Lead Designer Jobs in Tennessee

Lead designer jobs in Tennessee are consistently active, with demand concentrated in Nashville's growing tech and healthcare sectors, Memphis's logistics and consumer goods industries, and Knoxville's manufacturing and engineering firms, covering roles from mid-level to senior creative direction. Nashville draws the largest share of openings, where employers like HCA Healthcare, Bridgestone Americas, and Nissan North America maintain design and brand teams with ongoing hiring needs. The most in-demand specialties are UX and product design, brand identity, and environmental and experiential design. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.

Find Lead Designer Jobs

Overview

Open roles5
Top employerHDR
Top cityChattanooga, TN
Cities hiring4
Work type50% On-site
Top industryHealthcare

Showing 5 of 5+ Lead Designer jobs

Mesa Associates, Inc.
Lead Designer
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Mesa Associates, Inc.
Added 1mo ago
Lead Designer
Mesa Associates, Inc.
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Executive Leadership & C-Suite
Program Management
Project Management
Hybrid
Associate's degree in drafting
501-1,000

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Ironsmith fire
Lead Designer
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Ironsmith fire
Added 2mo ago
Lead Designer
Ironsmith fire
La Vergne, Tennessee
Engineering (Non-Software)
Mechanical Engineering
Specialized Engineering
Bachelor's degree in engineering technology
51-200

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HDR
BIM Designer - Electrical Project Lead
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HDR
Added 8mo ago
BIM Designer - Electrical Project Lead
HDR
Memphis, Tennessee
Engineering (Non-Software)
Electrical Engineering
On-Site
None

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HDR
BIM Designer - Electrical Project Lead
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HDR
Added 9mo ago
BIM Designer - Electrical Project Lead
HDR
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Engineering (Non-Software)
Electrical Engineering
On-Site
Associate's

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HDR
BIM Designer - Electrical Project Lead
We won't show you this job again
HDR
Added 9mo ago
BIM Designer - Electrical Project Lead
HDR
Nashville, Tennessee
Engineering (Non-Software)
Electrical Engineering
Remote (US)
None

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See All 5 Lead Designer Jobs in Tennessee

Find roles in Tennessee that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

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Lead Designer Jobs by City in Tennessee

Where Tennessee roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Chattanooga
2 jobs
Memphis
1 job
La Vergne
1 job
Nashville
1 job

Lead Designer Job Market in Tennessee

A snapshot from current Tennessee openings, updated as new roles post.

Who's Hiring

HDR
HDR3 open roles
Ironsmith fire
Ironsmith fire1 open role
Mesa Associates
Mesa Associates1 open role

Top Industries Hiring

  • Healthcare & Medical Services
  • Consulting & Professional Services

What Tennessee Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in lead designer jobs across Tennessee.

  • Bachelor's degree in graphic design, industrial design, or a closely related field required
  • Five or more years of professional design experience with at least two in a lead or senior role
  • Expert proficiency in Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, and prototyping or 3D modeling tools
  • Demonstrated portfolio showing end-to-end ownership of design projects from brief to delivery
  • Experience managing or mentoring junior designers and presenting concepts to cross-functional stakeholders
  • Strong understanding of design systems, brand guidelines, and production handoff standards

Lead Designer Jobs in Tennessee: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a lead designer in Tennessee?

Becoming a lead designer in Tennessee starts with a bachelor's degree in graphic design, industrial design, UX, or a related creative discipline, followed by several years building a professional portfolio across agency or in-house environments. Tennessee does not require a state-issued license for most design roles. Progression typically moves through junior and mid-level positions before employers in Nashville, Memphis, or Knoxville consider candidates for lead roles with team oversight responsibilities.

How much do lead designers make in Tennessee?

Lead designers in Tennessee earn a median of about $89,860 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $50,530 for the lowest 10% to over $172,130 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.

Which companies hire lead designers in Tennessee?

Employers hiring lead designers in Tennessee right now include HDR, Ironsmith fire, and Mesa Associates, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. Tennessee's mix of large healthcare systems, automotive manufacturers, and consumer brands means lead designer demand comes from a notably broad set of industries compared to many states.

Which Tennessee cities have the most lead designer jobs?

Chattanooga, Memphis, and La Vergne have the most lead designer openings in Tennessee. Nashville dominates because of its concentration of corporate headquarters, healthcare organizations, and a fast-expanding tech sector, while Memphis and Knoxville draw consistent demand from logistics, manufacturing, and engineering firms anchored in those metro areas.

Are there remote lead designer jobs in Tennessee?

Yes, and they're fairly common given that design work is largely screen-based and deliverable-driven. About 50% of lead designer openings tied to Tennessee are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, reflecting broader flexibility in the creative industry. UX and digital product design roles tend to offer the most remote options, while environmental and experiential design roles typically require on-site presence.

How can I get hired as a lead designer in Tennessee with little or no experience?

The most realistic entry path is securing a junior or associate designer role at a Nashville agency or in-house creative team, then building toward lead responsibilities over two to three years. Large Tennessee employers like HCA Healthcare and Bridgestone Americas run structured design rotations or associate programs worth pursuing. Candidates who come in from adjacent roles such as marketing coordinator, visual content producer, or design technician with a strong portfolio tend to move into formal design tracks faster than those without any production samples.

Where can I find and apply to lead designer jobs in Tennessee?

You can find and apply to lead designer jobs in Tennessee on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from employers across the state. Find the roles that fit your background and apply directly to the ones that match.

See All 5 Lead Designer Jobs in Tennessee

Find roles in Tennessee that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

Find Lead Designer Jobs