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Design Thinking Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Apple

Innovation Design Lead

Cupertino, CA · On-site

$206K/yr

Champion design thinking methodologies internally and externally. Act as a trusted advisor and evangelist for Apple's platform technologies, roadmaps, and competitive landscape. Drive Strategy:

The Walt Disney Company

Manager, Product Design

Glendale, CA · On-site

$200K/yr

The right person for this role has experience developing data-informed, holistic strategies and future-thinking experiences. You care as much about design as you do about the people behind it. You ...

Apple

Innovation Design Lead

Cupertino, CA · On-site

$149K - $225K/yr

Champion design thinking methodologies internally and externally. Act as a trusted advisor and evangelist for Apple's platform technologies, roadmaps, and competitive landscape. Drive Strategy:

Browserbase

Design Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

This is a hands-on, high-impact role that blends creative design thinking with front-end engineering. You'll partner closely with engineering, product, and our growing design team to define how a ...

Apex Informatics

Product Designer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

Design thinking * They Invest heavily into research to understand a problem * They shape the problem and create design * Research and product Management exp * Story telling exp * Should be able to ...

On Board Experiential

VP of Design

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

Proactively track and apply design trends + thinking to maintain a cutting-edge, future-focused creative offering for OBE. * Oversee conceptual and visual direction for high-profile projects ...

HP IQ

Digital Design Engineer

San Francisco, CA

$107K - $155K/yr

A portfolio demonstrating strong visual craft, design thinking, problem-solving, and attention to detail Preferred Skills We're especially interested in candidates who have experience or demonstrated ...

New

Mercor

Senior Design Expert - UX Focus

San Francisco, CA · Remote

$150 - $250/hr

Conduct structured, recorded remote sessions to capture expert design thinking. * Evaluate design quality, critique, and shipping standards in AI design tooling . * Share insights on what separates ...

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Design Thinking information

See California salary details

$52.8K

$114.5K

$147.5K

How much do design thinking jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 28, 2026, the average yearly pay for design thinking in California is $114,496.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $115,000.00 and $115,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a design thinking?

A Design Thinking job involves applying human-centered design principles to solve complex problems creatively and collaboratively. Professionals in this role use empathy, ideation, prototyping, and iterative testing to develop innovative solutions in various industries. They often work in roles such as UX designers, product managers, or innovation strategists, helping organizations create user-friendly products or services. These roles require strong problem-solving, collaboration, and customer research skills.

What are typical daily responsibilities for someone working in a design thinking role?

In a Design Thinking role, your daily responsibilities may involve facilitating workshops, conducting user research, and synthesizing insights to define problems clearly. You’ll often collaborate closely with cross-functional teams—including product managers, engineers, and marketing staff—to ideate and prototype potential solutions. Preparing and presenting findings or prototypes to stakeholders and iterating on feedback are also common tasks. This hands-on, interactive environment encourages continuous learning and creative problem solving while keeping the user's needs at the center of every project.

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

To thrive in a Design Thinking role, you need a solid understanding of user-centered design principles, problem-solving abilities, and often a background in design, business, or related fields. Familiarity with prototyping software (such as Figma or Sketch), collaborative tools (like Miro or MURAL), and, in some cases, Design Thinking certification can be advantageous. Exceptional communication, facilitation, and empathy help professionals engage stakeholders and foster creative collaboration. These skills are essential for effectively guiding teams through innovation processes and delivering human-centered solutions.

What careers use design thinking?

Design thinking is used in a variety of careers including product design, user experience (UX) design, innovation consulting, and service design. Professionals in these fields apply human-centered problem-solving methods to develop creative solutions, often utilizing tools like prototyping and user research to improve products, services, and processes.

What are the most commonly searched types of Design Thinking jobs in California?

The most popular types of Design Thinking jobs in California are:

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

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

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

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

What cities in California are hiring for Design Thinking jobs?

Cities in California with the most Design Thinking job openings:

Design Thinking jobs near you
Infographic showing various Design Thinking job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 83% Full Time, 12% Part Time, and 5% Contract. Highlights an 81% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 14% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $114,496 per year, or $55 per hour.

Creative Process/Design Thinking - Adjunct

California Baptist University

Riverside, CA • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 26 days ago

California Baptist University rating

6.6

Company rating: 6.6 out of 10

Based on 8 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

502nd of 625 rated colleges and universities

Job description

Posting Details
Position Information
Position Title
Creative Process/Design Thinking - Adjunct
Position Summary
The College of Architecture, Visual Art, and Design (CAVAD) at California Baptist University invites applications for adjunct faculty positions in the field of Creative Process / Design Thinking with an emphasis on Christian Faith Integration to teach in the college's keynote interdisciplinary courses 1) Creativity: Process & Purpose and 2) Creativity: Context & Collaboration. These high-energy, hands-on, activity-based courses provide a foundational Christian understanding of Creativity and explore disciplinary best practices for a flourishing Creative Practice. Review of applications is conducted in an ongoing manner according to need.
Pay Range
Qualifications
A terminal degree in a creative field (e.g. Architecture, Interior Design, Graphic Design, Film, Photography, Art, Illustration), or closely related discipline, is preferred. Candidates working toward a terminal degree, or have significant experience in the field, may be considered. Candidates must embrace the mission of California Baptist University, and evidence a clear understanding of, and commitment to, excellence in teaching through the integration of Christian faith. Successful candidates will have a history of quality university teaching experience or significant professional engagement in the field, and demonstrated relational skills.
Teaching Responsibilities
Teaching responsibilities will include teaching in the undergraduate interdisciplinary creative sequence focusing on Christian integration with the Creative Process. The creative course sequence is offered every semester with multiple sections providing regular staffing opportunities for successful candidates. Specific course assignments will be dependent upon applicant qualifications.
Nondiscrimination Statement
State and Federal law permit California Baptist University to discriminate on the basis of religion in order to fulfill its purpose. The University does not discriminate contrary to either State or Federal law.
Quick Link to Posting
https://jobs.calbaptist.edu/postings/9973

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