Design Manager Jobs in Massachusetts
Design Manager jobs in Massachusetts are in strong demand, with consistent openings across technology, biotech, financial services, consumer goods, and higher education at every level from junior design manager to senior director of design. Boston, Cambridge, and Waltham are the primary hiring centers, where employers like HubSpot, Wayfair, and Fidelity Investments maintain significant design organizations. Product design management, UX design leadership, and brand design strategy are the specializations recruiters seek most consistently. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Overview: We are seeking an experienced Project Design Manager to lead, coordinate and deliver multidisciplinary architecture and engineering design delivery across new and existing projects. The role leads interdisciplinary coordination, guides the design decision process with the Engineering Leads, and serves as a primary client and Company liaison. The Project Design Manager is responsible for coordinated, timely delivery within the agreed scope and budget; Engineering Leads and Practice Leads retain responsibility for technical design decisions, code compliance, and discipline quality.
This role requires a balanced combination of technical expertise, team leadership, and client-facing communication, ensuring seamless delivery of multidisciplinary design solutions. The ideal candidate brings a proactive approach to collaboration, innovation, and performance in a fast-paced environment.
Key Responsibilities:
Design Leadership & Execution: Lead design delivery coordination across small, medium, and large infrastructure or building projects. Align internal and external teams with project goals, schedules, budgets, and deliverables. Lead interdisciplinary coordination meetings and resolve or escalate interfaces among disciplines with engineering leads. Establish the schedule for discipline QA/QC reviews, lead coordination sessions before each submission, and confirm that review comments have been addressed. . Identify apparent gaps or inconsistencies as an additional set of eyes without replacing technical review. Engineering Leads and Practice Leads remain responsible for technical design, code compliance, and discipline reviews.
Project Planning & Technical Coordination: Coordinate early planning input from the appropriate technical leads, including feasibility, layouts, and space programming as applicable. Lead the structure and editorial review of proposals and guide development of project scopes, schedules, budgets, and performance measures with Engineering Leads. Guide and review project initiation documents prepared and maintained by the Project Coordinator. Establish phase expectations, signing and sealing requirements, internal coordination meetings, and QA/QC review milestones. Monitor staffing, schedule progress, and financial performance using records maintained by Project Coordinators, and address variances with the engineering leads. Coordinate value engineering and constructability input with Engineering Leads and the Construction Manager.
Client & Stakeholder Engagement: Serve as a primary design delivery contact for clients and stakeholders, representing the Company and communicating project progress, decisions, risks, and changes. Lead coordination meetings, presentations, and design charrettes, bringing Engineering Leads into discussions requiring discipline expertise. Maintain productive relationships with agencies, governmental partners, and industry contacts.
Team & People Management: Mentor junior staff, interns, and emerging design professionals. Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and high-performing team culture.
Strategic & Business Development Support: Collaborate with senior leadership on strategic initiatives, market expansion, and proposal development. Identify and pursue design innovation opportunities and industry best practices. Contribute to thought leadership through participation in professional associations and conferences.
Required Skills:
- Administrative Strength: Organized and detail-oriented, with proven ability to establish project expectations; guide schedule and budget development; review staff-prepared initiation documents and status reports; and act on gaps in resources, deliverables, or financial performance.
- Requests and approves project resources in coordination with Engineering Leads, who organize production staff and technical assignments. Develops project staff and ensures the team follows Company procedures. Keeps the client and Company informed of project status. Reviews financial reports and the project financial database maintained by project support staff, identifies variances, and coordinates corrective action.
- Management: Lead multidisciplinary teams, including internal staff and subconsultants, through design delivery. Set expectations for coordinated work from concept through construction administration, supervise team delivery when assigned, and represent the Company at project meetings. Coordinate field surveys and site observations with the appropriate technical staff. Identify serious delivery issues, communicate changes, and direct or escalate corrective measures. During construction, coordinate design-related RFIs, submittals, and field responses with the Construction Manager, who leads construction management and contractor coordination. Consult with the Supervisor and senior management on the status of active and future projects.
- Tools: Proficiency with project information management and coordination tools, and the ability to work effectively with design teams using discipline-specific tools and emerging technologies.
- Change and Risk Management: Identify and document project risks, scope gaps, and potential out-of-scope requests; assess their effects with Engineering Leads and coordinate changes and additional services through Company approval procedures.
Other:
- Travel: Up to 25% travel on Domestic efforts.
- Mentoring: Ability to mentor interns, recent graduates internally. Offer mentoring/protégé ability to external diverse organizations.
- Leadership: Demonstrate people, team, thought and design leadership as necessary.
- Collaborative: Works well in a team environment - providing support to mentors, mutual respect with peers and team members and emerging leadership skills with teams.
Qualifications
Education:
- Bachelor’s degree in Architecture, Engineering or a related discipline.
- Master’s degree in Architecture, Engineering, Business or related discipline.
Experience:
- 7–10 years of progressive experience in planning, architecture, engineering, or construction-related project delivery, including multidisciplinary coordination and client communication.
Licenses and/or Certifications:
- RA, PE or pursuing a license.
Other:
- Valid state driver’s license (any in US).
- Ability to work in US.
- Ability to meet worksite security requirements including MA State Police and USCBP/TSA background checks.
Overview: We are seeking an experienced Project Design Manager to lead, coordinate and deliver multidisciplinary architecture and engineering design delivery across new and existing projects. The role leads interdisciplinary coordination, guides the design decision process with the Engineering Leads, and serves as a primary client and Company liaison. The Project Design Manager is responsible for coordinated, timely delivery within the agreed scope and budget; Engineering Leads and Practice Leads retain responsibility for technical design decisions, code compliance, and discipline quality.
This role requires a balanced combination of technical expertise, team leadership, and client-facing communication, ensuring seamless delivery of multidisciplinary design solutions. The ideal candidate brings a proactive approach to collaboration, innovation, and performance in a fast-paced environment.
Key Responsibilities:
Design Leadership & Execution: Lead design delivery coordination across small, medium, and large infrastructure or building projects. Align internal and external teams with project goals, schedules, budgets, and deliverables. Lead interdisciplinary coordination meetings and resolve or escalate interfaces among disciplines with engineering leads. Establish the schedule for discipline QA/QC reviews, lead coordination sessions before each submission, and confirm that review comments have been addressed. . Identify apparent gaps or inconsistencies as an additional set of eyes without replacing technical review. Engineering Leads and Practice Leads remain responsible for technical design, code compliance, and discipline reviews.
Project Planning & Technical Coordination: Coordinate early planning input from the appropriate technical leads, including feasibility, layouts, and space programming as applicable. Lead the structure and editorial review of proposals and guide development of project scopes, schedules, budgets, and performance measures with Engineering Leads. Guide and review project initiation documents prepared and maintained by the Project Coordinator. Establish phase expectations, signing and sealing requirements, internal coordination meetings, and QA/QC review milestones. Monitor staffing, schedule progress, and financial performance using records maintained by Project Coordinators, and address variances with the engineering leads. Coordinate value engineering and constructability input with Engineering Leads and the Construction Manager.
Client & Stakeholder Engagement: Serve as a primary design delivery contact for clients and stakeholders, representing the Company and communicating project progress, decisions, risks, and changes. Lead coordination meetings, presentations, and design charrettes, bringing Engineering Leads into discussions requiring discipline expertise. Maintain productive relationships with agencies, governmental partners, and industry contacts.
Team & People Management: Mentor junior staff, interns, and emerging design professionals. Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and high-performing team culture.
Strategic & Business Development Support: Collaborate with senior leadership on strategic initiatives, market expansion, and proposal development. Identify and pursue design innovation opportunities and industry best practices. Contribute to thought leadership through participation in professional associations and conferences.
Required Skills:
- Administrative Strength: Organized and detail-oriented, with proven ability to establish project expectations; guide schedule and budget development; review staff-prepared initiation documents and status reports; and act on gaps in resources, deliverables, or financial performance.
- Requests and approves project resources in coordination with Engineering Leads, who organize production staff and technical assignments. Develops project staff and ensures the team follows Company procedures. Keeps the client and Company informed of project status. Reviews financial reports and the project financial database maintained by project support staff, identifies variances, and coordinates corrective action.
- Management: Lead multidisciplinary teams, including internal staff and subconsultants, through design delivery. Set expectations for coordinated work from concept through construction administration, supervise team delivery when assigned, and represent the Company at project meetings. Coordinate field surveys and site observations with the appropriate technical staff. Identify serious delivery issues, communicate changes, and direct or escalate corrective measures. During construction, coordinate design-related RFIs, submittals, and field responses with the Construction Manager, who leads construction management and contractor coordination. Consult with the Supervisor and senior management on the status of active and future projects.
- Tools: Proficiency with project information management and coordination tools, and the ability to work effectively with design teams using discipline-specific tools and emerging technologies.
- Change and Risk Management: Identify and document project risks, scope gaps, and potential out-of-scope requests; assess their effects with Engineering Leads and coordinate changes and additional services through Company approval procedures.
Other:
- Travel: Up to 25% travel on Domestic efforts.
- Mentoring: Ability to mentor interns, recent graduates internally. Offer mentoring/protégé ability to external diverse organizations.
- Leadership: Demonstrate people, team, thought and design leadership as necessary.
- Collaborative: Works well in a team environment - providing support to mentors, mutual respect with peers and team members and emerging leadership skills with teams.
Qualifications
Education:
- Bachelor’s degree in Architecture, Engineering or a related discipline.
- Master’s degree in Architecture, Engineering, Business or related discipline.
Experience:
- 7–10 years of progressive experience in planning, architecture, engineering, or construction-related project delivery, including multidisciplinary coordination and client communication.
Licenses and/or Certifications:
- RA, PE or pursuing a license.
Other:
- Valid state driver’s license (any in US).
- Ability to work in US.
- Ability to meet worksite security requirements including MA State Police and USCBP/TSA background checks.
See All 43 Design Manager Jobs in Massachusetts
Find roles in Massachusetts that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Design Manager JobsDesign Manager Jobs by City in Massachusetts
Where Massachusetts roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Design Manager Job Market in Massachusetts
A snapshot from current Massachusetts openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Consulting & Professional Services
- Manufacturing
- Construction & Real Estate
What Massachusetts Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in design manager jobs across Massachusetts.
- Bachelor's degree in graphic design, industrial design, or a related creative discipline
- Five or more years of professional design experience including people management
- Demonstrated portfolio showing cross-functional design leadership and shipped products
- Proficiency with Figma, Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite, or equivalent design tools
- Experience collaborating with product, engineering, and marketing stakeholders
- Strong written and verbal communication skills for presenting design strategy to leadership
Design Manager Jobs in Massachusetts: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a design manager in Massachusetts?
Design management in Massachusetts does not require a state-issued license, so the path runs through education and experience. Most hiring managers expect a bachelor's degree in design, human-computer interaction, or a related field, followed by several years of hands-on design work before moving into a leadership role. Massachusetts employers, particularly in tech and biotech, also value candidates who have completed graduate programs at institutions like Massachusetts College of Art and Design or the Rhode Island School of Design.
How much do design managers make in Massachusetts?
Design managers in Massachusetts earn a median of about $149,320 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $78,470 for the lowest 10% to over $218,270 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire design managers in Massachusetts?
Employers hiring design managers in Massachusetts right now include Amazon, Nitsch Engineering, and VHB, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Massachusetts's dense concentration of technology companies, healthcare organizations, and consumer brands means demand stays active throughout the year across a wide range of industries and company sizes.
Which Massachusetts cities have the most design manager jobs?
Boston, Waltham, and Westwood are the Massachusetts cities with the most design manager openings. Boston anchors the market as the headquarters city for major employers in fintech, healthcare, and consumer software, while Cambridge draws demand from biotech and university-affiliated organizations, and Waltham hosts a dense cluster of established technology and life sciences companies that maintain full in-house design teams.
Are there remote design manager jobs in Massachusetts?
Yes, and more than most fields. About 76% of design manager openings tied to Massachusetts are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting how collaborative design workflows have adapted well to distributed environments. Strategic and product design leadership roles tend to offer the most remote flexibility, while positions tied to physical product development or on-site creative studios more often require regular in-person presence.
How can I get hired as a design manager in Massachusetts with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is moving into design management from a senior individual contributor role at a Massachusetts employer that promotes from within. Large companies like Wayfair and HubSpot run structured career development programs where senior designers can take on team lead responsibilities before holding the manager title. Building a portfolio that demonstrates mentorship, design critique, and cross-functional collaboration, alongside a credential like a certificate in UX or design leadership, signals readiness for the step up.
Where can I find and apply to design manager jobs in Massachusetts?
You can find and apply to design manager jobs in Massachusetts on Migrate Mate, which lists current Massachusetts openings from employers actively hiring. Find the roles that fit your background and apply directly to the ones that match.
See All 43 Design Manager Jobs in Massachusetts
Find roles in Massachusetts that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Design Manager Jobs