Hybrid Design Manager — Lead Digital Product Studio

Design Citizen; Bellevue (WA); Hybrid; USD 130,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Design Citizen in Bellevue, WA is seeking a Design Manager to lead engagements across digital products for a major transformation program. You will partner with PMs, developers, and leadership to define work, set direction, and ensure high-quality design outcomes in a fast-paced studio.

The role balances design craft, people management, and process improvement, mentoring designers, and shaping how the studio collaborates to deliver ambitious, sustainable solutions.

Qualifications

• 8+ years designing digital products, software, or services.
• Experience leading designers within a consulting, agency, or product environment.
• Strong portfolio demonstrating systems thinking, UX, interaction design, and product strategy.
• Experience leading complex, cross‑functional projects with multiple stakeholders.
• Excellent facilitation, communication, and presentation skills.
• Comfort balancing strategic thinking with practical execution.
• The ability to mentor designers while building trust across disciplines.

Responsibilities

• Lead Design Across Projects: Guide multiple concurrent client engagements from discovery through delivery.
• Ensure work is grounded in user needs, technical realities, and business objectives.
• Maintain a high bar for UX quality, interaction design, visual execution, and overall experience.
• Partner with Project Management to balance scope, schedules, budgets, and quality.
• Grow Designers: Provide day‑to‑day leadership, coaching, and constructive critique on projects.
• Manage individual designers, conduct performance reviews, and support career development.
• Help onboard new designers and create an environment where people can grow.
• Foster curiosity, experimentation, and continuous improvement.
• Improve How We Work: Balance workload across projects and identify resource needs early.
• Lead design critiques, workshops, and alignment sessions.
• Improve studio processes, documentation, and delivery practices.
• Help remove bottlenecks before they impact projects.
• Work with Product Management, Development, Industrial Design, Motion Design, Business Development, and Program Management to navigate ambiguity.

Skills

8+ years UX design

Team leadership

Portfolio

Consulting experience

Facilitation

Job description

Design Citizen in Bellevue, WA is seeking a Design Manager to lead engagements across digital products for a major transformation program. You will partner with PMs, developers, and leadership to define work, set direction, and ensure high-quality design outcomes in a fast-paced studio.

The role balances design craft, people management, and process improvement, mentoring designers, and shaping how the studio collaborates to deliver ambitious, sustainable solutions.