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Design Strategist Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Notary Loop

Design Director

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$90 - $140/hr

This pivotal role involves guiding the overall design strategy and ensuring that our branding and user experience are cohesive and innovative. What you'll be doing * Develop and implement the design ...

Adobe

Sr Director of Design, Firefly

San Jose, CA · On-site

We are looking for a builder who leads builders - a hands-on strategic leader who combines product intuition, design craft, competitive fluency, and growth accountability to move Firefly's experience ...

Adobe

Sr Director of Design, Firefly

San Francisco, CA · On-site

We are looking for a builder who leads builders - a hands-on strategic leader who combines product intuition, design craft, competitive fluency, and growth accountability to move Firefly's experience ...

Abbott

Director of Design

Alameda, CA · On-site

$172K - $344K/yr

You will set the strategic design direction that balances simplicity, scientific credibility, and meaningful personalization at scale. Lead & Scale the Design Organization Build, mentor, and develop ...

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Showing results 21-40

All JobsDesign Strategist JobsDesign Strategist Jobs in California

Design Strategist information

See California salary details

$29.1K

$90.9K

$134.2K

How much do design strategist jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 7, 2026, the average yearly pay for design strategist in California is $90,919.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $80,900.00 and $93,300.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a design strategist?

A Design Strategist blends design thinking, business strategy, and user research to create innovative solutions that align with an organization's goals. They analyze market trends, user needs, and business objectives to ensure that design decisions drive meaningful impact. By collaborating with cross-functional teams, they help shape products, services, and brand experiences. Their role is to bridge the gap between creativity and strategy, ensuring that design solutions are both user-centered and business-viable.

What are the typical day-to-day responsibilities of a design strategist?

On a typical day, a Design Strategist collaborates with cross-functional teams to conduct user research, analyze market trends, and translate findings into actionable design recommendations. They often lead workshops, create journey maps, and prototype solutions to align stakeholders around user-centered strategies. In addition to hands-on design work, they also present ideas to clients or leadership and ensure proposed solutions meet both business and user objectives. The role balances strategic planning and creative exploration, making adaptability and communication key aspects of daily work.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the design strategist position, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Design Strategist, you need expertise in design thinking, user research, and business strategy, often supported by a degree in design, business, or a related field. Familiarity with tools like Adobe Creative Suite, Figma, Miro, and project management platforms—as well as certifications such as Design Thinking or UX Strategy—are commonly valued. Exceptional communication, collaboration, and creative problem-solving skills set outstanding candidates apart. These competencies ensure you can translate insights into actionable design solutions that meet both user needs and business objectives.

How much do design strategists make in the US?

Design strategists in the US typically earn between $70,000 and $120,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and industry. Senior roles or those with specialized skills in user experience, branding, or research may command higher salaries.

What does a design strategist do?

A design strategist is responsible for developing and implementing design solutions that align with business goals and user needs. They analyze market trends, conduct user research, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to create innovative, effective designs. Proficiency in design tools and strategic thinking are essential for this role.

What are popular job titles related to Design Strategist jobs in California?

For Design Strategist jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Design Strategist jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Design Strategist jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Design Strategist jobs?

Cities in California with the most Design Strategist job openings:

Design Strategist jobs near you
Infographic showing various Design Strategist job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $90,919 per year, or $43.7 per hour.

Lead Experience Strategist

Insulet Corporation

San Diego, CA

$156K - $234K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Posted 27 days ago

Job description

Job Summary

Lead Experience Strategist (Hybrid-Acton, MA or San Diego, CA)
Want to change the user experience of diabetes care? Join a mission-driven team working to improve the experience of people living with diabetes through thoughtful, human-centered digital design. At Insulet, we're investing in scalable, customer-focused experiences that support people across their entire diabetes journey with Omnipod.
Insulet is seeking a Lead Experience Strategist to define world-class user experience and product strategies for our Omnipod product portfolio. In this role, you will craft end-to-end experience visions for patients, caregivers, and healthcare providers. You will transform complex digital healthcare challenges into cohesive, human-centered product ecosystems. As a strategic leader, you will drive organizational alignment by partnering with clinicians, product managers, engineers, and internal innovation teams. Your work will directly impact the future of diabetes care.
Responsibilities:
  • Design End-to-End Journeys: Create service blueprints, ecosystem maps, and experience frameworks for patients, caregivers, and clinicians.
  • Define Product Strategy: Establish early-stage UX visions for mobile apps and connected digital devices, ensuring seamless integration with packaging and support channels.
  • Bridge Data & Design: Connect user insights and "Jobs-to-be-Done" directly to UX metrics, KPIs, and overarching business goals.
Collaboration & Alignment:
  • Drive Cross-Functional Consensus: Align product development, engineering, and clinical partners (Human Factors, Regulatory, Legal, Compliance) on core user flows.
  • Influence Leadership: Present UX visions persuasively to all levels of the organization-from agile squads to executive leadership-using storyboards, prototypes, and journey narratives.
  • Synthesize Stakeholder Feedback: Gather and translate insights from customer service, sales, clinical partners, and the diabetes community into actionable design requirements.
  • Validate Early and Often: Collaborate with User Research teams to plan iterative testing and ensure concepts are rooted in evidence.
  • Deliver High-Fidelity Artifacts: Guide the design of safe, effective, and delightful experiences using industry-standard tools (Figma, Framer, Keyshot).
  • Champion UX Excellence: Mentor other designers, foster a high-performance customer-centric culture, and optimize internal team processes.
Skills:
  • 0-to-1 Experience Visionary: Proven ability to build abstract concepts into tangible product strategies.
  • Expert Storyteller: Exceptional visual and verbal communicator who can easily diagram, prototype, and pitch ideas in remote or hybrid settings.
  • Diplomatic Facilitator: Skillful at managing pressure, navigating organizational friction, and building consensus across cross-functional teams.
  • Culturally Adaptive: Experienced in leading and influencing cross-cultural, distributed, and remote teams.
  • Business Savvy: High level of business acumen specifically tailored to complex, international healthcare environments.
Minimum Qualifications:
  • Education: Bachelor's or Master's degree in Product Design, Industrial Design, HCI, Interaction Design, or Graphic Design.
  • Experience: 8+ years of experience in healthcare UX/Product Design, with a proven track record of shipping mobile healthcare applications.
  • Portfolio: A strong portfolio demonstrating design strategy, deep design thinking, storytelling, and polished execution (please include passwords if protected).
  • Agency Experience: Prior agency background is highly preferred.
  • Domain Knowledge: Familiarity with diabetes care or management is a plus.
  • Travel: Ability to travel within the US at least once per quarter.
  • Location: This is a hybrid role. Candidates must be able to work on-site out of an Insulet office in Acton, MA or San Diego, CA.

Additional Information:

Compensation & Benefits: For U.S.-based positions only, the annual base salary range for this role is $156,600.00 - $234,900.00 This position may also be eligible for incentive compensation. We offer a comprehensive benefits package, including: Medical, dental, and vision insurance 401(k) with company match Paid time off (PTO) And additional employee wellness programs Application Details: This job posting will remain open until the position is filled. To apply, please visit the Insulet Careers site and submit your application online. Actual pay depends on skills, experience, and education.

Insulet Corporation (NASDAQ: PODD), headquartered in Massachusetts, is an innovative medical device company dedicated to simplifying life for people with diabetes and other conditions through its Omnipod product platform. The Omnipod Insulin Management System provides a unique alternative to traditional insulin delivery methods. With its simple, wearable design, the tubeless disposable Pod provides up to three days of non-stop insulin delivery, without the need to see or handle a needle. Insulet's flagship innovation, the Omnipod 5 Automated Insulin Delivery System, integrates with a continuous glucose monitor to manage blood sugar with no multiple daily injections, zero fingersticks, and can be controlled by a compatible personal smartphone in the U.S. or by the Omnipod 5 Controller. Insulet also leverages the unique design of its Pod by tailoring its Omnipod technology platform for the delivery of non-insulin subcutaneous drugs across other therapeutic areas. For more information, please visit insulet.com and omnipod.com.
We are looking for highly motivated, performance-driven individuals to be a part of our expanding team. We do this by hiring amazing people guided by shared values who exceed customer expectations. Our continued success depends on it!

At Insulet Corporation all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

(Know Your Rights)

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About Insulet

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Industry

Medical equipment and supplies manufacturing

Company size

501 - 1,000 Employees

Headquarters location

Billerica, MA, US

Year founded

2000

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