Design Manager Jobs in San Francisco, CA
Design Manager jobs in San Francisco are in strong demand, concentrated in SoMa, the Financial District, and Mission Bay across technology, fintech, and consumer products companies. Employers hiring right now include Jacobs, Gensler, and Williams-Sonoma. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.
Find Design Manager JobsOverview
Open roles270+
Top employerJacobs
Work type58% Hybrid
Top credentialBachelor's
Companies hiring35
Showing 5 of 270+ Design Manager jobs
Senior Design Manager
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Added 2d ago
Suffolk Construction
Senior Design Manager
San Francisco, California
Added 2d ago
Design Manager
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Added 3d ago
Voltera Power
Design Manager
San Francisco, California
Added 3d ago
Sr. Technical Program Manager, GES NA, Technical Vendor Management, Design and Construction
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Added 4d ago
Amazon.com
Sr. Technical Program Manager, GES NA, Technical Vendor Management, Design and Construction
San Francisco, California
Added 4d ago
Senior Project Manager- Electrical (Design and Construction)
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Added 5d ago
Brailsford & Dunlavey
Senior Project Manager- Electrical (Design and Construction)
San Francisco, California
Added 5d ago
Service Design Program Manager, Support
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Added 6d ago
OpenAI
Service Design Program Manager, Support
San Francisco, California
Added 6d ago
Added 2d ago
Senior Design Manager
Suffolk Construction·San Francisco, California
Job functions:
$146k - $213k/yr
1,001-5,000 employees
Job Description
Overview:
Responsibilities:
Design Phase Responsibilities
Construction Phase Responsibilities
Illuminate Operations Management
Qualifications:
Suffolk – America’s Contractor – is a national company with more than $13 billion in annual revenue, 3,000 employees, and 17 offices, including Boston (headquarters), New York City, Miami, West Palm Beach, Tampa, Estero, Dallas, Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Las Vegas, Herndon, U.S. Virgin Islands, and other key markets. Suffolk manages some of the most complex and transformative projects in the country, serving clients across healthcare, life sciences, education, gaming, aviation, transportation, government, mission critical, and commercial sectors. Suffolk is privately held and is led by founder, chairman and CEO John Fish. Suffolk is ranked #8 on ENR’s list of “Top CM-at-Risk Contractors.” For more information, visit www.suffolk.com and follow Suffolk on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Instagram.
At Suffolk, we believe that our total rewards program should offer you and your family the support you need when it matters most. That’s why we have created a program that provides employees with access to a wide variety of options that can be personalized to support you and your loved ones physically, emotionally, and financially.
Benefits include, competitive salaries, auto allowances and gas cards for certain roles, access to market leading medical and emotional and mental health benefits, dental, and vision insurance plans, virtual care options for physical therapy and primary care, generous paid time off, 401k plan with employer match and access to expert financial resources, company paid and voluntary life insurance, tax deferred savings accounts, 10 backup daycare days each year, short- and long-term disability, commuter benefits and more.? For more information, click?here.
The Senior Project Design Manager will proactively and collaboratively lead integrated teams, made up of both internal and external design and construction professionals, through llluminate's optimized, end-to-end design build management process from design inception to building completion. The ideal candidate will be committed to meaningfully enhancing the efficiency, accuracy, completeness, and speed of the design, documentation, and construction process, and will enthusiastically leverage innovative procedures, tools, and technologies to exceed our client's expectations.
Responsibilities:
Core Design Management
- Responsible for the successful realization of client's project vision, including performance, programming, cost, and schedule objectives.
- Lead the interface between design teams, Suffolk Operations, industry professionals, trade partners, regulatory agencies, and other project stakeholders to achieve project goals, all the while embracing culture of authentic collaboration and technical competence.
- Maintain and support client relationships during all project phases, ensuring a client-first mentality that encourages both active engagement in and ownership of all design decisions.
- Lead project team meetings, workshops, and other collaborative communications throughout a project's life cycle.
- Hold self, and teams, accountable for meeting deadlines; trouble-shoot challenges by leveraging the full capacity of interdisciplinary project teams.
Design Phase Responsibilities
- Lead the development and management of optimized design processes for each project, supporting the efficient, linear delivery of fully coordinated and buildable drawings prior to the start of construction.
- Build upon Suffolk's world-class construction planning and execution capabilities by strategically aligning design and documentation development with construction sequencing, supporting streamlined workflows.
- In association with Illuminate VDC and Suffolk preconstruction experts, lead the execution of rigorous, 'real-time', project constructability reviews during the design process, ensuring that all documentation is
- De-risk project construction by identifying design gaps early in the design process and enable active remediation before construction workflows are disrupted.
- At key project design milestones, liaise with preconstruction teams to evaluate and validate cost and schedule alignment with project objectives.
Construction Phase Responsibilities
- With Suffolk field operations team, prioritize design issue resolution in alignment with optimal construction sequencing. Expedite responses to maintain pace of construction.
- Collaborate with key project stakeholders to ensure design decisions are made in step with project schedule and lead-time requirements.
- Establish effective working relationships with the project design team to collaboratively identify, resolve, and complete design issues. Serve as the liaison between the Architect of Record and the project team.
- Bring Suffolk and llluminate's full technical expertise to bear on project design challenges to rapidly produce solutions for review with architect and project team.
Illuminate Operations Management
- Track and report progress towards project milestone completion, staffing allocations, and project financial health.
- In collaboration with Illuminate leadership and the project team, analyze, refine, and test design construction workflow assumptions in real-time to optimize llluminate's process moving forward.
- Leverage and grow Suffolk's proprietary constructability knowledge database, which serves as a critical input to a proactive QA/QC process throughout design.
- Support llluminate's design technology staff in the introduction of automated design and documentation processes and workflows.
- Certification as licensed architect or professional engineer is preferred
- Professional degree in Architecture or Engineering is Advanced degree preferred.
- Significant experience in the professional design services industry, with relevant design project management Years of experience and specific industry knowledge will align with specific project characteristics regarding size, complexity, and type.
- Proven success working on multiple projects and commercial building type, across all project
- Experience managing teams through the duration of the project's design process, including completion of Construction Documentation (Drawing & Specification).
- Substantial hands-on experience through the full Construction Administration cycle on multiple
- Proficiency with Building Information Modeling platforms, including the Autodesk Suite and other industry standard 3D modeling and analysis software.
- Substantial knowledge of jurisdictional building codes and Extensive knowledge of industry standards and resources.
- Must possess Suffolk’s Core Values: Passion, Integrity, Hard Work, Professionalism, and Caring
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit for long periods of time; talk or hear; perform fine motor, hand and finger skills in the use of a keyboard, telephone, or writing. The employee is frequently required to stands; walk; and reach with arms and/or hands. Specific vision abilities include close vision, distance vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus. The employee will spend their time in an office environment with a quiet to moderate noise level. Job site walking.
EEO Statement:
Suffolk provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy or maternity, national origin, citizenship, genetic information, disability, protected veteran, gender identity, age or any other status protected by law. This policy applies to recruiting, hiring, transfers, promotions, terminations, compensation, benefits, and all other terms and conditions of employment. Suffolk will not tolerate any unlawful discrimination toward, or harassment of, applicants or employees by anyone at Suffolk, or anyone working on behalf of Suffolk.
Compensation Information:
Where required by law, pay ranges can be found in Suffolk's job postings. Base Salary for this position is just one component of Suffolk’s total rewards package for employees. Actual salaries may be based on several factors including, but not limited to, a candidate's skill set, experience, education and other qualifications. Suffolk offers a comprehensive benefits package as part of its overall total rewards strategy. Salary ranges are reviewed regularly to reflect market trends.
About Suffolk:
Suffolk is a national enterprise that builds, innovates, and invests. We provide value across the entire project lifecycle through our core construction management services and complementary business lines in real estate investment, design, self-perform construction, and technology start-up investment (Suffolk Technologies). By integrating data, artificial intelligence, and advanced technology through our Seamless Platform, we connect design, construction, and operations to deliver smarter, more predictable results and redefine how America builds.
Suffolk – America’s Contractor – is a national company with more than $13 billion in annual revenue, 3,000 employees, and 17 offices, including Boston (headquarters), New York City, Miami, West Palm Beach, Tampa, Estero, Dallas, Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Las Vegas, Herndon, U.S. Virgin Islands, and other key markets. Suffolk manages some of the most complex and transformative projects in the country, serving clients across healthcare, life sciences, education, gaming, aviation, transportation, government, mission critical, and commercial sectors. Suffolk is privately held and is led by founder, chairman and CEO John Fish. Suffolk is ranked #8 on ENR’s list of “Top CM-at-Risk Contractors.” For more information, visit www.suffolk.com and follow Suffolk on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Instagram.
At Suffolk, we believe that our total rewards program should offer you and your family the support you need when it matters most. That’s why we have created a program that provides employees with access to a wide variety of options that can be personalized to support you and your loved ones physically, emotionally, and financially.
Benefits include, competitive salaries, auto allowances and gas cards for certain roles, access to market leading medical and emotional and mental health benefits, dental, and vision insurance plans, virtual care options for physical therapy and primary care, generous paid time off, 401k plan with employer match and access to expert financial resources, company paid and voluntary life insurance, tax deferred savings accounts, 10 backup daycare days each year, short- and long-term disability, commuter benefits and more.? For more information, click?here.
Suffolk Construction
Senior Design Manager
San Francisco, California
Added 2d ago1,001-5,000 employees
Job functions:
$146k - $213k/yr
Job Description
Overview:
Responsibilities:
Design Phase Responsibilities
Construction Phase Responsibilities
Illuminate Operations Management
Qualifications:
Suffolk – America’s Contractor – is a national company with more than $13 billion in annual revenue, 3,000 employees, and 17 offices, including Boston (headquarters), New York City, Miami, West Palm Beach, Tampa, Estero, Dallas, Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Las Vegas, Herndon, U.S. Virgin Islands, and other key markets. Suffolk manages some of the most complex and transformative projects in the country, serving clients across healthcare, life sciences, education, gaming, aviation, transportation, government, mission critical, and commercial sectors. Suffolk is privately held and is led by founder, chairman and CEO John Fish. Suffolk is ranked #8 on ENR’s list of “Top CM-at-Risk Contractors.” For more information, visit www.suffolk.com and follow Suffolk on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Instagram.
At Suffolk, we believe that our total rewards program should offer you and your family the support you need when it matters most. That’s why we have created a program that provides employees with access to a wide variety of options that can be personalized to support you and your loved ones physically, emotionally, and financially.
Benefits include, competitive salaries, auto allowances and gas cards for certain roles, access to market leading medical and emotional and mental health benefits, dental, and vision insurance plans, virtual care options for physical therapy and primary care, generous paid time off, 401k plan with employer match and access to expert financial resources, company paid and voluntary life insurance, tax deferred savings accounts, 10 backup daycare days each year, short- and long-term disability, commuter benefits and more.? For more information, click?here.
The Senior Project Design Manager will proactively and collaboratively lead integrated teams, made up of both internal and external design and construction professionals, through llluminate's optimized, end-to-end design build management process from design inception to building completion. The ideal candidate will be committed to meaningfully enhancing the efficiency, accuracy, completeness, and speed of the design, documentation, and construction process, and will enthusiastically leverage innovative procedures, tools, and technologies to exceed our client's expectations.
Responsibilities:
Core Design Management
- Responsible for the successful realization of client's project vision, including performance, programming, cost, and schedule objectives.
- Lead the interface between design teams, Suffolk Operations, industry professionals, trade partners, regulatory agencies, and other project stakeholders to achieve project goals, all the while embracing culture of authentic collaboration and technical competence.
- Maintain and support client relationships during all project phases, ensuring a client-first mentality that encourages both active engagement in and ownership of all design decisions.
- Lead project team meetings, workshops, and other collaborative communications throughout a project's life cycle.
- Hold self, and teams, accountable for meeting deadlines; trouble-shoot challenges by leveraging the full capacity of interdisciplinary project teams.
Design Phase Responsibilities
- Lead the development and management of optimized design processes for each project, supporting the efficient, linear delivery of fully coordinated and buildable drawings prior to the start of construction.
- Build upon Suffolk's world-class construction planning and execution capabilities by strategically aligning design and documentation development with construction sequencing, supporting streamlined workflows.
- In association with Illuminate VDC and Suffolk preconstruction experts, lead the execution of rigorous, 'real-time', project constructability reviews during the design process, ensuring that all documentation is
- De-risk project construction by identifying design gaps early in the design process and enable active remediation before construction workflows are disrupted.
- At key project design milestones, liaise with preconstruction teams to evaluate and validate cost and schedule alignment with project objectives.
Construction Phase Responsibilities
- With Suffolk field operations team, prioritize design issue resolution in alignment with optimal construction sequencing. Expedite responses to maintain pace of construction.
- Collaborate with key project stakeholders to ensure design decisions are made in step with project schedule and lead-time requirements.
- Establish effective working relationships with the project design team to collaboratively identify, resolve, and complete design issues. Serve as the liaison between the Architect of Record and the project team.
- Bring Suffolk and llluminate's full technical expertise to bear on project design challenges to rapidly produce solutions for review with architect and project team.
Illuminate Operations Management
- Track and report progress towards project milestone completion, staffing allocations, and project financial health.
- In collaboration with Illuminate leadership and the project team, analyze, refine, and test design construction workflow assumptions in real-time to optimize llluminate's process moving forward.
- Leverage and grow Suffolk's proprietary constructability knowledge database, which serves as a critical input to a proactive QA/QC process throughout design.
- Support llluminate's design technology staff in the introduction of automated design and documentation processes and workflows.
- Certification as licensed architect or professional engineer is preferred
- Professional degree in Architecture or Engineering is Advanced degree preferred.
- Significant experience in the professional design services industry, with relevant design project management Years of experience and specific industry knowledge will align with specific project characteristics regarding size, complexity, and type.
- Proven success working on multiple projects and commercial building type, across all project
- Experience managing teams through the duration of the project's design process, including completion of Construction Documentation (Drawing & Specification).
- Substantial hands-on experience through the full Construction Administration cycle on multiple
- Proficiency with Building Information Modeling platforms, including the Autodesk Suite and other industry standard 3D modeling and analysis software.
- Substantial knowledge of jurisdictional building codes and Extensive knowledge of industry standards and resources.
- Must possess Suffolk’s Core Values: Passion, Integrity, Hard Work, Professionalism, and Caring
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit for long periods of time; talk or hear; perform fine motor, hand and finger skills in the use of a keyboard, telephone, or writing. The employee is frequently required to stands; walk; and reach with arms and/or hands. Specific vision abilities include close vision, distance vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus. The employee will spend their time in an office environment with a quiet to moderate noise level. Job site walking.
EEO Statement:
Suffolk provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy or maternity, national origin, citizenship, genetic information, disability, protected veteran, gender identity, age or any other status protected by law. This policy applies to recruiting, hiring, transfers, promotions, terminations, compensation, benefits, and all other terms and conditions of employment. Suffolk will not tolerate any unlawful discrimination toward, or harassment of, applicants or employees by anyone at Suffolk, or anyone working on behalf of Suffolk.
Compensation Information:
Where required by law, pay ranges can be found in Suffolk's job postings. Base Salary for this position is just one component of Suffolk’s total rewards package for employees. Actual salaries may be based on several factors including, but not limited to, a candidate's skill set, experience, education and other qualifications. Suffolk offers a comprehensive benefits package as part of its overall total rewards strategy. Salary ranges are reviewed regularly to reflect market trends.
About Suffolk:
Suffolk is a national enterprise that builds, innovates, and invests. We provide value across the entire project lifecycle through our core construction management services and complementary business lines in real estate investment, design, self-perform construction, and technology start-up investment (Suffolk Technologies). By integrating data, artificial intelligence, and advanced technology through our Seamless Platform, we connect design, construction, and operations to deliver smarter, more predictable results and redefine how America builds.
Suffolk – America’s Contractor – is a national company with more than $13 billion in annual revenue, 3,000 employees, and 17 offices, including Boston (headquarters), New York City, Miami, West Palm Beach, Tampa, Estero, Dallas, Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Las Vegas, Herndon, U.S. Virgin Islands, and other key markets. Suffolk manages some of the most complex and transformative projects in the country, serving clients across healthcare, life sciences, education, gaming, aviation, transportation, government, mission critical, and commercial sectors. Suffolk is privately held and is led by founder, chairman and CEO John Fish. Suffolk is ranked #8 on ENR’s list of “Top CM-at-Risk Contractors.” For more information, visit www.suffolk.com and follow Suffolk on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Instagram.
At Suffolk, we believe that our total rewards program should offer you and your family the support you need when it matters most. That’s why we have created a program that provides employees with access to a wide variety of options that can be personalized to support you and your loved ones physically, emotionally, and financially.
Benefits include, competitive salaries, auto allowances and gas cards for certain roles, access to market leading medical and emotional and mental health benefits, dental, and vision insurance plans, virtual care options for physical therapy and primary care, generous paid time off, 401k plan with employer match and access to expert financial resources, company paid and voluntary life insurance, tax deferred savings accounts, 10 backup daycare days each year, short- and long-term disability, commuter benefits and more.? For more information, click?here.
See All 270+ Design Manager Jobs in San Francisco
Find roles in San Francisco that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Design Manager JobsDesign Manager Job Market in San Francisco
Who's Hiring
- Jacobs17
- Gensler17
- Williams-Sonoma17
- Okta11
- OpenAI11
Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software17
- Construction & Real Estate17
- Manufacturing6
- Staffing & Recruiting6
- Banking & Financial Services6
Design Manager Jobs in San Francisco: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a design manager job in San Francisco?
San Francisco's design manager market is driven by technology companies, fintech firms, and consumer app startups, concentrated in SoMa, Mission Bay, and the Financial District. Candidates with experience leading cross-functional product design teams and a portfolio that demonstrates shipped work at scale have a clear edge here. Familiarity with fast-moving, product-led organizations and a network in the local design community strengthens your candidacy considerably.
Which companies hire design managers in San Francisco?
Employers hiring design managers in San Francisco right now include Jacobs, Gensler, and Williams-Sonoma, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. San Francisco's employer base skews heavily toward technology platforms, early-to-growth-stage startups, and established fintech companies, many of which maintain design teams as a core function rather than a support role.
Are there remote design manager jobs in San Francisco?
Yes, though design manager roles that involve hands-on team leadership, stakeholder collaboration, and studio oversight tend to favor in-person or hybrid arrangements. About 66% of design manager openings tied to San Francisco are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting the broader flexibility tech employers here have maintained. Strategic and vision-setting responsibilities are the functions most commonly performed remotely in San Francisco.
How can I get a design manager job in San Francisco with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path in San Francisco is moving into a design manager role from a senior individual contributor position at a local startup or mid-size tech company, where team structures are leaner and leadership opportunities emerge faster. Startups in SoMa and Mission Bay regularly promote senior product designers into lead or manager roles. Building a portfolio that shows cross-functional collaboration, mentorship, and project ownership gives candidates a concrete advantage over those with titles alone.
Which industries hire the most design managers in San Francisco?
San Francisco design manager roles concentrate in Technology & Software, Construction & Real Estate, and Manufacturing, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. San Francisco's density of technology platforms and venture-backed product companies means design is treated as a strategic function, driving consistent demand for managers who can align teams around product vision and user outcomes.
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See All 270+ Design Manager Jobs in San Francisco
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