find and apply to design lead jobs in New York?

You can find and apply to design lead jobs in New York on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from employers hiring in the state right now. Find roles that fit your experience and specialty, then apply directly through each listing.

See All 35 Design Lead Jobs in New York

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