Design Manager Jobs in Michigan
Design Manager jobs in Michigan are active and competitive, concentrated in automotive product design, industrial and UX design, and brand identity work, with demand ranging from emerging design leads to senior creative directors overseeing cross-functional teams. Detroit, Grand Rapids, and Ann Arbor are the primary hiring metros, anchored by employers like Ford Motor Company, Steelcase, and General Motors, all of which maintain significant design operations in Michigan. The most sought-after specialties are automotive interior and exterior design, user experience design, and systems-level product design leadership. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Job Posting End Date
09-22-2026Please note the job posting will close on the day before the posting end date.
Job Summary
Responsible for providing leadership and direction for the Customer Design team engaged in the design of power system electrical facilities. Develop relationships and effective communication with all stakeholders, and internal and external customers.Job Description
What You’ll Do:
Essential Job Functions & Tasks
Ensure the contribution of all employees within the Customer Design group in developing methods and approaches by maintaining close involvement with the employees and listening to their ideas, needs and recommendations.
Ensure that each employee maintains a customer focused attitude by conveying a thorough understanding of customer expectations and instill the importance of achieving superior customer satisfaction.
Understand and advise on the design, material and work progress of department projects to control costs within estimated budget and to ensure codes, policies, standards, internal and external design requirements and schedules are met.
Develop employee skills/knowledge by providing training opportunities for employees to learn and share knowledge, strengthen skills, and deepen and broaden technical and professional capabilities.
Administer and enforce the company's approved personnel policies and effective wage and salary administration program, including performance management and employee career development.
Carry out the Company's program of Equal Employment Opportunity, including its affirmative action obligations, within the assigned area of responsibility.
Accomplish results by managing staff, including communicating job expectations, assigning responsibilities, establishing accountabilities, setting performance objectives (goals), establishing priorities, providing feedback, and ensuring that staff has required resources to accomplish work.
What We’re Looking For:
Bachelor's degree in electrical, Mechanical, Civil, Industrial Engineering, or a related field; or an associate's degree in electrical, Mechanical, Civil, or Industrial Engineering, or a related field, plus two years of relevant experience.
Minimum of 6 years' utility experience or other relevant experience in engineering, construction, construction management or engineering supervision.
Licenses/Certifications: Registered Professional Engineering License (PE) is a plus
Demonstrate the highest standards of ethical behavior and support the Company's Corporate Compliance policy. Actively fill assigned role in the Incident Command System as necessary including being available outside normal work hours. Demonstrate effective interpersonal and communication skills when interacting with team members and clients. Sit or stand at computer station or desk. Drive to work locations or alternate office locations.
What you will get
SG 09: $116,255-$151,132
In addition to competitive compensation, AEP offers a unique comprehensive benefits package that aims to support and enhance the overall well-being of our employees.
At AEP, we’re more than just an energy company — we’re a team of dedicated professionals committed to delivering safe, reliable, and innovative energy solutions. Guided by our mission to put the customer first, we strive to exceed expectations by listening, responding, and continuously improving the way we serve our communities. If you're passionate about making a meaningful impact and being part of a forward-thinking organization, this is the company for you!"
Compensation Data
Compensation Grade:
SP20-008Compensation Range:
$116,255.00 - $151,132.50The Physical Demand Level for this job is: S – Sedentary Work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally (Occasionally: activity or condition exists up to 1/3 of the time) and/or a negligible amount of force frequently. (Frequently: activity or condition exists from 1/3 to 2/3 of the time) to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time but may involve walking or standing for brief periods of time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally, and all other sedentary criteria are met.
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It is hereby reaffirmed that it is the policy of American Electric Power (AEP) to provide Equal Employment Opportunity in all respects of the employer-employee relationship including recruiting, hiring, upgrading and promotion, conditions and privileges of employment, company sponsored training programs, educational assistance, social and recreational programs, compensation, benefits, transfers, discipline, layoffs and termination of employment to all employees and applicants without discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age, veteran or military status, disability, genetic information, or any other basis prohibited by applicable law. When required by law, we might record certain information or applicants for employment may be invited to voluntarily disclose protected characteristics.See All 18 Design Manager Jobs in Michigan
Find roles in Michigan that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Design Manager JobsDesign Manager Jobs by City in Michigan
Where Michigan roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Design Manager Job Market in Michigan
A snapshot from current Michigan openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring


Top Industries Hiring
- Consulting & Professional Services
- Construction & Real Estate
- Manufacturing
What Michigan Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in design manager jobs across Michigan.
- Bachelor's or master's degree in industrial design, graphic design, or a related design discipline
- Proven leadership experience managing design teams and guiding creative direction end to end
- Proficiency with industry-standard tools such as Adobe Creative Suite, Figma, or CATIA for automotive contexts
- Demonstrated ability to translate business requirements into coherent design strategies and visual systems
- Experience collaborating with engineering, marketing, or product teams in cross-functional Michigan environments
- Portfolio showcasing completed design projects with measurable outcomes and clear creative decision-making
Design Manager Jobs in Michigan: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a design manager in Michigan?
Design managers in Michigan typically advance from senior individual-contributor roles in industrial, graphic, UX, or automotive design after building a portfolio of leadership experience on project teams. Michigan does not require a state-issued license for design management, so the path centers on a bachelor's or master's degree in a design discipline, followed by years of production-level work at employers in the automotive, furniture, or tech sectors before stepping into people management.
How much do design managers make in Michigan?
Design managers in Michigan earn a median of about $86,660 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $54,590 for the lowest 10% to over $166,880 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire design managers in Michigan?
Employers hiring design managers in Michigan right now include Arcadis, D|Fab, and Molex, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. Michigan's deep concentration of automotive original equipment manufacturers and global office furniture companies means design manager roles here often carry both product and team leadership responsibilities uncommon in other states.
Which Michigan cities have the most design manager jobs?
Detroit, Novi, and Lansing have the most design manager openings in Michigan. Detroit and its suburbs drive volume through the headquarters and design studios of major automotive companies, while Grand Rapids draws consistent demand from the global furniture and workplace design industry anchored there, and Ann Arbor adds openings tied to its technology and university-adjacent employer base.
Are there remote design manager jobs in Michigan?
Yes, but they are less common than in purely digital fields, since design management in Michigan frequently involves overseeing physical prototyping, in-person critiques, and studio collaboration. About 14% of design manager openings tied to Michigan are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, with the remote share concentrated in UX, brand, and digital product design leadership roles rather than industrial or automotive design management.
How can I get hired as a design manager in Michigan with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is moving into a team-lead or design program coordinator role at a mid-size Michigan employer before pursuing a full management title. Companies like Steelcase and Ford have rotational design programs and associate-level openings that expose early-career designers to cross-functional projects and people oversight. Building a portfolio that shows design process ownership, not just finished deliverables, and pairing it with a UX or product design certification gives candidates a concrete edge when applying for a first management role.
Where can I find and apply to design manager jobs in Michigan?
You can find and apply to design manager jobs in Michigan on Migrate Mate, which lists current Michigan openings updated regularly. Find roles that fit your background and apply directly through each listing without detours.
See All 18 Design Manager Jobs in Michigan
Find roles in Michigan that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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