Design Lead Jobs in Pennsylvania
Design Lead jobs in Pennsylvania are actively sought across the state's product, healthcare technology, and financial services sectors, with openings ranging from mid-level contributors to senior creative directors overseeing cross-functional teams. Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Malvern are the primary hiring metros, home to established employers like Comcast, Highmark Health, and Vanguard, all of which maintain in-house design functions at scale. The most in-demand specialties in Pennsylvania are product design leadership, UX strategy, and brand systems design. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Cincinnati, Ohio
Title:
Piping Design LeadKBR Sustainable Technology Solutions (STS) provides holistic and value-added solutions across the entire asset life cycle. These include world-class licensed process technologies, differentiated advisory services, deep technical domain expertise, energy transition solutions, high-end design capabilities, and smart solutions to optimize planned and operating assets.
The Piping Design Lead provides technical oversight of process piping and utility piping systems across all manufacturing and support facilities. This role is responsible for piping design coordination, specification compliance, constructability reviews, routing optimization, installation standards, material selection, stress considerations, fabrication quality, and integration with process equipment and facility infrastructure. The incumbent will work closely with process engineering, mechanical engineering, utilities, construction, and CQV organizations to ensure piping systems support operational reliability, maintainability, cleanability, containment, and startup readiness requirements.
Functional job responsibilities will include but are not limited to:
- Provide technical leadership and coordination for process, clean utility, and facility piping systems throughout design, procurement, construction, and startup phases of the project.
- Ensure compliance with project specifications, pharmaceutical industry standards, applicable codes, and GMP requirements through design reviews, constructability assessments, and field support activities.
- Oversee piping system routing, material selection, stress and flexibility considerations, and interface management with process equipment, mechanical systems, utilities, and facility infrastructure.
- Support construction, commissioning, qualification, and startup readiness by resolving piping-related technical issues, driving quality execution, and ensuring systems meet operational reliability and maintainability objectives.
Required Education, Experience, & Skills:
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or a related engineering discipline, or 20+ years of relevant industrial piping engineering and design experience in lieu of a degree.
- Minimum 15 years of experience in piping engineering, design, and field execution on large capital projects, including pharmaceutical, biotechnology, life sciences, chemical, or similar regulated process facilities.
- Demonstrated experience leading multidisciplinary piping engineering activities through design, construction, commissioning, and startup on large EPC, EPCM, or PMC projects.
- Strong knowledge of piping codes and standards, material specifications, fabrication practices, and construction quality requirements.
Preferred Education, Experience, & Skills:
- Experience serving as Piping Lead on large-scale pharmaceutical or biotechnology greenfield manufacturing projects exceeding $1B TIC.
- Knowledge of GMP-regulated facilities, clean utilities, hygienic piping systems, CQV processes, and regulatory inspection readiness requirements.
- Proficiency with 3D design and coordination platforms such as Aveva E3D, Hexagon Smart 3D, Plant 3D, Navisworks, or equivalent tools.
- Proven ability to lead global engineering teams, manage contractor interfaces, and support construction execution in a fast-paced megaproject environment.
Decarbonization – Energy Transition – Sustainability
KBR Benefits
KBR offers a selection of competitive lifestyle benefits which could include 401K plan with company match, medical, dental, vision, life insurance, AD&D, flexible spending account, disability, paid time off, or flexible work schedule. We support career advancement through professional training and development.
Click here to learn more: KBR Benefits
Belong, Connect and Grow at KBR
At KBR, we are passionate about our people and our Zero Harm culture. These inform all that we do and are at the heart of our commitment to, and ongoing journey toward being a People First company. That commitment is central to our team of team’s philosophy and fosters an environment where everyone can Belong, Connect and Grow. We Deliver – Together.
KBR is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, veteran status, genetic information, union status and/or beliefs, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.
See All 20 Design Lead Jobs in Pennsylvania
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Find Design Lead JobsDesign Lead Jobs by City in Pennsylvania
Where Pennsylvania roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Design Lead Job Market in Pennsylvania
A snapshot from current Pennsylvania openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring



Top Industries Hiring
- Energy
- Manufacturing
- Banking & Financial Services
What Pennsylvania Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in design lead jobs across Pennsylvania.
- Portfolio demonstrating end-to-end design ownership and team leadership across multiple shipped products
- Bachelor's degree in graphic design, interaction design, human-computer interaction, or a related field
- Five or more years of design experience with at least two years in a lead or senior role
- Proficiency in Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, and collaborative product development tools
- Demonstrated ability to manage and mentor designers while aligning work to business objectives
- Experience partnering with product management and engineering teams in agile development environments
Design Lead Jobs in Pennsylvania: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a design lead in Pennsylvania?
Becoming a design lead in Pennsylvania typically requires a bachelor's degree in design, human-computer interaction, or a related discipline, followed by several years of hands-on design work before moving into a leadership role. Pennsylvania does not issue a state license for design leads, so hiring decisions center on portfolio strength, demonstrated team leadership, and domain expertise. Employers in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh often prefer candidates with experience in regulated industries like healthcare, financial services, or media.
How much do design leads make in Pennsylvania?
Design leads in Pennsylvania earn a median of about $97,450 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $65,470 for the lowest 10% to over $149,940 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire design leads in Pennsylvania?
Employers hiring design leads in Pennsylvania right now include GE Vernova, Coherent, and KBR, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of October 2026. Pennsylvania's concentration of large healthcare networks, financial institutions, and media companies means design lead roles here frequently involve complex product ecosystems and multi-team coordination.
Which Pennsylvania cities have the most design lead jobs?
Charleroi, Erie, and Horsham have the most design lead openings in Pennsylvania. Philadelphia leads because of its dense cluster of healthcare systems, fintech firms, and media companies, while Pittsburgh's growing technology and robotics sector drives demand there, and suburban hubs like Malvern and Conshohocken attract openings from financial services and enterprise software firms headquartered along the Pennsylvania Main Line.
Are there remote design lead jobs in Pennsylvania?
Yes, and more than most fields. About 67% of design lead openings tied to Pennsylvania are remote or hybrid as of October 2026, reflecting the digital nature of the work. Strategic and UX-focused design lead roles tend to be the most remote-friendly, while positions tied to physical product development, brand environments, or on-site studio teams more often require a regular in-person presence.
How can I get hired as a design lead in Pennsylvania with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is moving into a design lead role from a senior individual contributor position after building a portfolio that shows ownership of a full design process. In Pennsylvania, large employers like Comcast, Independence Blue Cross, and PNC Bank run structured associate and rotational programs that give early-career designers exposure to cross-functional projects. Adjacent roles such as senior UX designer, design systems contributor, or product designer with mentorship responsibilities are common stepping stones, and completing a recognized UX certification strengthens candidacy when formal leadership experience is limited.
Where can I find and apply to design lead jobs in Pennsylvania?
You can find and apply to design lead jobs in Pennsylvania on Migrate Mate, which lists current Pennsylvania openings updated regularly. Find the roles that fit your experience and apply directly to the ones that match.
See All 20 Design Lead Jobs in Pennsylvania
Find roles in Pennsylvania that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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