Senior Designer Jobs in Illinois
Senior Designer jobs in Illinois are active across a wide range of industries, with demand concentrated in advertising, consumer packaged goods, architecture and interiors, and digital product design at every level from mid-career through principal. Chicago anchors the market by a wide margin, with secondary clusters in Evanston and Schaumburg where corporate campuses and regional studios operate. Major employers with a lasting presence hiring senior designers include McDonald's, Hyatt Hotels, and Leo Burnett. The most sought-after specializations in Illinois are UX and product design, brand identity, and environmental and experiential design. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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At DPR, roles and responsibilities are more than describing a job title—they are a commitment to building great things together. The job description(s) below defines core responsibilities and the scope of the role and is a starting point. Every employee is expected to lead from where they are, take ownership of outcomes, and always act in the best interest of the team, customer, project and organization.
As a purpose-driven organization on a journey to be most admired, we rely on trust, shared leadership, open communication, disciplined action and a deep respect for the individual to drive exceptional performance. Success is not just about what we build, but who we build and how we build it: with integrity, enjoyment, uniqueness and an ever-forward mindset.
Job Summary:
Develops and executes architectural design solutions for assigned project scopes, including smaller or less complex projects, or defined portions of larger projects. Integrates technical, aesthetic, and functional requirements to produce coordinated, buildable designs with limited oversight. Coordinates with cross-disciplinary teams to ensure alignment with project objectives, applicable codes, and performance criteria. Supports and integrates DPR Self-Perform Work (SPW) and prefabrication products into the design, leveraging Virtual Design and Construction (VDC) practices to maintain a continuous, coordinated model and data environment. Supports and applies prefabrication and digital design strategies to improve constructability and delivery outcomes.
Key Responsibilities:
Leads architectural design and documentation for assigned building components or systems.
Coordinates design input with engineering, prefabrication, and construction partners.
Prepares detailed drawings, specifications, and BIM models aligned with project requirements.
Reviews project deliverables for technical accuracy, code compliance, and constructability.
Collaborates with internal and external stakeholders to resolve design issues.
Supports project budgets, schedules, and quality standards.
Mentors less experienced designers and interns in modeling tools and detailing techniques.
Education Qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree in architecture, engineering, building science, or a related field, or equivalent experience required.
Work Experience:
10+ years of experience in architectural design, documentation, or related field required.
Certifications and Licenses:
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professional (LEED AP) certification preferred.
DPR Construction is a forward-thinking, self-performing general contractor specializing in technically complex and sustainable projects for the advanced technology, life sciences, healthcare, higher education and commercial markets. Founded in 1990, DPR is a great story of entrepreneurial success as a private, employee-owned company that has grown into a multi-billion-dollar family of companies with offices around the world.
Working at DPR, you'll have the chance to try new things, explore paths and shape your future. Here, we build opportunity together—by harnessing our talents, enabling curiosity and pursuing our collective ambition to make the best ideas happen. We are proud to be recognized as a great place to work by our talented teammates and leading news organizations like U.S. News and World Report, Forbes, Fast Company and Newsweek.
Explore our open opportunities at www.dpr.com/careers .
See All 65 Senior Designer Jobs in Illinois
Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Senior Designer JobsSenior Designer Jobs by City in Illinois
Where Illinois roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Senior Designer Job Market in Illinois
A snapshot from current Illinois openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Sargent & Lundy13

- Gensler2

- Amazon2

- KTGY Group2

- Mesa Associates2

Top Industries Hiring
- Construction & Real Estate
- Consulting & Professional Services
- Manufacturing
- Technology & Software
What Illinois Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in senior designer jobs across Illinois.
- Bachelor's degree in graphic design, industrial design, or a related design discipline
- Five or more years of professional design experience with a strong portfolio
- Proficiency in Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, and relevant prototyping tools
- Demonstrated ability to lead projects and mentor junior designers on a team
- Experience collaborating with cross-functional partners including marketing, product, and engineering
- Strong presentation and communication skills for stakeholder-facing design reviews
Senior Designer Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a senior designer in Illinois?
Reaching a senior designer role in Illinois typically requires a bachelor's degree in graphic design, UX, industrial design, or a related field, followed by several years of progressively responsible studio or in-house experience. Illinois has no state-issued license for most design specializations, so advancement depends on portfolio depth, demonstrated project ownership, and peer recognition. Designers working in architecture-adjacent interiors may pursue NCIDQ certification, which Illinois recognizes for licensed interior designers through the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.
Which companies hire senior designers in Illinois?
Employers hiring senior designers in Illinois right now include Sargent & Lundy, Gensler, and Amazon, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Illinois's deep concentration of Fortune 500 headquarters, major advertising agencies, and consumer brand studios in the Chicago metropolitan area means senior design talent is in consistent demand across a broad mix of corporate and agency environments.
Which Illinois cities have the most senior designer jobs?
Chicago, Oak Brook, and Illinois have the most senior designer openings in Illinois. Chicago dominates because it is home to the headquarters of major consumer brands, large advertising and design agencies, and a dense cluster of tech and fintech employers, while suburban markets like Schaumburg and Evanston reflect the design teams embedded in large corporate campuses and regional creative studios based outside the city core.
Are there remote senior designer jobs in Illinois?
Yes, and more than many fields. About 79% of senior designer openings tied to Illinois are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting how much of the work centers on digital tools and screen-based collaboration. The most remote-friendly specializations are UX and product design, where deliverables are entirely digital, while experiential, environmental, and production-focused design roles lean toward on-site or hybrid arrangements.
How can I get hired as a senior designer in Illinois with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is building a strong portfolio and starting in an associate or junior designer role at an Illinois agency or in-house team. Large Chicago employers like Leo Burnett, Publicis, and Morningstar bring on junior designers through entry-level programs, and many architecture and interiors firms hire design assistants who work toward NCIDQ eligibility over time. Candidates from adjacent roles such as marketing coordinator, art director assistant, or production artist frequently transition into formal design tracks, and completing a certificate program at an institution like the School of the Art Institute of Chicago strengthens an application considerably.
Where can I find and apply to senior designer jobs in Illinois?
You can find and apply to senior designer jobs in Illinois on Migrate Mate, which lists current Illinois openings across industries and experience levels. Find the roles that fit your background and apply directly.
See All 65 Senior Designer Jobs in Illinois
Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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