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Design Product Development Jobs in Washington (NOW HIRING)

Product Development Lead Location: Washington, D.C. Career Level: Senior Travel Percentage: Type of ... Our dedicated staff prides themselves as the Subject Matter Experts in Ship Design, System ...

Digital Product Design Manager

Arlington, VA ยท On-site

$216K/yr

A Product Design Lead who can confidently own projects end-to-end from the scoping and project ... Business Development: * Proactively document how AI is changing your project workflows and quantify ...

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Design Product Development information

See Washington salary details

$16

$28

$47

How much do design product development jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 25, 2026, the average hourly pay for design product development in Washington is $28.24, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $23.12 and $29.66 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is design product development?

Design product development is the process of conceptualizing, creating, and refining new products or improving existing ones, with a strong focus on both functionality and aesthetics. Professionals in this field collaborate with engineers, marketers, and manufacturers to ensure the product is not only visually appealing but also practical, user-friendly, and manufacturable. The process typically includes research, ideation, prototyping, testing, and final design, all aimed at meeting customer needs and market demands.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a design product development professional?

To thrive in Design Product Development, you need a strong background in design principles, product lifecycle management, and market research, often supported by a degree in industrial design or a related field. Proficiency with CAD software, prototyping tools, and project management systems is typically required. Creativity, collaboration, and effective communication are vital soft skills that help drive innovation and teamwork. These skills and qualifications are crucial for bringing successful, user-focused products from concept to market in a competitive landscape.

How does a design product development professional typically collaborate with other departments during a project?

Design Product Development professionals often work closely with teams such as marketing, engineering, and manufacturing throughout the product lifecycle. They facilitate cross-functional meetings to ensure that design concepts align with technical feasibility, budget constraints, and market needs. Regular communication and feedback sessions are crucial for addressing challenges early and ensuring that the final product meets both aesthetic and functional requirements. This collaborative approach helps streamline the development process and brings innovative products to market more efficiently.

What is the difference between Design Product Development vs Design Engineering?

AspectDesign Product DevelopmentDesign Engineering
CredentialsTypically requires a degree in design, industrial design, or related fieldsRequires engineering degrees such as mechanical, electrical, or industrial engineering
Work EnvironmentCreative studios, product design firms, or in-house design teamsEngineering departments, manufacturing plants, or R&D labs
Industry UsageUsed across consumer products, tech gadgets, and industrial designCommon in manufacturing, automotive, and electronics industries

Design Product Development focuses on creating the aesthetic and functional aspects of a product, emphasizing user experience and visual appeal. Design Engineering, on the other hand, concentrates on the technical and engineering aspects, ensuring the product's feasibility, safety, and performance. Both roles often collaborate but serve distinct functions in the product creation process.

What cities in Washington are hiring for Design Product Development jobs?

Cities in Washington with the most Design Product Development job openings:

Infographic showing various Design Product Development job openings in Washington as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 80% Full Time, 11% Part Time, 2% Temporary, and 6% Contract. Highlights an 86% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 12% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $58,730 per year, or $28.2 per hour.

Director, Product Development

Washington, DC โ€ข On-site

$198K - $228K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 24 days ago


Job description

The Nuclear Company is the fastest growing AI tech-enabled startup in the nuclear and energy space, pioneering a fleet-scale approach to building the next generation of nuclear reactors. Through our design-once, build-many model, we're accelerating the deployment of safe, reliable, and affordable nuclear energy.

We operate with an AI-first mindset. Every employee is expected to leverage AI, technology, and the Nuclear Operating System (NOS) as integral components of their role to improve the quality, speed, and impact of their work. We expect every team member to continuously identify opportunities to automate workflows, enhance decision-making, improve processes, and contribute to the ongoing evolution of NOS as a strategic operating capability that enables The Nuclear Company to scale with excellence.

We hire people who are driven by purpose, thrive in ambiguity, and are energized by building what has never been built before.ย Our team combines intellectual curiosity with high agency, embraces candid feedback and continuous learning, and holds themselves and others to exceptional standards. Our values-Transparency, Responsibility, Unity, Scrappiness, and Tenacity-guide how we hire, collaborate, and make decisions every day. They are not words on a wall; they are the standard by which we operate. TRUST is the foundation of our safety culture, fostering intellectual honesty, accountability, and open communication, while our values challenge every team member to execute with urgency, humility, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to our mission.

About the role

Reporting to theย VP,ย Security, you will lead the product lifecycle for our suite of nuclear services and hardware-integrated software. You are the architect of our digital product roadmap, ensuring that our solutions not only disrupt the energy sector butย maintainย the unwavering safety standards required by the nuclear industry. You will sit at the intersection of our engineering, operations, and regulatory teams, ensuring that every feature we ship enhances reliability, efficiency, and compliance.ย 

Responsibilities

  • Product Vision & Strategy:ย Define and execute the product roadmap for our core technology platforms, ensuring alignment with Project One and our global expansion initiatives.ย 
  • Safety-Critical Development:ย Oversee product development in a highly regulated environment, ensuring that all digital features adhere to safety frameworks and nuclear liability protocols.ย 
  • Cross-Functional Orchestration:ย Partner with the Head of Services and the Legal/Administrative team to ensure product features seamlessly integrate with field operations and unionized labor workflows.
  • Scalable Architecture:ย Build and manage a product development team capable of supporting hyper-growth, prioritizing the "Operating Blueprint" toย maintainย consistency across global business units.ย 
  • Customer-Centric Innovation:ย Act as the voice of the nuclear utility client, transforming complex field challenges into intuitive, high-velocity digital solutions.ย 

Experience

  • Experience:ย 10+ years in product management or software engineering leadership, ideally in energy, infrastructure, or other high-reliability industries.ย 
  • Strategic & Technical Fluency:ย A deep understanding of how to manage product development in high-consequence environments where "Move Fast and Break Things" is replaced by "Move Fast and Build Resilient Systems."ย 
  • Governance Mindset:ย Ability to design products that inherentlyย facilitateย compliance and governance, making it easy for field teams to do the right thing.ย 
  • Hyper-Growth DNA:ย A provenย track recordย of scaling product teams fromย early-stageย to global deployment, including experience with modern CI/CD, Agile, and product operations frameworks.ย 
  • Collaborative Presence:ย A sincere and authentic communication style; you are as comfortable in a C-suite strategy session as you are conducting a pre-job brief with field technicians.ย 

Benefits

  • Competitive compensation packages
  • 401k with company match
  • Medical, dental, vision plans
  • Generous vacation policy, plus holidays

Estimated Starting Salary Range
The estimated starting salary range for this role is $198,000 - $228,000 annually less applicable withholdings and deductions, paid on a bi-weekly basis. The actual salary offered may vary based on relevant factors as determined in the Company's discretion, which may include experience, qualifications, tenure, skill set, availability of qualified candidates, geographic location, certifications held, and other criteria deemed pertinent to the particular role.ย 

EEO Statement
The Nuclear Company is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering an environment of inclusion in the workplace. We provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic. We prohibit discrimination in all aspects of employment, including hiring, promotion, demotion, transfer, compensation, and termination.

Export Control
Certain positions at The Nuclear Company may involve access to information and technology subject to export controls under U.S. law. Compliance with these export controls may result in The Nuclear Company limiting its consideration of certain applicants.
ย 
Recruiting Fraud Alert
Your safety is our priority. We want to ensure your job search stays secure. Please note that the team at The Nuclear Company only communicates through official @thenuclearcompany.com email addresses. We will never ask for payments or sensitive financial information at any stage of our recruitment process. For your peace of mind, please verify all openings and submit your applications directly through our official careers page.