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Design Director Jobs in Berkeley, CA (NOW HIRING)

Chime Financial, Inc

Design Director

San Francisco, CA · On-site

About the role Chime is looking for a Product Design Director to lead our Growth Design organization and shape how millions of people discover, join, and engage with our products. Growth at Chime ...

Notary Loop

Design Director

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$90 - $140/hr

Notary Loop is searching for a Design Director to lead our dynamic Creative department. This full-time, on-site position presents a unique opportunity for a seasoned professional to shape and enhance ...

Menlo Ventures

Design Director

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$242 - $335/hr

  • Medical

  • Life

  • PTO

About the role Chime is looking for a Product Design Director to lead our Growth Design organization and shape how millions of people discover, join, and engage with our products. Growth at Chime ...

New

Koch Industries

Director, Transceiver Design

Fremont, CA · On-site

$200K - $275K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

About the Role Molex is seeking an experienced and technically accomplished Director to lead the design and development of our next generation of optical transceiver products. This role is ...

New

Thuma

Director of Interior Design

San Francisco, CA

$175K - $200K/yr

The Director of Interior Design will establish and lead Thuma's interior design practice, serving as the company's interior design expert across Retail, Merchandising, Product Development, Brand ...

New

Thuma

Director of Interior Design

San Francisco, CA · On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

The Director of Interior Design will establish and lead Thuma's interior design practice, serving as the company's interior design expert across Retail, Merchandising, Product Development, Brand ...

New

Thuma

Director of Interior Design

San Francisco, CA

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

The Director of Interior Design will establish and lead Thuma's interior design practice, serving as the company's interior design expert across Retail, Merchandising, Product Development, Brand ...

New

DoorDash

Director, Design for Brands

San Francisco, CA · On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

About the Role DoorDash is looking for a Design Director for our Brands business. This role sits at a uniquely strategic intersection of DoorDash's multisided marketplace - bridging the needs of ...

Adobe

Director of Design, Frame.io

San Francisco, CA · On-site

We're looking for a Director of Design to lead a core part of our product design organization and drive both vision and execution for how creative professionals collaborate at a pivotal moment.

Kikoff

Head of Design

San Francisco, CA

About the Role As Head of Design, you will own the design vision, craft, and execution across the ... You will set the quality bar, rebuild the foundation our product is built on, and be a direct ...

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Showing results 1-20

All JobsDesign JobsDesign Director JobsDesign Director Jobs in Berkeley, CA

Design Director information

See Berkeley, CA salary details

$45.3K

$166.2K

$297.5K

How much do design director jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 14, 2026, the average yearly pay for design director in Berkeley, CA is $166,233.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $134,100.00 and $199,600.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

How do you become a design director?

To become a design director, individuals typically need several years of experience in design roles, a strong portfolio demonstrating leadership and innovative work, and skills in project management and team collaboration. Many also pursue advanced education such as a bachelor's or master's degree in design, visual arts, or related fields, and develop expertise in design tools and industry standards.

How does a design director typically collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive project success?

As a Design Director, you will regularly work with product managers, engineers, marketing teams, and other stakeholders to ensure that design solutions align with business goals and user needs. This role often involves leading design reviews, facilitating brainstorming sessions, and providing clear feedback to your team. Effective communication and the ability to advocate for design principles are essential, as you'll need to balance creative vision with practical constraints. Being proactive in building relationships across departments helps streamline workflows and fosters a collaborative environment that leads to successful project outcomes.

What is the difference between Design Director vs Art Director?

AspectDesign DirectorArt Director
ResponsibilitiesOversees overall design strategy, manages multiple projects, and leads design teamsFocuses on visual style, aesthetics, and execution of specific projects or campaigns
Required SkillsLeadership, strategic planning, broad design expertiseVisual creativity, technical skills, attention to detail
Work EnvironmentTypically in corporate, agency, or large studio settingsOften in advertising, media, or entertainment industries
Common UsageUsed when referring to senior design leadership rolesUsed for roles focused on visual and artistic direction

The main difference between a Design Director and an Art Director lies in scope and focus. A Design Director oversees overall design strategy and manages teams across multiple projects, while an Art Director concentrates on the visual style and execution of specific projects. Both roles require strong design skills, but the Design Director's responsibilities are broader and more strategic.

What does a design director do?

A Design Director leads and oversees the creative vision and direction of design projects within an organization. They manage design teams, collaborate with stakeholders, and ensure that all visual outputs align with the company's brand and objectives. Design Directors are responsible for setting design standards, mentoring team members, and ensuring the quality and consistency of creative work across various platforms. Their role often includes strategic planning, project management, and communication with clients or upper management.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a design director?

To thrive as a Design Director, you need deep expertise in design principles, visual communication, and leadership, often supported by a degree in design or a related field and significant industry experience. Mastery of design software such as Adobe Creative Suite, Figma, and project management tools is essential, along with experience in overseeing brand and creative strategy. Exceptional communication, creative vision, and team leadership skills distinguish top performers in this role. These capabilities are crucial for delivering cohesive design solutions, inspiring creative teams, and ensuring alignment with business objectives.

What are the most commonly searched types of Design jobs in Berkeley, CA?

The most popular types of Design jobs in Berkeley, CA are:

What are popular job titles related to Design Director jobs in Berkeley, CA?

For Design Director jobs in Berkeley, CA, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Design Director jobs in Berkeley, CA look for?

The top searched job categories for Design Director jobs in Berkeley, CA are:

What cities near Berkeley, CA are hiring for Design Director jobs?

Cities near Berkeley, CA with the most Design Director job openings:

Design Director jobs near you
Infographic showing various Design Director job openings in Berkeley, CA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 87% Full Time, 7% Part Time, and 5% Contract. Highlights an 85% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 10% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $166,233 per year, or $79.9 per hour.

Design Director

Chime Financial, Inc

San Francisco, CA • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 12 days ago

Job description

About the role

Chime is looking for a Product Design Director to lead our Growth Design organization and shape how millions of people discover, join, and engage with our products.

Growth at Chime sits at the intersection of design, data, AI, and business strategy. In this role, you'll lead a team responsible for acquisition, onboarding, activation, engagement, and retention experiences that drive meaningful outcomes for both members and the business. You'll partner closely with Product, Engineering, Data Science, Research, Content Design, and Marketing to identify opportunities, launch experiments, and scale experiences that create measurable impact.

As a design leader, you'll help define what an AI-native growth organization looks like. You'll leverage AI-powered tools and emerging technologies to accelerate insight generation, increase experimentation velocity, personalize member experiences, and unlock new opportunities for growth. You'll foster a culture where human-centered design, data-driven decision-making, and AI-enabled workflows work together to solve complex problems and deliver exceptional experiences.

This is a highly visible leadership role with direct influence on Chime's growth strategy, product roadmap, and design culture. If you're energized by building high-performing teams, solving ambiguous growth challenges, and reimagining how design organizations operate in the age of AI, we'd love to hear from you.

The base salary offered for this role and level of experience will begin at $242,000 and up to $335,000. Full-time employees are also eligible for a bonus, competitive equity package, and benefits. The actual base salary offered may be higher, depending on your location, skills, qualifications, and experience.

In this role, you can expect to
  • Lead, inspire, and grow a team of product designers focused on acquisition, onboarding, activation, engagement, and retention experiences
  • Define and drive the design vision for Growth, ensuring alignment with company objectives and long-term member value
  • Build a high-velocity experimentation culture by partnering with Product, Engineering, and Data Science to rapidly test, learn, and iterate
  • Translate complex growth opportunities into clear strategies, hypotheses, experiments, and measurable outcomes
  • Champion the use of AI throughout the design process-from research synthesis and insight generation to content creation, prototyping, and experimentation
  • Partner with cross-functional leaders to identify opportunities for personalization, intelligent onboarding, and AI-powered member experiences
  • Establish systems, frameworks, and design patterns that enable teams to move quickly while maintaining quality, consistency, and trust
  • Balance short-term experimentation goals with long-term product vision, platform investments, and design excellence
  • Mentor and develop designers and managers, elevating craft, strategic thinking, experimentation rigor, and leadership capabilities
  • Help shape the future of design at Chime by evolving how teams leverage AI, data, and emerging technologies to create better member experiences
To thrive in this role, you have
  • Significant experience leading and scaling product design teams in consumer technology companies
  • A proven track record driving measurable business outcomes through growth, experimentation, and customer-centered design
  • Deep expertise in acquisition, onboarding, activation, engagement, retention, or monetization experiences
  • Strong experience partnering with Product, Engineering, Data Science, and executive stakeholders to define strategy and deliver impact
  • Exceptional ability to use qualitative and quantitative insights to inform decision-making and prioritize opportunities
  • Experience designing and scaling experimentation programs, including hypothesis development, test design, measurement frameworks, and interpretation of results
  • Demonstrated success leveraging AI technologies to improve product experiences, accelerate experimentation, or transform team workflows
  • Strong understanding of emerging AI capabilities and how they can be applied to personalization, growth, engagement, and product innovation
  • A systems-thinking mindset with the ability to navigate ambiguity, connect near-term wins to long-term strategy, and influence across organizational boundaries
  • Excellent communication, storytelling, and leadership skills that inspire teams and drive alignment across functions

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