Design Lead Jobs in Ohio

Design Lead jobs in Ohio are consistently active, with strong demand concentrated in product design, UX/UI, and brand and experience design across the technology, healthcare, consumer goods, and financial services sectors, with openings at every level from junior design lead to director-track senior roles. Columbus, Cleveland, and Cincinnati drive the bulk of hiring, anchored by established employers like Nationwide, Procter and Gamble, and Progressive Insurance, all of which maintain in-house design organizations with ongoing need for lead-level talent. The most sought-after specializations in the Ohio market are digital product design, design systems leadership, and research-led UX strategy. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.

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Overview

Open roles16
Top employerJacobs
Top cityColumbus, OH
Cities hiring6
Work type67% Hybrid
Top industryConstruction

Showing 5 of 16+ Design Lead jobs

L3Harris
Lead, Electrical Engineering - Hardware Design
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L3Harris
Added 3d ago
Lead, Electrical Engineering - Hardware Design
L3Harris
Cincinnati, Ohio
Business Development
Growth Marketing
Marketing
Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering
10,000+

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American Honda Motor
Electrical Design Technical Expert and Team Lead
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American Honda Motor
Added 1w ago
Electrical Design Technical Expert and Team Lead
American Honda Motor
Raymond, Ohio
Account Management
Customer Success
Sales
$101k - $126k/yr
Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering
10,000+

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Ryder System
Lead Solutions Design Engineer - SIMIO Warehouse & Transportation Simulation (REMOTE)
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Ryder System
Added 1w ago
Lead Solutions Design Engineer - SIMIO Warehouse & Transportation Simulation (REMOTE)
Ryder System
Columbus, Ohio
Customer Service
Customer Support
Hospitality & Guest Services
$100k - $124k/yr
Remote (US)
Bachelor's degree in industrial engineering

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Honda Logistics
Lead Systems Design Architect
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Honda Logistics
Added 1w ago
Lead Systems Design Architect
Honda Logistics
East Liberty, Ohio
Project Management
Solutions Engineering & Architecture
Technical Product & Program Management
Bachelor's degree in information technology
51-200

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Lean Tree Limited
Design & UX Lead
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Lean Tree Limited
Added 2w ago
Design & UX Lead
Lean Tree Limited
Columbus, Ohio
Business Operations
Business Strategy
Project & Program Management
Project Management
Hybrid
51-200

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See All 16 Design Lead Jobs in Ohio

Find roles in Ohio that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

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Design Lead Jobs by City in Ohio

Where Ohio roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Columbus
8 jobs
Cincinnati
3 jobs
Raymond
2 jobs
Geneva
1 job
East Liberty
1 job
Independence
1 job

Design Lead Job Market in Ohio

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

Who's Hiring

Jacobs
Jacobs3 open roles
GPD
GPD2 open roles
Ryder System
Ryder System2 open roles

Top Industries Hiring

  • Construction & Real Estate

What Ohio Employers Look For

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

  • Bachelor's degree in graphic design, interaction design, UX, or a related field
  • Five or more years of progressive design experience with at least two leading a team
  • Portfolio demonstrating end-to-end design ownership across shipped products or campaigns
  • Proficiency in Figma, Sketch, or Adobe Creative Suite with documented systems work
  • Experience collaborating cross-functionally with product, engineering, and marketing stakeholders
  • Strong communication skills for presenting design rationale to executive and non-design audiences

Design Lead Jobs in Ohio: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a design lead in Ohio?

Design lead is not a state-licensed role in Ohio, so the path runs through education and professional experience rather than a board exam or registration. Most Ohio employers expect a bachelor's degree in design, UX, or a related field, followed by several years building a portfolio that shows both craft and team leadership. Completing a recognized design certification such as a Google UX Design Certificate or IDEO design thinking credential can strengthen a candidacy, particularly for roles in Ohio's growing tech and healthcare product sectors.

How much do design leads make in Ohio?

Design leads in Ohio earn a median of about $94,390 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $57,740 for the lowest 10% to over $148,080 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.

Which companies hire design leads in Ohio?

Employers hiring design leads in Ohio right now include Jacobs, GPD, and Ryder System, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Ohio's mix of Fortune 500 headquarters, regional healthcare systems, and mid-market product companies means design lead openings appear across industries rather than clustering in a single sector.

Which Ohio cities have the most design lead jobs?

Columbus, Cincinnati, and Raymond have the most design lead openings in Ohio. Columbus leads because of its dense concentration of tech startups, insurance and financial services headquarters, and a large retail and e-commerce presence, while Cleveland and Cincinnati contribute steady volume through healthcare systems, consumer goods companies, and regional agencies that keep dedicated in-house design teams.

Are there remote design lead jobs in Ohio?

Yes, and more than most fields. About 100% of design lead openings tied to Ohio are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, reflecting the desk-based, digital-tool-driven nature of most design lead work. The portions of the role most commonly done fully remote are design systems ownership, UX strategy, and brand direction, while roles that involve frequent stakeholder workshops or on-site collaboration with product teams tend to require at least a hybrid schedule.

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

The most realistic entry path is moving into a lead-adjacent role first, specifically as a senior individual contributor at a mid-size Ohio employer where informal leadership of one or two designers is expected but the title has not yet changed. Large Ohio employers like Nationwide and Huntington Bancshares regularly post associate or mid-level design roles that explicitly build toward lead responsibilities. Building a portfolio that documents a design process from discovery through delivery, and earning a recognized UX or design systems credential, makes that lateral move into a formal lead title more credible to Ohio hiring managers.

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

You can find and apply to design lead jobs in Ohio on Migrate Mate, which lists current Ohio openings updated regularly. Find the roles that fit your experience and target location, then apply directly to each one.

See All 16 Design Lead Jobs in Ohio

Find roles in Ohio that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

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