Senior Designer Jobs in California

Senior Designer jobs in California are among the most active in the country, concentrated in technology, entertainment, consumer goods, and architecture across a market that supports roles from associate to principal level. The largest hiring centers are Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego, where companies like Apple, Adobe, and NBCUniversal maintain deep design teams and post consistently throughout the year. The most in-demand specialties are UX and product design, brand identity, and architectural or interior design for real estate and hospitality clients. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.

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Overview

Open roles193+
Top employerAdobe
Top citySan Francisco, CA
Cities hiring39
Work type70% On-site
Top industryTechnology

Showing 5 of 193+ Senior Designer jobs

SERVAL
Senior Designer
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SERVAL
Added 2w ago
Senior Designer
SERVAL
San Francisco, California
Creative & Design
Marketing
Graphic Designer
$150k - $200k/yr
On-Site
None
1,001-5,000

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Blizzard Entertainment
Senior Designer, Cinematics
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Blizzard Entertainment
Added 3w ago
Senior Designer, Cinematics
Blizzard Entertainment
Irvine, California
Creative & Design
Multimedia Production
$81k - $149k/yr
Hybrid
None
1,001-5,000

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Apple
Senior Designer
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Apple
Added 3w ago
Senior Designer
Apple
Cupertino, California
Creative & Design
Product Management
UI/UX Design
$203k - $365k/yr
On-Site
None
10,000+

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Snap Inc.
Senior Designer
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Snap Inc.
Added 3w ago
Senior Designer
Snap Inc.
Los Angeles, California
Creative & Design
Brand & Social Media
Graphic Designer
$133k - $235k/yr
On-Site
None
5,001-10,000

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Sony Pictures Entertainment
Senior Designer
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Sony Pictures Entertainment
Added 1mo ago
Senior Designer
Sony Pictures Entertainment
Culver City, California
Creative & Design
Marketing
Graphic Designer
$90k - $117k/yr
Hybrid
None
5,001-10,000

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See All 193+ Senior Designer Jobs in California

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

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Senior Designer Jobs by City in California

Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.

San Francisco
65 jobs
Los Angeles
28 jobs
San Jose
11 jobs
San Diego
8 jobs
Irvine
6 jobs
Palo Alto
6 jobs
Sunnyvale
6 jobs
Mountain View
5 jobs
San Mateo
5 jobs

Senior Designer Job Market in California

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

Who's Hiring

  • Adobe
    Adobe8
  • Affiliated Engineers
    Affiliated Engineers8
  • Amazon
    Amazon8
  • TikTok
    TikTok6
  • Floor & Decor
    Floor & Decor5

Top Industries Hiring

  • Technology & Software88
  • Consulting & Professional Services19
  • Construction & Real Estate12
  • Manufacturing7
  • Banking & Financial Services5

What California Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in senior designer jobs across California.

  • Bachelor's degree in graphic design, architecture, product design, or a related field
  • Six or more years of professional design experience with a portfolio demonstrating senior-level work
  • Proficiency in Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, or AutoCAD depending on the design discipline
  • Demonstrated ability to lead projects and mentor junior designers from brief through delivery
  • Experience collaborating with cross-functional teams including marketing, engineering, or product management
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills for presenting concepts to stakeholders and clients

Senior Designer Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a senior designer in California?

The path to a senior designer role in California depends on the discipline. Architects must hold a California Architect license issued through the California Architects Board, which requires an accredited professional degree, documented experience, and passing the Architect Registration Examination. Interior designers can pursue the California-recognized NCIDQ credential for competitive advantage. For product, UX, and graphic designers, no state license applies, but California employers consistently look for a strong portfolio, a relevant bachelor's degree, and several years of progressive experience.

Which companies hire senior designers in California?

Employers hiring senior designers in California right now include Adobe, Affiliated Engineers, and Amazon, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of June 2026. California's concentration of technology headquarters, major entertainment studios, and global consumer brands means senior design roles appear across a broader range of industries here than in most other states.

Which California cities have the most senior designer jobs?

San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Jose have the most senior designer openings in California. Los Angeles leads because of its entertainment, advertising, and real estate industries, while San Francisco and the broader Bay Area draw UX and product designers to technology company headquarters, and San Diego's biotech and defense sectors create demand for specialized technical and brand designers.

Are there remote senior designer jobs in California?

Yes, and more than most fields. About 30% of senior designer openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of June 2026, reflecting how much of the work involves digital deliverables and collaborative software. UX, product, and brand design roles are the most likely to be fully remote, while architectural, interior, and industrial design positions typically require on-site presence for client reviews and fabrication oversight.

How can I get hired as a senior designer in California with little or no experience?

The most realistic entry path is building a focused portfolio through associate or junior designer roles, then moving up internally. Large California technology companies like Google and Salesforce run structured design programs for early-career candidates, and entertainment studios in Los Angeles regularly hire design coordinators and production designers who develop into senior roles. Architecture firms across California hire through the Architectural Experience Program, and community colleges and California College of the Arts offer portfolio-building coursework that California employers recognize.

Where can I find and apply to senior designer jobs in California?

You can find and apply to senior designer jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings across design disciplines and experience levels. Search the available roles, find the ones that match your background and location, and apply directly to each one.

See All 193+ Senior Designer Jobs in California

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

Find Senior Designer Jobs