Design Manager Jobs in Wisconsin
Design Manager jobs in Wisconsin are concentrated in Milwaukee, Madison, and Green Bay, where employers like Northwestern Mutual, American Family Insurance, and Kohler Co. maintain active design and creative leadership teams. Demand is strongest in UX and digital product design management, brand and visual identity leadership, and design operations for manufacturing and consumer goods companies. Openings appear at every level from team leads stepping into their first management role to senior design managers overseeing enterprise creative functions. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Job Description
Job Description:
MANAGER OF DESIGN ENGINEERING, POWER TOOLS
INNOVATE WITHOUT BOUNDARIES! At Milwaukee Tool we firmly believe that our People and our Culture are the secrets to our success – so we give you unlimited access to everything you need to create disruptive new technologies and solutions on our electrical engineering teams. Our Engineering Team is responsible for giving life to the batteries, motors, and electronics that power solutions changing the lives of our users. Every developmental phase of these critical components happens in-house under the watch of this team. We continue to invest in electrical engineering resources to design and develop leadership in electronic capabilities; something unique within the industry. And we’re pushing the limits in firmware engineering, power electronics, embedded systems, machine learning, and the use of artificial intelligence.
Behind our doors you’ll be empowered every day to own it, drive it, and do what it takes to design and develop the biggest breakthroughs in the industry. Meanwhile, you’ll have the support and resources of the fastest-growing brand in the construction industry to make it happen.
Year after year, our team continues to make significant breakthroughs in the industry. We’re just getting started. To learn more about our story click HERE.
The Manager of Design Engineering manages, supports, and provides leadership direction to design engineers and CAD designers. Responsible for engineering activities including new product development, product life cycle support, and technology integration. Collaborates with business unit leadership in product, manufacturing, and commercial strategies.
Must possess strong technical engineering knowledge. Requires strong leadership skills, functional management as well as experience managing complex projects to meet project targets. Must be able to work effectively in a team environment and interface closely with Quality, Finance, Marketing, Supply Planning, Purchasing and Manufacturing.
You’ll also be DISRUPTIVE through these duties and responsibilities:
- Provide engineering leadership and direct new product development activities within the department.
- Ensure all projects are complete on time, at cost, and within budget.
- Develop resource plans.
- Ability to proactively manage risk.
- Regularly present engineered project status, schedule updates, and financial updates to stakeholders.
- Manage cross functional relationships across the business to support standardization and development
- Recruit, develop and coach engineering team members and project leaders.
- Develop and improve business and department processes.
What TOOLS you’ll bring with you:
- Bachelor of Science Degree in Engineering. Graduate studies preferred in the business areas such as Project Management, Finance, Marketing, or Organizational studies. Formal project management training preferred.
- Minimum 10 years engineering experience in related field.
- Experience managing engineering departments and new product development teams is preferred.
- Technical cross functional leadership.
- Financial acumen including manufacturing cost drivers associated with materials, labor & overhead.
- Talent development.
- Experience successfully managing moderate complexity projects and/or subsystems of larger projects.
- Must possess a high level of Mechanical engineering aptitude and Electrical systems integration experience.
- Must have a working design knowledge of a wide variety of the technologies associated with Milwaukee products.
- Ability to draft comprehensive test plans and specifications.
- Proficient in the use of engineering analysis methods and CAD/CAE tools that facilitate robust design.
- Experience leveraging Artificial Intelligence tools to maximize productivity and engineering rigor is preferred.
- Experience with NVH, fluid dynamics or thermal engineering is preferred.
- Must be a self-starter, hands-on and able to work in fast paced environment.
- Must possess great communication skills.
- Must be willing to travel.
We provide these great perks and benefits:
- Robust health, dental and vision insurance plans.
- Generous 401 (K) savings plan.
- Education assistance.
- On-site wellness, fitness center, food, and coffee service. · And many more, check out our benefits site HERE.
Milwaukee Tool is an equal opportunity employer.
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About Us
Milwaukee Tool is a Brookfield, Wisconsin-based subsidiary of Techtronic Industries Co. Ltd. (TTI) (HKEx stock code: 669, ADR symbol: TTNDY). For more information on the full line of Milwaukee® products, please call 1-800-SAWDUST or visit Milwaukee Tool.
See All 29 Design Manager Jobs in Wisconsin
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Find Design Manager JobsDesign Manager Jobs by City in Wisconsin
Where Wisconsin roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Design Manager Job Market in Wisconsin
A snapshot from current Wisconsin openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring


Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software
- Consulting & Professional Services
What Wisconsin Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in design manager jobs across Wisconsin.
- Bachelor's degree in design, visual communication, graphic design, or a related field
- Five or more years of professional design experience including team leadership
- Demonstrated portfolio showing design strategy, brand, or product work at scale
- Proficiency with industry tools such as Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, or Sketch
- Experience managing cross-functional projects with product, marketing, or engineering teams
- Strong presentation and stakeholder communication skills for executive-level audiences
Design Manager Jobs in Wisconsin: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a design manager in Wisconsin?
The path to a design manager role in Wisconsin typically starts with a bachelor's degree in graphic design, interaction design, industrial design, or a closely related field, followed by several years of hands-on design work. Wisconsin does not require a state-issued license to work as a design manager. Employers across Milwaukee, Madison, and the Fox Valley region look for candidates who can show a portfolio demonstrating both design craft and team leadership experience.
How much do design managers make in Wisconsin?
Design managers in Wisconsin earn a median of about $81,130 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $58,470 for the lowest 10% to over $131,850 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire design managers in Wisconsin?
Employers hiring design managers in Wisconsin right now include Team TTI, Milwaukee Tool, and Ayres Associates, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Wisconsin's mix of large insurers, consumer goods manufacturers, healthcare systems, and digital agencies creates consistent demand for design leadership across a range of industries and specialties.
Which Wisconsin cities have the most design manager jobs?
Milwaukee, Brookfield, and Madison have the most design manager openings in Wisconsin. Milwaukee drives the largest share of listings thanks to its concentration of corporate headquarters in financial services, insurance, and manufacturing, while Madison's tech sector and university-affiliated organizations fuel steady demand, and Green Bay's consumer brands and regional employers contribute additional openings.
Are there remote design manager jobs in Wisconsin?
Yes, and more than most fields. About 29% of design manager openings tied to Wisconsin are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting the broadly desk-based, screen-centered nature of design management work. Roles focused on digital product design and UX tend to offer the most location flexibility, while positions tied to manufacturing, physical product design, or hands-on brand production are more likely to require an on-site presence.
How can I get hired as a design manager in Wisconsin with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is moving into a design manager role from a senior individual contributor position such as senior UX designer, senior graphic designer, or senior brand designer. Wisconsin employers including Northwestern Mutual, Advocate Aurora Health, and mid-size Milwaukee and Madison agencies regularly promote strong senior designers into team lead or associate manager roles. Building a portfolio that includes project leadership examples, mentoring, or cross-team collaboration helps candidates make that transition without prior official management titles.
Where can I find and apply to design manager jobs in Wisconsin?
You can find and apply to design manager jobs in Wisconsin on Migrate Mate, which lists current Wisconsin openings across Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay, and beyond. Find a role that fits your experience and specialty, then apply directly to the employer through the listing.
See All 29 Design Manager Jobs in Wisconsin
Find roles in Wisconsin that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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