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Design Manager Jobs in Spokane, WA (NOW HIRING)

NAC Inc

Design Professional III

Spokane, WA · On-site

$79K - $101K/yr

Description: Design Professional III - Lead with Vision, Design with Purpose Location: Spokane ... Liaise with Project Management, other architects, and consultants. Develop and represent lead ...

NAC Architecture

Design Professional III

Spokane, WA · On-site

$79K - $101K/yr

Description Design Professional III - Lead with Vision, Design with Purpose Location: Spokane ... Liaise with Project Management, other architects, and consultants. Develop and represent lead ...

R A Pearson Company

Senior Mech Design Engineer

Spokane, WA · On-site

$110K - $135K/yr

Coordinate with cross-functional teams, including sales, project management, and manufacturing, to ... Supervise design teams to ensure project performance, deadline, and budget commitments are met. · ...

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TIMES MICROWAVE SYSTEMS

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Regional Sales Manager - RF Products (NW Territory)

Spokane, WA · Remote

Collaborate with engineering on product design. * Manage expectations between customers and the company on lead times, expedites, and availability. * Provide forecasting, manage pipelines within CRM ...

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Design Manager information

See Spokane, WA salary details

$42.5K

$115.8K

$203.7K

How much do design manager jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 23, 2026, the average yearly pay for design manager in Spokane, WA is $115,764.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $84,400.00 and $145,600.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a design manager?

Design Managers are professionals responsible for overseeing the design process within a project or organization. They coordinate and lead design teams, ensure design objectives align with business goals, and manage timelines, budgets, and resources. Design Managers often act as a bridge between creative teams and other departments, facilitating communication and ensuring that the final product meets both aesthetic and functional requirements. Their role can span across industries such as architecture, graphic design, product design, and digital media.

What does a design manager do?

A design manager oversees a design team during a project and typically works in the construction and architecture industries. As a design manager, you may work for specialty companies that contract out to construction firms on a per-project basis. Or, you may spend your career working as an in-house design manager for a construction company or architect firm. Regardless of the location of your job as a design manager, your duties revolve around supervising the design of a building project and include adhering to legislation and codes, eliminating safety and financial risks, and advising clients during development.

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

To thrive as a Design Manager, you need a strong background in design principles, project management, and leadership, typically supported by a degree in design or a related field and several years of design experience. Familiarity with design software such as Adobe Creative Suite, Figma, and project management tools like Asana or Trello is essential. Exceptional communication, team leadership, and problem-solving skills help distinguish top performers in this role. These skills and qualities are crucial for effectively leading creative teams, delivering high-quality design outcomes, and meeting client or organizational goals.

How does a design manager typically balance creative vision with project deadlines and client expectations?

A Design Manager is responsible for guiding their team's creative direction while ensuring projects are delivered on time and within budget. This often means carefully prioritizing tasks, setting clear milestones, and communicating regularly with clients and stakeholders to manage expectations. They serve as a bridge between creative teams and project managers, helping to resolve conflicts and maintain a productive workflow. By fostering open collaboration and providing constructive feedback, Design Managers help ensure both the creative vision and practical project requirements are met.

What is the difference between Design Manager vs Graphic Designer?

AspectDesign ManagerGraphic Designer
Required CredentialsBachelor's degree in design, management experienceBachelor's degree in graphic design or related field
Work EnvironmentLeads design teams, oversees projectsCreates visual content, works independently or in teams
Industry UsageUsed in corporate, agency, and studio settingsCommon in advertising, publishing, branding

The main difference between a Design Manager and a Graphic Designer lies in their responsibilities and scope. Design Managers oversee design teams and strategic project planning, while Graphic Designers focus on creating visual content. Both roles require relevant design credentials, but Design Managers also need leadership experience. Understanding these distinctions helps in choosing the right career path or job search focus.

What degree do you need to be a design manager?

A design manager typically holds a bachelor's degree in design, graphic design, industrial design, or a related field. Many also pursue a master's degree or additional certifications to enhance their skills and qualifications for leadership roles in design teams.

What does a design manager earn?

A design manager's salary varies depending on experience, location, and industry, but typically ranges from $80,000 to $150,000 annually. They often oversee design teams, coordinate projects, and use tools like Adobe Creative Suite or CAD software, with higher salaries generally associated with larger companies or senior roles.

What is the highest paying career in design?

In design, executive roles such as Creative Director or Design Director tend to have the highest salaries, often exceeding six figures, especially in large corporations or agencies. Specialized fields like UX/UI design, product design, and design consulting can also offer high compensation, particularly with extensive experience and advanced skills in tools like Adobe Creative Suite or Sketch.
More about Design Manager jobs

What are the most commonly searched types of Design jobs in Spokane, WA?

The most popular types of Design jobs in Spokane, WA are:

What are popular job titles related to Design Manager jobs in Spokane, WA?

For Design Manager jobs in Spokane, WA, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Design Manager jobs in Spokane, WA look for?

The top searched job categories for Design Manager jobs in Spokane, WA are:

What cities near Spokane, WA are hiring for Design Manager jobs?

Cities near Spokane, WA with the most Design Manager job openings:

Design Manager jobs near you
Infographic showing various Design Manager job openings in Spokane, WA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 85% Full Time, 13% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 84% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 14% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $115,764 per year, or $55.7 per hour.

DESIGN ENGINEER

Knife River Corporation

Newman Lake, WA • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 20 days ago

Knife River rating

7.4

Company rating: 7.4 out of 10

Based on 64 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

299th of 544 rated manufacturers

Job description

Job Summary:
The Design Engineer reports to the VP Engineering and executes engineering tasks, calculations, drawing support, design coordination, and defined technical problem solving for precast and prestressed concrete structures. Working under Engineering leadership and senior engineers, this role develops specialized precast design, construction awareness, and project execution skills while collaborating with project management, drafting, production, erection, consultants, and customers.
Responsibilities Include:
  • Review plans, specifications, project requirements, and design criteria; identify questions, conflicts, assumptions, and non-standard conditions for review with Engineering leadership or senior engineers.
  • Prepare structural calculations and support drawing development for precast and prestressed products using established standards, templates, and senior engineering direction.
  • Develop practical design recommendations that support safety, code compliance, schedule, manufacturing efficiency, handling, shipping, erection, and constructability.
  • Coordinate assigned engineering work with Engineering leadership, project managers, drafting, operations, field teams, external engineers, architects, contractors, and customers.
  • Support engineering for building structures, bridge products, and other precast/prestressed systems, including production, handling, delivery, and erection considerations.
  • Perform quality checks of assigned drawings, calculations, submittals, and engineering documents; assist senior-led reviews and coordinate with Quality Control to meet KRPI, Knife River, project, and PCI standards.
  • Support improvements to engineering standards, templates, design tools, detailing practices, manufacturing processes, shipping, handling, and installation.
  • Develop independent engineering judgment while seeking review and approval for complex projects, unusual load paths, non-standard connections, lifting or bracing conditions, and higher-risk decisions.
  • Support KRPI's safety commitment by following policies and addressing unsafe actions, conditions, processes, or behaviors.
  • Perform other related duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications:
  • Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering, Structural Engineering, or closely related engineering discipline.
  • Engineer-in-Training certification or ability to obtain shortly after hire.
  • Ability to read and interpret construction drawings, sketches, specifications, and project documents.
  • Working knowledge of structural engineering and concrete design, with desire to develop deeper precast/prestressed expertise.
  • Strong analytical, organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills.
  • Proficiency with Excel, Word, Outlook, Bluebeam, AutoCAD, Mathcad, or similar software.
  • Professional, self-motivated, and able to manage priorities, communicate clearly, seek guidance when appropriate, and complete work on schedule with internal and external project teams.

Preferred Qualifications:
  • Professional Engineer or Structural Engineer license, or ability to obtain licensure.
  • Precast or prestressed concrete design experience.
  • Experience with Revit, Tekla Structures, Inventor, AutoCAD, or other BIM/modeling platforms.
  • Familiarity with PCI standards, precast detailing, and concrete manufacturing processes.
  • Experience coordinating with drafting, consultants, project managers, contractors, or field operations.
  • Interest in future technical leadership through standards, design tools, process improvement, mentoring, and project team support.

Why Engineers Choose KRPI:
  • Design structures that are built, not just drawn.
  • Gain exposure from concept through manufacturing, delivery, and erection.
  • Work directly with production, quality, project management, and field installation teams.
  • Contribute to major regional data center, industrial, parking, commercial, education, and infrastructure projects.
  • Develop specialized structural and architectural precast/prestressed expertise.
  • Join a safety, quality, accountability, development, and improvement-focused Knife River culture.

Benefits:
  • Medical, dental, vision, HSA/FSA, life insurance, and Employee Assistance Program
  • 401(k) with company match, profit sharing, paid time off, and paid holidays
  • Training, professional development, career advancement, and licensure support where applicable

How to Apply:
To be considered for this position, candidates must complete and submit an employment application at jobs.kniferiver.net by the posting deadline noted above. If unable to complete an application online you may print and send completed application to any Knife River NW address or stop in one of our locations to complete an application. Knife River is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, age, color, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status or any other protected category under applicable state/federal law.
If you are an individual with a qualified disability as defined by federal, state, or local law and require a reasonable accommodation to complete any part of the application for any reason, please contact your state employment agency or you may call 541-693-5960 to speak with a human resources representative.
Subject to pre-employment drug testing and background check.
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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