Lead Designer Jobs in New York
Lead Designer jobs in New York are among the most active in the country, with demand concentrated in fashion, advertising, consumer goods, finance, and media across a wide seniority range from junior creative leads to senior design directors. The largest hiring metros are New York City, White Plains, and Brooklyn, where established employers such as Condé Nast, PepsiCo, and NBCUniversal maintain significant design teams. The most in-demand specialties include product design, brand identity, and UX-led creative direction. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
Find Lead Designer JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 7+ Lead Designer jobs
At Ripple, we're building a world where value moves like information does today. It's big, it's bold, and we're already doing it. Through our crypto solutions for financial institutions, businesses, governments and developers, we are improving the global financial system and creating greater economic fairness and opportunity for more people, in more places around the world. And we get to do the best work of our career and grow our skills surrounded by colleagues who have our backs.
If you're ready to see your impact and unlock incredible career growth opportunities, join us, and build real world value.
THE WORK:
We're looking for a Lead Digital Designer to help shape the future of our web ecosystem. This role goes beyond designing pages, it's about building scalable systems, defining modern digital experiences, and driving how our brand shows up across the web.
You'll play a key role in evolving our design foundations, contributing to a large-scale website redesign, and partnering closely with engineering, product, marketing, and agencies to deliver thoughtful, high-impact experiences.
This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who thinks in systems, cares deeply about craft, and knows how to bring clarity to complex, cross-functional work.
WHAT YOU'LL DO:
- Experience working with design systems and component-based design
- Strong design foundation (layout, typography, color, hierarchy, motion, interaction, 3D)
- Ability to develop polished, modern, and high-quality digital experiences
- Deep understanding of responsive design, UX principles, and web protocols
- Experience working across design, engineering, and product teams
- Clear communicator who can explain decisions and influence direction
- Comfortable operating in ambiguity and helping define the path forward
- Able to zoom out to define direction, and zoom in to complete details
- Lead the design of high-impact web experiences across homepage, product pages, and key user journeys
- Contribute to the evolution of a scalable design system, including tokens, components, and reusable modules for CMS system
- Partner closely with engineering to ensure design systems are translated into high-quality, production-ready implementations
- Help define and refine site architecture, navigation systems, and overall user experience frameworks
- Collaborate with brand teams to develop a modern and cohesive digital aesthetic
- Balance brand storytelling with usability, accessibility, and performance across all web experiences
- Work cross-functionally with product, marketing, and UX teams to align on goals, priorities, and user needs
- Guide and collaborate with external agencies and partners on design execution and exploration
- Support UX testing, A/B testing, and ongoing optimization efforts to continuously improve the site experience
- Help establish workflows and processes that improve speed, quality, and consistency across the web team
WHAT YOU'LL BRING:
- Proven experience in web or digital product design
- Strong portfolio demonstrating high-quality web design and systems thinking
- Proven experience working with design systems, component libraries, and scalable frameworks
- Strong visual design foundation, including typography, layout, color, and hierarchy
- Deep understanding of responsive design, UX principles, and modern web standards
- Experience collaborating closely with engineering teams and an understanding of front-end constraints
- Ability to clearly communicate design decisions and influence cross-functional stakeholders
- Comfortable working in fast-paced environments with evolving priorities and ambiguity
- Experience designing for complex, multi-page websites or platforms
- Experience in fintech, B2B, or complex product ecosystems
- Familiarity with tools and workflows such as Storybook, design tokens, or system-driven development
- Experience contributing to or leading large-scale website redesigns
- Understanding of CRO, A/B testing, and data-informed design decision making
- Experience working with motion design, interaction design, or advanced web storytelling
- Interest in AI tools and their application in design workflows
- Experience collaborating with or managing external agencies and partners
- Exposure to both brand-driven and product-driven design environments
WHO WE ARE:
Do Your Best Work
- The opportunity to build in a fast-paced start-up environment with experienced industry leaders
- A learning environment where you can dive deep into the latest technologies and make an impact. A professional development budget to support other modes of learning.
- Thrive in an environment where no matter what race, ethnicity, gender, origin, or culture they identify with, every employee is a respected, valued, and empowered part of the team.
- In-office collaboration for moments that matter is important to our culture, and we give managers and teams the flexibility to decide which 10+ days a month they come in.
- Bi-weekly all-company meeting - business updates and ask me anything style discussion with our Leadership Team
- We come together for moments that matter which include team offsites, team bonding activities, happy hours and more!
Take Control of Your Finances
- Competitive salary, bonuses, and equity
- Competitive benefits that cover physical and mental healthcare, retirement, family forming, and family support
- Employee giving match
- Mobile phone stipend
Take Care of Yourself
- R&R days so you can rest and recharge
- Generous wellness reimbursement and weekly onsite & virtual programming
- Generous vacation policy - work with your manager to take time off when you need it
- Industry-leading parental leave policies. Family planning benefits.
- Catered lunches, fully-stocked kitchens with premium snacks/beverages, and plenty of fun events
Benefits listed above are for full-time employees.
Ripple is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We're committed to building a diverse and inclusive team. We do not discriminate against qualified employees or applicants because of race, color, religion, gender identity, sex, sexual identity, pregnancy, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, marital status, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, military status, or any other characteristic protected by local law or ordinance.
Please find our UK/EU Applicant Privacy Notice and our California Applicant Privacy Notice for reference.
At Ripple, we're building a world where value moves like information does today. It's big, it's bold, and we're already doing it. Through our crypto solutions for financial institutions, businesses, governments and developers, we are improving the global financial system and creating greater economic fairness and opportunity for more people, in more places around the world. And we get to do the best work of our career and grow our skills surrounded by colleagues who have our backs.
If you're ready to see your impact and unlock incredible career growth opportunities, join us, and build real world value.
THE WORK:
We're looking for a Lead Digital Designer to help shape the future of our web ecosystem. This role goes beyond designing pages, it's about building scalable systems, defining modern digital experiences, and driving how our brand shows up across the web.
You'll play a key role in evolving our design foundations, contributing to a large-scale website redesign, and partnering closely with engineering, product, marketing, and agencies to deliver thoughtful, high-impact experiences.
This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who thinks in systems, cares deeply about craft, and knows how to bring clarity to complex, cross-functional work.
WHAT YOU'LL DO:
- Experience working with design systems and component-based design
- Strong design foundation (layout, typography, color, hierarchy, motion, interaction, 3D)
- Ability to develop polished, modern, and high-quality digital experiences
- Deep understanding of responsive design, UX principles, and web protocols
- Experience working across design, engineering, and product teams
- Clear communicator who can explain decisions and influence direction
- Comfortable operating in ambiguity and helping define the path forward
- Able to zoom out to define direction, and zoom in to complete details
- Lead the design of high-impact web experiences across homepage, product pages, and key user journeys
- Contribute to the evolution of a scalable design system, including tokens, components, and reusable modules for CMS system
- Partner closely with engineering to ensure design systems are translated into high-quality, production-ready implementations
- Help define and refine site architecture, navigation systems, and overall user experience frameworks
- Collaborate with brand teams to develop a modern and cohesive digital aesthetic
- Balance brand storytelling with usability, accessibility, and performance across all web experiences
- Work cross-functionally with product, marketing, and UX teams to align on goals, priorities, and user needs
- Guide and collaborate with external agencies and partners on design execution and exploration
- Support UX testing, A/B testing, and ongoing optimization efforts to continuously improve the site experience
- Help establish workflows and processes that improve speed, quality, and consistency across the web team
WHAT YOU'LL BRING:
- Proven experience in web or digital product design
- Strong portfolio demonstrating high-quality web design and systems thinking
- Proven experience working with design systems, component libraries, and scalable frameworks
- Strong visual design foundation, including typography, layout, color, and hierarchy
- Deep understanding of responsive design, UX principles, and modern web standards
- Experience collaborating closely with engineering teams and an understanding of front-end constraints
- Ability to clearly communicate design decisions and influence cross-functional stakeholders
- Comfortable working in fast-paced environments with evolving priorities and ambiguity
- Experience designing for complex, multi-page websites or platforms
- Experience in fintech, B2B, or complex product ecosystems
- Familiarity with tools and workflows such as Storybook, design tokens, or system-driven development
- Experience contributing to or leading large-scale website redesigns
- Understanding of CRO, A/B testing, and data-informed design decision making
- Experience working with motion design, interaction design, or advanced web storytelling
- Interest in AI tools and their application in design workflows
- Experience collaborating with or managing external agencies and partners
- Exposure to both brand-driven and product-driven design environments
WHO WE ARE:
Do Your Best Work
- The opportunity to build in a fast-paced start-up environment with experienced industry leaders
- A learning environment where you can dive deep into the latest technologies and make an impact. A professional development budget to support other modes of learning.
- Thrive in an environment where no matter what race, ethnicity, gender, origin, or culture they identify with, every employee is a respected, valued, and empowered part of the team.
- In-office collaboration for moments that matter is important to our culture, and we give managers and teams the flexibility to decide which 10+ days a month they come in.
- Bi-weekly all-company meeting - business updates and ask me anything style discussion with our Leadership Team
- We come together for moments that matter which include team offsites, team bonding activities, happy hours and more!
Take Control of Your Finances
- Competitive salary, bonuses, and equity
- Competitive benefits that cover physical and mental healthcare, retirement, family forming, and family support
- Employee giving match
- Mobile phone stipend
Take Care of Yourself
- R&R days so you can rest and recharge
- Generous wellness reimbursement and weekly onsite & virtual programming
- Generous vacation policy - work with your manager to take time off when you need it
- Industry-leading parental leave policies. Family planning benefits.
- Catered lunches, fully-stocked kitchens with premium snacks/beverages, and plenty of fun events
Benefits listed above are for full-time employees.
Ripple is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We're committed to building a diverse and inclusive team. We do not discriminate against qualified employees or applicants because of race, color, religion, gender identity, sex, sexual identity, pregnancy, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, marital status, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, military status, or any other characteristic protected by local law or ordinance.
Please find our UK/EU Applicant Privacy Notice and our California Applicant Privacy Notice for reference.
See All 7 Lead Designer Jobs in New York
Find roles in New York that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Lead Designer JobsLead Designer Jobs by City in New York
Where New York roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Lead Designer Job Market in New York
A snapshot from current New York openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Collabera1
- Mastercard1
- Morgan Stanley1
- Radar1
- Radar Labs1
Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software3
- Banking & Financial Services1
- Consulting & Professional Services1
- Investment & Asset Management1
- Medical Devices1
What New York Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in lead designer jobs across New York.
- Bachelor's degree in graphic design, industrial design, or a related creative field
- Five or more years of design experience with at least two years in a lead or senior role
- Demonstrated portfolio showing end-to-end creative ownership across multiple projects
- Proficiency in Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, and collaborative design systems
- Experience managing or mentoring junior designers within a team environment
- Strong written and verbal communication skills for presenting concepts to stakeholders
Lead Designer Jobs in New York: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a lead designer in New York?
Becoming a lead designer in New York typically requires a bachelor's degree in graphic design, product design, or a related field, followed by several years building a strong portfolio in a junior or mid-level role. New York does not require a state license for most design specialties. Employers in the city's competitive advertising, fashion, and media sectors place heavy weight on portfolio quality, cross-functional collaboration experience, and familiarity with New York's fast-paced creative production environment.
How much do lead designers make in New York?
Lead designers in New York earn a median of about $137,320 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $80,060 for the lowest 10% to over $280,320 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire lead designers in New York?
Employers hiring lead designers in New York right now include Collabera, Mastercard, and Morgan Stanley, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of June 2026. New York's density of global headquarters in media, finance, and consumer brands means lead designer roles appear across a wide range of industries beyond traditional creative agencies.
Which New York cities have the most lead designer jobs?
The cities with the most lead designer openings in New York are New York and Harrison. New York City dominates the distribution because of its unmatched concentration of advertising agencies, fashion houses, media companies, and technology firms, while suburban hubs like White Plains attract corporate design roles tied to major consumer goods and financial services headquarters in the greater metro area.
Are there remote lead designer jobs in New York?
Yes, and more than most creative roles. About 0% of lead designer openings tied to New York are remote or hybrid as of June 2026, reflecting how much of the work centers on digital tools and screen-based deliverables. The most remote-friendly specialties are UX and product design, where the entire workflow lives in platforms like Figma, while brand and environmental design roles more often require in-person collaboration.
How can I get hired as a lead designer in New York with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is securing a junior or associate designer role at a New York agency or in-house team and building toward a lead position over two to three years. Large New York employers such as Condé Nast, NBCUniversal, and major advertising holding companies regularly hire design associates and creative coordinators as entry points. A polished portfolio that shows problem-solving and creative direction, even from academic or freelance work, carries more weight than a lengthy résumé in New York's design market.
Where can I find and apply to lead designer jobs in New York?
You can find and apply to lead designer jobs in New York on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings across New York City, White Plains, Brooklyn, and other locations throughout the state. Search the listings, find roles that match your background and specialization, and apply directly to the ones that fit.
See All 7 Lead Designer Jobs in New York
Find roles in New York that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Lead Designer Jobs