Design Manager Jobs in San Jose, CA
Design Manager jobs in San Jose are concentrated in North San Jose, Downtown, and the Santana Row corridor, with strong demand across enterprise software, semiconductor, and consumer electronics sectors. Companies actively posting openings include Apple, TikTok, and Gensler. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.
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General Information
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Description
At Gensler, we design for people. Leveraging a global platform and local expertise, we create transformative environments that enrich the human experience and drive meaningful impact. Our San Jose office is home to a thriving architecture and interiors practice, partnering with leading higher education institutions to deliver innovative, sustainable, and mission-driven environments. Through our integrated approach to design, we create spaces that strengthen campus communities, support learning and research, and inspire the people who use them every day.
We are seeking an experienced Design Manager to join our growing Higher Education practice in San Jose. This leadership role is ideal for a seasoned project management professional with experience across architecture, interiors, master planning, pre-design services, DSA, and SFM projects. Working closely with clients and project teams, you will play a critical role in delivering complex projects while helping expand Gensler's higher education presence across the Bay Area and Northwest Region.
Your Role
As a Design Manager, you will serve as the primary leader responsible for guiding projects from initial pursuit and planning through construction and occupancy. Acting as the central point of contact for clients, consultants, and project teams, you will oversee project scope, schedule, budget, staffing, risk management, and delivery strategy while ensuring design quality and client satisfaction at every stage.
This is a highly collaborative project management role that combines leadership, business acumen, and design stewardship. You will coordinate multidisciplinary teams, navigate complex stakeholder environments, and drive successful project outcomes while ensuring alignment between client goals, project performance, and design intent.
Successful candidates are proactive leaders who excel at managing complex projects, building trusted client relationships, and fostering high-performing teams. In addition to overseeing project delivery, you will mentor emerging professionals, contribute to studio growth initiatives, and help advance Gensler's culture of innovation, sustainability, and design excellence.
What You Will Do
- Act as hands-on design (project) manager for a variety of projects
- Engage clients and stakeholders to identify project vision, goals, and objectives
- Work collaboratively with others toward design solutions
- Promote engagement and collaboration at all levels, including design team, consultants, clients, and contractors
- Manage teams from concept design through construction with a deep understanding of zoning, codes, construction standards, and other regulatory requirements
- Develop and maintain project schedules, budgets, and work plans
- Ensure excellent performance regarding project design quality, schedule, and budget
- Prepare and review proposals, contracts, and consultant agreements
- Work with accounting team to manage the billing process
- Participate in firm marketing, proposal writing, and project interviews
- Mentor, coach and manage junior/intermediate staff
- Contribute to general office-wide initiatives, external thought leadership, and marketing efforts
- Support firmwide sustainability and resilience goals, and drive high performance solutions
- Support diversity, equity, and inclusion goals on projects and within the office
- Develop and maintain positive client relationships
Your Qualifications
- 10+ Years of Design Management experience in an Architecture firm
- Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture required, Master’s Degree preferred
- Track-record of success with education, sciences, civic, and other mission-driven institutional projects
- Knowledge and experience in all phases of interior design and architectural projects
- Strong user engagement, programming, and pre-design planning skills a plus
- Ability to provide excellent client service and assure project profitability
- Ability to work in person in the office 4-5 days a week
- Collaborative spirit and desire to mentor junior/intermediate staff
- Knowledge of state and local building codes including accessibility
- Sustainable design experience, including hands-on experience with LEED, LBC, and other certification systems
- Computer skills in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook and Project), and AutoCAD required
- Revit, SketchUp and Photoshop skills are a plus
**The base salary will be estimated between $135K - 165K plus bonuses and benefits and contingent on relevant experience.
For consideration, please submit cover letter, resume and portfolio in PDF format.
Life at Gensler
At Gensler, we are as committed to enjoying life as we are to delivering best-in-class design. From curated art exhibits to internal design competitions and hackathons, to “Well-being Week,” our offices reflect our teams’ diverse interests.
We encourage our employees to lead a healthy and balanced life. Our comprehensive benefits include medical, dental, vision, disability, wellness programs, flex spending, paid holidays and paid time off. We also offer a 401k, profit sharing, employee stock ownership and twice annual bonus opportunities. Our annual base salary range has been established based on local markets.
As part of the firm’s commitment to licensure and professional development, Gensler offers reimbursement for certain professional licenses and associated renewals and exam fees. In addition, we reimburse tuition for certain eligible programs or classes. We view our professional development programs as strategic investments in our future.
#LI-SK1
General Information
Locations
Description
At Gensler, we design for people. Leveraging a global platform and local expertise, we create transformative environments that enrich the human experience and drive meaningful impact. Our San Jose office is home to a thriving architecture and interiors practice, partnering with leading higher education institutions to deliver innovative, sustainable, and mission-driven environments. Through our integrated approach to design, we create spaces that strengthen campus communities, support learning and research, and inspire the people who use them every day.
We are seeking an experienced Design Manager to join our growing Higher Education practice in San Jose. This leadership role is ideal for a seasoned project management professional with experience across architecture, interiors, master planning, pre-design services, DSA, and SFM projects. Working closely with clients and project teams, you will play a critical role in delivering complex projects while helping expand Gensler's higher education presence across the Bay Area and Northwest Region.
Your Role
As a Design Manager, you will serve as the primary leader responsible for guiding projects from initial pursuit and planning through construction and occupancy. Acting as the central point of contact for clients, consultants, and project teams, you will oversee project scope, schedule, budget, staffing, risk management, and delivery strategy while ensuring design quality and client satisfaction at every stage.
This is a highly collaborative project management role that combines leadership, business acumen, and design stewardship. You will coordinate multidisciplinary teams, navigate complex stakeholder environments, and drive successful project outcomes while ensuring alignment between client goals, project performance, and design intent.
Successful candidates are proactive leaders who excel at managing complex projects, building trusted client relationships, and fostering high-performing teams. In addition to overseeing project delivery, you will mentor emerging professionals, contribute to studio growth initiatives, and help advance Gensler's culture of innovation, sustainability, and design excellence.
What You Will Do
- Act as hands-on design (project) manager for a variety of projects
- Engage clients and stakeholders to identify project vision, goals, and objectives
- Work collaboratively with others toward design solutions
- Promote engagement and collaboration at all levels, including design team, consultants, clients, and contractors
- Manage teams from concept design through construction with a deep understanding of zoning, codes, construction standards, and other regulatory requirements
- Develop and maintain project schedules, budgets, and work plans
- Ensure excellent performance regarding project design quality, schedule, and budget
- Prepare and review proposals, contracts, and consultant agreements
- Work with accounting team to manage the billing process
- Participate in firm marketing, proposal writing, and project interviews
- Mentor, coach and manage junior/intermediate staff
- Contribute to general office-wide initiatives, external thought leadership, and marketing efforts
- Support firmwide sustainability and resilience goals, and drive high performance solutions
- Support diversity, equity, and inclusion goals on projects and within the office
- Develop and maintain positive client relationships
Your Qualifications
- 10+ Years of Design Management experience in an Architecture firm
- Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture required, Master’s Degree preferred
- Track-record of success with education, sciences, civic, and other mission-driven institutional projects
- Knowledge and experience in all phases of interior design and architectural projects
- Strong user engagement, programming, and pre-design planning skills a plus
- Ability to provide excellent client service and assure project profitability
- Ability to work in person in the office 4-5 days a week
- Collaborative spirit and desire to mentor junior/intermediate staff
- Knowledge of state and local building codes including accessibility
- Sustainable design experience, including hands-on experience with LEED, LBC, and other certification systems
- Computer skills in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook and Project), and AutoCAD required
- Revit, SketchUp and Photoshop skills are a plus
**The base salary will be estimated between $135K - 165K plus bonuses and benefits and contingent on relevant experience.
For consideration, please submit cover letter, resume and portfolio in PDF format.
Life at Gensler
At Gensler, we are as committed to enjoying life as we are to delivering best-in-class design. From curated art exhibits to internal design competitions and hackathons, to “Well-being Week,” our offices reflect our teams’ diverse interests.
We encourage our employees to lead a healthy and balanced life. Our comprehensive benefits include medical, dental, vision, disability, wellness programs, flex spending, paid holidays and paid time off. We also offer a 401k, profit sharing, employee stock ownership and twice annual bonus opportunities. Our annual base salary range has been established based on local markets.
As part of the firm’s commitment to licensure and professional development, Gensler offers reimbursement for certain professional licenses and associated renewals and exam fees. In addition, we reimburse tuition for certain eligible programs or classes. We view our professional development programs as strategic investments in our future.
#LI-SK1
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Find Design Manager JobsDesign Manager Job Market in San Jose
Who's Hiring
- Apple45
- TikTok45
- Gensler45
- archer34
- AMD22
Top Industries Hiring
- Electronics & Hardware34
- Technology & Software22
- Construction & Real Estate22
- Banking & Financial Services11
- Consulting & Professional Services11
Design Manager Jobs in San Jose: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a design manager job in San Jose?
Focus your search on North San Jose's tech campuses, the Downtown civic and creative district, and the corridor near Brokaw Road where hardware and semiconductor firms cluster. Candidates with experience leading cross-functional design teams at product-driven companies stand out most here. A portfolio that demonstrates UX systems thinking, design ops, or hardware-integrated design gives you a clear edge in San Jose's product-heavy market.
Which companies hire design managers in San Jose?
Companies currently hiring design managers in San Jose include Apple, TikTok, and Gensler, per current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. San Jose's employer mix skews toward large-scale tech companies, semiconductor manufacturers, and enterprise software firms, with a growing presence of mobility and smart-infrastructure startups.
Are there remote design manager jobs in San Jose?
Yes, though many design manager roles in San Jose require on-site presence due to hands-on collaboration with product, engineering, and hardware teams. About 8% of design manager openings tied to San Jose are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, with the remote share concentrated in UX, brand, and content design leadership rather than hardware or industrial design roles.
How can I get a design manager job in San Jose with little or no experience?
The most realistic path is moving into a senior individual contributor role at a mid-size San Jose product company first, then stepping into team lead or design lead responsibilities before applying to manager titles. San Jose employers at the growth stage, particularly in enterprise SaaS and mobility tech, often promote strong senior designers internally. Building a portfolio that includes any mentorship, critique facilitation, or design process documentation makes the transition easier to pitch.
Which industries hire the most design managers in San Jose?
Most design manager openings in San Jose sit in Electronics & Hardware, Technology & Software, and Construction & Real Estate, per current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. San Jose's concentration of chip manufacturers, enterprise software platforms, and consumer electronics companies creates sustained demand for design leadership that can work at the intersection of hardware, software, and systems thinking.
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