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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Job Description Summary
The Cold Section Design organization is responsible for the design, analysis, integration, and support of future military engine products. In this role, the Lead Mechanical Design Engineer will own the design and development of advanced military engine components. Responsibilities include executing technical design tasks such as analysis, manufacturing support, and hardware testing, while also managing cost, weight, and schedule deliverables for assigned hardware.This position reports to an Engineering Manager in Evendale, OH and offers the opportunity to collaborate with a variety of internal and external engineering disciplines.
Our Cold Section Design teams are passionate about aerospace and dedicated to supporting military customers. We are developing breakthrough technologies that will shape the future of military propulsion while continuing GE Aerospace’s long legacy of engineering excellence.
This role is 100% on-site/in-person.
Job Description
Roles and Responsibilities
- Execute the design, analysis, and evaluation of composite components for advanced military products.
- Follow business standards, practices, procedures, and product requirements.
- Apply prior mechanical design experience and deepen expertise within the discipline to deliver products on schedule and within budget.
- Demonstrate systems thinking to understand how the team’s work integrates with other functions to meet product requirements.
- Make decisions within a defined requirements framework and resolve design challenges requiring technical judgment.
- Review designs and consult with senior technical leaders to evaluate work and drive sound outcomes.
- Build strong internal and external relationships by serving as an interface point across GE Aerospace teams.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or Aeronautical Engineering from an accredited university.
- Minimum of 2 years of experience in a mechanical design engineering role.
- Must have, or be able to obtain, a U.S. Government Security Clearance at the Secret level.
Desired Characteristics
- Highly motivated, passionate, and equipped with strong communication skills.
- Demonstrated ability to analyze and solve technical design challenges, with solid documentation, planning, and program management skills.
- Experience with finite element analysis software such as ANSYS and 3D modeling software such as NX Unigraphics.
- Experience manufacturing aerospace components.
- Experience with aerospace propulsion system testing.
- Existing U.S. Government Security Clearance.
GE Aerospace offers comprehensive benefits and programs to support your health and, along with programs like HealthAhead, your physical, emotional, financial and social wellbeing. Healthcare benefits include medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug coverage; access to a Health Coach from GE Aerospace; and the Employee Assistance Program, which provides 24/7 confidential assessment, counseling and referral services. Retirement benefits include the GE Aerospace Retirement Savings Plan, a 401(k) savings plan with company matching contributions and company retirement contributions, as well as access to Fidelity resources and planning consultants. Other benefits include tuition assistance, adoption assistance, paid parental leave, disability insurance, life insurance, and paid time-off for vacation or illness.
GE Aerospace (General Electric Company or the Company) and its affiliates each sponsor certain employee benefit plans or programs (i.e., is a “Sponsor”). Each Sponsor reserves the right to terminate, amend, suspend, replace or modify its benefit plans and programs at any time and for any reason, in its sole discretion. No individual has a vested right to any benefit under a Sponsor’s welfare benefit plan or program. This document does not create a contract of employment with any individual.
This role requires access to U.S. export-controlled information. Therefore, employment will be contingent upon the ability to prove that you meet the status of a U.S. Person as one of the following: U.S. lawful permanent resident, U.S. Citizen, have been granted asylee or refugee status (i.e., a protected individual under the Immigration and Naturalization Act, 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3)).
Additional Information
GE Aerospace offers a great work environment, professional development, challenging careers, and competitive compensation. GE Aerospace is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by law.
GE Aerospace will only employ those who are legally authorized to work in the United States for this opening. Any offer of employment is conditioned upon the successful completion of a drug screen (as applicable). Employees may also be subject to random and reasonable-suspicion drug and alcohol testing.
Relocation Assistance Provided: Yes
See All 13 Design Lead Jobs in Ohio
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Find Design Lead JobsDesign Lead Jobs by City in Ohio
Where Ohio roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Design Lead Job Market in Ohio
A snapshot from current Ohio openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring



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 GPD, GE Aerospace, and DHL, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of October 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, Westerville, and Evendale 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 50% of design lead openings tied to Ohio are remote or hybrid as of October 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 13 Design Lead Jobs in Ohio
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