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Design Lead Jobs in Michigan (NOW HIRING)

Scout Motors

Lead Engine Cooling System Engineer

Novi, MI

$96K - $126K/yr

Lead design and development of engine cooling systems for range extender and hybrid powertrains. * Own thermal management of engines under high load conditions including towing, grade, and extended ...

Deloitte

Google AI Lead Architect

Detroit, MI

$54.75 - $75/hr

Design, fine-tune, evaluate, and govern LLM solutions with Gemini on Vertex AI (prompt/tool ... Lead cloud-native development on GKE, Cloud Run, Pub/Sub, BigQuery, Cloud SQL/Spanner, Memorystore ...

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All JobsDesign Lead JobsDesign Lead Jobs in Michigan

Design Lead information

See Michigan salary details

$34

$52

$71

How much do design lead jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 17, 2026, the average hourly pay for design lead in Michigan is $52.51, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $40.62 and $62.84 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a design lead?

A Design Lead is a senior professional responsible for guiding the creative direction and execution of design projects within an organization. They oversee design teams, collaborate with stakeholders, and ensure that visual and user experience standards are met. Design Leads often mentor junior designers, manage project timelines, and help align design strategies with business goals. Their role blends creative leadership with project management to deliver effective and innovative design solutions.

How does a design lead typically balance hands-on design work with team leadership responsibilities?

As a Design Lead, you'll often split your time between guiding and mentoring your team, setting the creative direction, and contributing directly to high-priority projects. While your leadership duties—such as conducting design reviews, coordinating with stakeholders, and ensuring alignment with business goals—will take up a significant portion of your schedule, most organizations still expect you to remain actively involved in the design process. This balance requires strong organizational skills and the ability to delegate effectively, ensuring both team growth and high-quality deliverables.

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

To thrive as a Design Lead, you need a solid background in design principles, user experience (UX), and visual communication, typically supported by a degree in design or a related field. Proficiency with industry-standard tools such as Adobe Creative Suite, Figma, and knowledge of project management systems is crucial. Strong leadership, collaboration, and communication skills help you guide teams and articulate design vision effectively. These skills ensure projects are delivered with high-quality design, aligned with business goals, and foster innovation within teams.

What is the difference between Design Lead vs UX Designer?

AspectDesign LeadUX Designer
CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in Design, Graphic Design, or related fields; experience in leadership rolesBachelor's or Master's in Human-Computer Interaction, Psychology, or related fields; portfolio showcasing UX projects
Work EnvironmentLeads design teams, collaborates with product managers and developers, oversees project directionFocuses on user research, wireframing, prototyping, and usability testing within product teams
Industry UsageCommonly found in tech, advertising, and design agenciesPrimarily in tech companies, startups, and digital product firms

The main difference is that a Design Lead oversees the entire design process and team, providing strategic direction, while a UX Designer concentrates on creating user-centered experiences through research and design. Both roles require strong design skills, but the Design Lead has broader responsibilities and leadership duties.

What are popular job titles related to Design Lead jobs in Michigan?

For Design Lead jobs in Michigan, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Design Lead jobs in Michigan look for?

The top searched job categories for Design Lead jobs in Michigan are:

Design Lead jobs near you
Infographic showing various Design Lead job openings in Michigan as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 83% Full Time, 11% Part Time, 2% Temporary, 3% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 89% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $109,230 per year, or $52.5 per hour.

Product Design Lead at early-stage consumer social app

Cheez

Kalamazoo, MI • On-site

$146K - $180K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 27 days ago

Job description

Cheez (https://cheez.cc/designwu) is a new app that sends you the pictures that your friends take of you, powered by facial recognition.

Responsibilities:

  • Work closely with our talented product and engineering teams (ex-Google/Apple/Microsoft/FB) to create engaging and intuitive user interfaces for our mobile app

  • Develop user flows, wireframes, prototypes, and high-fidelity visual designs that bring our brand to life and facilitate seamless user interactions

  • Conduct user research and usability testing to inform design decisions and iterate on solutions

  • Advocate for user-centered design principles and best practices while staying informed on the latest design trends and technologies.

  • Contribute to the development of our design system, style guide, and component library

  • Take ownership of your projects, communicate your design rationale, and be receptive to feedback from stakeholders and users alike.

  • A strong portfolio showcasing your design process, UX/UI skills, and visual design abilities

  • [Preferred] Degree(s) in Graphic Design, Interaction Design, or a related field

  • Excellent communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills

  • Ability to take initiative, manage multiple projects, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment

  • Eagerness to learn, grow, and contribute to a supportive, inclusive team culture

  • A passion for photo sharing, social media, technology, and staying up-to-date with industry trends

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