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Chief Design Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Midjourney

Design Lead

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$285K - $350K/yr

... engineering, and product to make new capabilities feel intuitive, fun to use, and deeply human. We're looking for a Design Lead to help lead that effort. You'll partner closely with our Chief Design ...

New

W3Global Inc.

Design Engineer

Woodstock, GA · On-site

$65K - $80K/yr

Structured 30/60/90 day onboarding plan with an assigned mentor from Day 1 * Direct access to the Chief Engineer and six licensed PEs * Clear career path: Staff Engineer → Design Engineer → ...

Profound

Design Engineer

New York, NY · On-site

$120K - $250K/yr

Design engineering is core to how we build at Profound. Our founder, Dylan Babbs, started his ... Dylan Babbs, Co-founder & CTO Location This is an on-site role based in our NYC or Buenos Aires ...

Browserbase

Design Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

Backed by Kleiner Perkins, CRV, and Notable Capital, our team is building on our CEO's founding ... About the Role We are excited to hire a Design Engineer to architect the surfaces and interfaces ...

Antimetal

Design Engineer

New York, NY · On-site

$200K - $400K/yr

We're looking for a design engineer to take ideas from rough sketches to production. You'll play a ... Talk with our CTO Shreyas in more detail about the role * Product engineering exercise: You will ...

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Chief Design Engineer information

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$90.5K

$166.5K

$225K

How much do chief design engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 14, 2026, the average yearly pay for chief design engineer in the United States is $166,542.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $140,000.00 and $190,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the main challenges a chief design engineer faces when leading multidisciplinary design teams?

A Chief Design Engineer often manages teams with diverse expertise, such as mechanical, electrical, and software engineers, which can present challenges in aligning differing technical perspectives and priorities. Ensuring effective communication and collaboration across these specialties is essential to deliver cohesive design solutions on schedule. Additionally, balancing innovative design concepts with practical constraints like budget, manufacturability, and regulatory compliance requires strong leadership and problem-solving skills. Building trust and clarity within the team helps facilitate smooth project execution and fosters a culture of continuous improvement.

What is a chief design engineer?

Chief Design Engineers are senior professionals responsible for overseeing the design and development of products, systems, or components within an organization. They lead design teams, set technical standards, and ensure that projects meet quality, safety, and performance requirements. Their role often involves coordinating with other departments, managing budgets, and providing technical guidance throughout the product development lifecycle. Chief Design Engineers play a critical role in innovation and ensuring that engineering solutions align with company goals.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a chief design engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Chief Design Engineer, you need advanced engineering knowledge, leadership abilities, and a relevant degree (often in mechanical, electrical, or civil engineering), plus extensive design experience. Proficiency with CAD software, PLM systems, and familiarity with relevant industry standards and certifications (such as PE or chartered status) is typically required. Exceptional problem-solving, communication, and project management skills help you lead teams and collaborate across departments. These skills ensure innovative, technically sound solutions that meet project goals and drive organizational success.

Who are the top companies hiring for Chief Design Engineer jobs?

The top employers for Chief Design Engineer jobs are:

What are popular job titles related to Chief Design Engineer jobs?

For Chief Design Engineer jobs, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Chief Design Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Chief Design Engineer job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 88% Full Time, 6% Part Time, and 5% Contract. Highlights an 84% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 11% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $166,542 per year, or $80.1 per hour.

Senior Structural Design Engineer

Chief Industries, Inc.

Grand Island, NE • On-site

$82K - $112K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 14 days ago

Chief Industries rating

6.9

Company rating: 6.9 out of 10

Based on 5 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

Job description

Performs structural analysis and design for materials provided by Chief Buildings in accordance with the appropriate design criteria (building code and loads), steel specifications, customer's agreement to purchase, and Chief's design practices. Design provided is structurally sound, least weight/cost, and on schedule. The complexity of orders will consist of mainly moderate to high levels with special assignments based on the senior design engineer's abilities. The Senior Design Engineer mentors other engineers and employees in explaining application and compliance of Chief's design practices.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
  • Perform structural design of primary and secondary structural framing and connections on building orders.
  • Remain current in knowledge and proficient in use of AISC and AISI material specifications, current and recent editions of ASCE 7, IBC, the MBMA Building Systems Manual and MBS software. Proficient in various city, county, state and international building codes.
  • Maintain computer literacy in design software and other computer tools available with recognition as a super user in one or more tools.
  • Maintain efficient, timely, legible, and easy to comprehend documentation of engineering designs and builder/customer interface information.
  • Maintain good established communication with all engineering and drafting department personnel during correlation of design/detail aspects as a building order proceeds through the engineering and drafting department.
  • Maintain a high productivity rate with low errors and ensure that all jobs are completed on or before the scheduled due date.
  • Aid estimating/sales with value engineering and efficient design for quotes.
  • Exercise sound judgment on designs/details affecting economics of field erection versus plant fabrication.
  • Provide recommendations and assist in updating/developing documentation and tools for more efficient design and materials utilization in improving product sale ability and ease of manufacturing and field erection.
  • Check design documentation prepared by other engineering staff members.

Education:
  • High School Diploma, or GED, required.
  • Bachelor's degree in Civil/Structural Engineering, required.

The Company:
Putting the needs of customers first has taken Chief Industries, Inc. from a small construction company in 1954, to a highly diverse company with a reputation for manufacturing quality products and offering unparalleled customer service. Through its many divisions and subsidiaries, Chief Industries employs over 1,400 skilled and dedicated employees who produce a wide variety of products, many of which are used around the world.
A Brand of Chief Industries, Chief Buildings has designed and manufactured a wide variety of construction solutions for customers located throughout the United State since 1966. Specific applications include manufacturing, commercial, community and agricultural buildings. Each structure is designed to meet the needs of the customer. Chief Buildings are sold by authorized builders throughout the United States, and are manufactured in Grand Island, Nebraska, Rensselaer, Indiana and Lancaster, South Carolina.
Our Benefits:
This full-time position is eligible for full company benefits, including
  • Paid vacation/time off
  • 401(k) retirement plan plus company match
  • Company-paid life insurance
  • Company-paid short-term disability benefits
  • Health Insurance
  • Dental Insurance
  • Vision Insurance
  • Financial wellness coaching
  • Employee assistance program
  • Paid holidays (8)
  • Employee discounts
  • Education assistance
  • And much more.

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.
For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.

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