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Design Strategy Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

Principal Art Director, Product

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$182K - $224K/yr

Lead the visual design strategy for new product features * Collaborate with cross‑functional teams including product management and engineering * Mentor junior designers and provide feedback on ...

Sr. Design Manager, Web

Tustin, CA · On-site

$196K - $245K/yr

You'll oversee the web ecosystem and drive the strategy for the end-to-end user experience, from ... Frame design challenges through strategic briefs, setting clear scope and vision for the team.

Sr. Design Manager, Web

Irvine, CA · On-site

$196K - $245K/yr

You'll oversee the web ecosystem and drive the strategy for the end-to-end user experience, from ... Frame design challenges through strategic briefs, setting clear scope and vision for the team.

Present design vision, strategy, and work to business stakeholders and executive leadership ... Partner with the Design Systems team to scale, refine, and evolve enterprise design patterns across ...

Sr. Design Manager, Web

Irvine, CA · On-site

$196K - $245K/yr

You'll oversee the web ecosystem and drive the strategy for the end-to-end user experience, from ... Frame design challenges through strategic briefs, setting clear scope and vision for the team.

Showing results 21-40

Design Strategy information

See California salary details

$54.8K

$123K

$214.7K

How much do design strategy jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 10, 2026, the average yearly pay for design strategy in California is $123,026.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $88,800.00 and $155,400.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is design strategy?

Design strategy is a discipline that connects a company's business objectives with creative design solutions. It involves understanding user needs, market trends, and organizational goals to develop a roadmap for how design can drive business success. Professionals in design strategy analyze data, collaborate with stakeholders, and create frameworks to ensure that products, services, or experiences are both effective and meaningful. This approach helps organizations stay competitive and innovative in their industries.

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

To thrive as a Design Strategist, you need expertise in design thinking, user research, and business analysis, often supported by a degree in design, business, or a related field. Familiarity with tools like Adobe Creative Suite, Miro, and prototyping software, as well as experience with frameworks such as Human-Centered Design, is highly valuable. Strong communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills help you effectively bridge creative and business objectives. These abilities are essential for developing innovative solutions that align user needs with organizational goals, driving sustainable success.

How does a design strategist typically collaborate with cross-functional teams during a project?

Design Strategists play a pivotal role in bridging the gap between design, business, and technology teams. They often facilitate workshops, lead ideation sessions, and synthesize insights from stakeholders to align project goals. Throughout a project, they work closely with product managers, UX/UI designers, engineers, and marketing professionals to ensure that design solutions address user needs and business objectives. This collaborative approach helps drive innovation and ensures that the final product is both functional and user-centric.

What is the difference between Design Strategy vs UX Designer?

AspectDesign StrategyUX Designer
Primary FocusAligning business goals with design solutions and long-term visionCreating user-centered digital experiences and interfaces
Skills & CredentialsDesign thinking, strategic planning, business acumenUser research, wireframing, prototyping, visual design
Work EnvironmentCollaborates with executives, product teams, and marketingWorks closely with developers, product managers, and users
Industry UsageUsed in strategic planning, branding, and product developmentPrimarily in digital product and app design

Design Strategy focuses on aligning overall business objectives with design initiatives, shaping the long-term vision. UX Designers concentrate on crafting intuitive user experiences for digital products. While both roles require design knowledge, Design Strategists emphasize strategic planning, whereas UX Designers focus on user interface and interaction design.

What does a design strategy do?

A design strategist develops plans to align design solutions with business goals, user needs, and brand identity. They analyze user research, create frameworks, and collaborate with teams to ensure cohesive and effective design outcomes throughout projects.

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

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

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

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

What cities in California are hiring for Design Strategy jobs?

Cities in California with the most Design Strategy job openings:

Infographic showing various Design Strategy job openings in California as of September 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 71% Full Time, 26% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 81% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 15% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $123,026 per year, or $59.1 per hour.

Senior UX Researcher, Design Strategy, XR

San Jose, CA • On-site

Google Inc.
Software Development • 10K+ employees

Other

Posted 14 days ago


Google rating

8.8

Company rating: 8.8 out of 10

Based on 103 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

48th of 247 rated software companies


Job description

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corporate_fare Google place San Francisco, CA, USA ; San Jose, CA, USA ; +3 more ; +2 more

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Experience driving progress, solving problems, and mentoring more junior team members; deeper expertise and applied knowledge within relevant area.

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info_outline X Applicants in San Francisco: Qualified applications with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act. Applicants in the County of Los Angeles: Qualified applications with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act.

This role may also be located in our Playa Vista, CA campus.

Note: By applying to this position you will have an opportunity to share your preferred working location from the following: San Francisco, CA, USA; San Jose, CA, USA; Los Angeles, CA, USA; New York, NY, USA.

  • Bachelor's degree or equivalent practical experience.
  • 6 years of experience of experience in an applied research setting (e.g., product or academic), or similar.
  • Experience with research methods (e.g., usability, studies, contextual inquires, 1:1 interviews, unmoderated research studies).
  • Experience with design strategy and product definition research.
  • Experience creating research programs such as critical user journey.
Preferred qualifications:
  • Master's degree or PhD in Human-Computer Interaction, Cognitive Science, Statistics, Psychology, Anthropology, or related field.
  • 5 years of experience conducting UX research on products and working with executive leadership (e.g., Director level and above).
  • 3 years of experience managing projects, and working in a large, matrixed organization.
  • Experience conducting research with emerging technologies and devices (e.g., VR headsets, smartphones, wearables, etc.).
  • Experience partnering closely with cross-functional teams.
  • Applied experience conducting research in AR/VR product environments, Android systems, system UI, or app scaling.
About the job

At Google, we \"Focus on the user and all else will follow.\" As a User Experience Researcher (UXR), you make this possible. You will join our multi-disciplinary UX team, collaborating with Engineering and Product Management, to gather insights and create industry-leading products. You’ll play a critical role in helping your team understand user needs and will drive impact at all stages of product development, ensuring products are useful, usable, and helpful. You will explore user behaviors and motivations by conducting primary research, including: field studies, interviews, diary studies, ethnography, surveys, usability testing, and logs analysis. You will also grow within a supportive UXR community offering mentorship, regular meetups, and exclusive internal tools.

For decades, the computing revolution has reshaped our world driven by breakthroughs in compute, connectivity, mobile, and now, AI. Google's XR team is at the forefront of the next major leap – the convergence of AI and XR. This is more than just new devices – it's about reimagining how we interact with our world around us. We're building a future where lightweight XR devices like smart glasses and headsets pair with helpful AI to augment human intelligence, offering personalized, conversational, and contextually aware experiences.

Individual pay is determined by factors including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.

About the job

At Google, we \"Focus on the user and all else will follow.\" As a User Experience Researcher (UXR), you make this possible. You will join our multi-disciplinary UX team, collaborating with Engineering and Product Management, to gather insights and create industry-leading products. You’ll play a critical role in helping your team understand user needs and will drive impact at all stages of product development, ensuring products are useful, usable, and helpful. You will explore user behaviors and motivations by conducting primary research, including: field studies, interviews, diary studies, ethnography, surveys, usability testing, and logs analysis. You will also grow within a supportive UXR community offering mentorship, regular meetups, and exclusive internal tools.

For decades, the computing revolution has reshaped our world driven by breakthroughs in compute, connectivity, mobile, and now, AI. Google's XR team is at the forefront of the next major leap – the convergence of AI and XR. This is more than just new devices – it's about reimagining how we interact with our world around us. We're building a future where lightweight XR devices like smart glasses and headsets pair with helpful AI to augment human intelligence, offering personalized, conversational, and contextually aware experiences.

Individual pay is determined by factors including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.

US: $159000 - $230000 (USD) + 15% bonus target + equity + benefits

Learn more about benefits at Google .

  • Provide user-centered insights to inform near and long-term product strategy and roadmap development.
  • Conduct research to inform product-market fit and value propositions, drive strategic research perspectives across teams, and raise what's next for product teams.
  • Deploy creative and co-design research methods to inform north star experiences.
  • Develop and maintain a prioritized research roadmap aligned with product strategy and business goals.
  • Design for scale and systems through research programs such as CUJs.

Google is proud to be an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. We are committed to building a workforce that is representative of the users we serve, creating a culture of belonging, and providing an equal employment opportunity regardless of race, creed, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, national origin, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy or related condition (including breastfeeding), expecting or parents-to-be, criminal histories consistent with legal requirements, or any other basis protected by law. See also Google's EEO Policy , Know your rights: workplace discrimination is illegal , Belonging at Google , and How we hire .

Google is a global company and, in order to facilitate efficient collaboration and communication globally, English proficiency is a requirement for all roles unless stated otherwise in the job posting.

Equity is granted exclusively and discretionarily by Alphabet Inc. on the basis of an agreement concluded between you and Alphabet Inc. Alphabet Inc. is your sole contractual partner with respect to equity grants. GSU grants are not guaranteed, are discretionary, are subject to approval by the Alphabet Inc. board of directors or its delegate, the terms of the relevant Alphabet Inc. stock plan, and your grant agreement. They have no impact on statutory payments. Current or past grants do not confer an acquired right.

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