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Entry Level Human Centered Design Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Industrial Design Co-Op

PA · On-site

$19.38 - $34/hr

Eaton's Studio Blue (Human-Centered Design Center of Excellence) is currently seeking an Industrial Design intern to join our team for the Fall 2026 semester (end of August - mid December 2026). This ...

SkillBridge Partner

Mclean, VA · On-site

$117K/yr

Steampunk is the explosive collision of human-centered design and traditional government contracting. We are an employee-owned company with a startup mindset and time-tested approaches tailored for ...

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Entry Level Human Centered Design information

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$29.5K

$49.6K

$60K

How much do entry level human centered design jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 12, 2026, the average yearly pay for entry level human centered design in the United States is $49,574.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $44,000.00 and $54,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are some common challenges faced by entry-level professionals in Human Centered Design, and how can they be addressed?

Entry-level professionals in Human Centered Design often face challenges such as balancing user needs with business goals, navigating ambiguity in project requirements, and effectively communicating design ideas to multidisciplinary teams. To address these, it’s helpful to seek mentorship from experienced colleagues, actively participate in collaborative workshops, and continuously build your portfolio with user-centered case studies. Open communication and regularly seeking feedback can also help new designers grow their confidence and skills in real-world projects.

What is the difference between Entry Level Human Centered Design vs Entry Level User Experience Designer?

AspectEntry Level Human Centered DesignEntry Level User Experience Designer
CredentialsBasic design or psychology background, relevant certificationsDesign, psychology, or related degree, portfolio
Work EnvironmentCollaborative, research-focused, often in tech or design firmsCreative, user-focused, in tech, digital agencies, or product teams
Industry UsageCommon in design agencies, tech companies, startupsPrevalent in software, app development, digital product companies

Entry Level Human Centered Design focuses on understanding user needs through research and applying design principles, while Entry Level User Experience Designer emphasizes creating intuitive digital interfaces based on user insights. Both roles require foundational knowledge in design and user research, but Human Centered Design often involves broader research activities, whereas UX Design concentrates on interface and interaction design.

What is an entry level human centered design job?

An entry level human centered design job focuses on creating products, services, or systems that prioritize the needs, behaviors, and experiences of users. Individuals in these roles often assist with user research, prototyping, usability testing, and the design process under the guidance of more experienced designers. These positions are ideal for recent graduates or those new to the field, offering opportunities to develop foundational skills in user experience (UX) and design thinking. Collaboration with multidisciplinary teams and learning from real-world projects are key aspects of entry level roles.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Entry Level Human Centered Design professional, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Entry Level Human Centered Design professional, you need a foundational understanding of user-centered design principles, user research methods, and basic prototyping, often supported by a degree in design, psychology, or a related field. Familiarity with design tools such as Figma, Adobe XD, or Sketch, and experience conducting usability tests or creating wireframes is typically expected. Strong communication, empathy, and collaboration skills help you understand user needs and work effectively within multidisciplinary teams. These skills ensure the creation of intuitive, user-friendly products that solve real problems and deliver value to both users and organizations.
More about Entry Level Human Centered Design jobs
What cities are hiring for Entry Level Human Centered Design jobs? Cities with the most Entry Level Human Centered Design job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Human Centered Design jobs? The most popular types of Human Centered Design jobs are:
What states have the most Entry Level Human Centered Design jobs? States with the most job openings for Entry Level Human Centered Design jobs include:
Infographic showing various Entry Level Human Centered Design job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 62% Full Time, 35% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 94% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 4% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $49,574 per year, or $23.8 per hour.
Industrial Design Co-Op

Industrial Design Co-Op

Eaton

PA • On-site

$19.38 - $34/hr

Full-time

Posted 22 days ago


Eaton rating

7.5

Company rating: 7.5 out of 10

Based on 208 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

247th of 518 rated manufacturers


Job description

The hourly rate for this position is $19.38 - $34.00 per hour.
Please note the salary information shown above is a general guideline only. Salaries are based upon candidate skills, experience, and qualifications, as well as market and business considerations.
What you'll do:
Eaton's Studio Blue (Human-Centered Design Center of Excellence) is currently seeking an Industrial Design intern to join our team for the Fall 2026 semester (end of August - mid December 2026). This position is based at our Moon Township, PA location (Pittsburgh area).
In this role, you will help fulfill our mission of empowering people to be more human-centered, collaborative, and creative by applying human-centered design to physical products through user research, the design of physical interactions, visual brand language, and design for manufacture. You will work on a diverse portfolio of projects in collaboration with other designers and businesses across the enterprise. You will be exposed to day-to-day business functions and can grow your knowledge of user research, design thinking, sketching techniques, prototyping, and SolidWorks parametric modeling. Contributions made will directly affect new product outcomes within Eaton's product portfolio.
About Eaton
Eaton is a power management company made up of over 92,000 employees, with business in more than 160 countries. Our energy-efficient products and services help our customers effectively manage electrical, hydraulic, and mechanical power more reliably, efficiently, safely, and sustainably.
Eaton's diverse product line includes electric vehicle chargers, smart home devices, circuit breakers, transformers, and more. Eaton technology keeps power-critical infrastructure for airports, hospitals, factories, data centers, vehicles, and electrical grids operational. Our products and services impact millions of people every day, and our customers depend on us to help solve incredibly complex power management challenges.
About Studio Blue
Our team, Studio Blue, is responsible for growing the practice of Human-Centered Design at Eaton. We function as an internal design consultancy, collaborating with Eaton teams around the world. Through our expertise in design thinking, industrial design, and digital user experience design, we are working to make Eaton a more design-minded company. You can find information about our team here: Design at Eaton
Eaton is over 100 years old, and many of its products and processes are rooted in industrial manufacturing. Studio Blue is central to the modernization and digital transformation of the company. Every day, we help sales, engineering, marketing and other internal teams create meaningful experiences for users with connected services, hardware, and software. It is an exciting time to be a creative professional at Eaton. Every contribution we make has a significant impact on the future of the company, and the opportunities for innovation are never-ending!
Essential Functions
• Use traditional industrial design methods of discovery, communication, and documentation to identify problems, develop solutions, and work with development partner teams to develop products for volume production and commercialization.
• Sketching, building, prototyping, 3D parametric CAD modeling, creating digital renderings, and executing graphic design layouts.
• Identify product design opportunities through human-centered discovery and research methods.
• Inspire product teams to push the boundaries past common solutions focusing on human-centered design recommendations.
• Translate research and business plans into product solutions that lead to intuitive user experiences.
• Execute across all project phases from early discovery and research through detailed visual design documentation.
• Assist in planning Design Thinking workshops across a diverse group of businesses and product lines (training will be provided).
• Collaborate closely with other human-centered designers, engineers, and business professionals to guide products through the delivery process.
• Engage in ongoing dialogue with your manager and senior team members to give and receive constructive feedback that will drive your performance and growth.
Qualifications:
Basic Qualifications:
  • You have completed at least 2 years of an undergraduate program or are currently enrolled in a graduate program studying industrial design.
  • You have a portfolio or presentation that represents foundational training in hand sketching, digital visualization, 3D modelling, physical prototyping, and experience with industrial design and user research.
  • You are located or willing to relocate for an in-person position (assistance available) in the Pittsburgh, PA area for the duration of the internship experience.
  • You have access to reliable transportation to our Cherrington, Moon Township office.
  • You must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
  • You must be able to work in the United States on a permanent and ongoing basis without requiring company sponsorship.

Skills:
• You're a strategic thinker and you know how to imagine and communicate future scenarios.
• While you have a focus on physical products, you also have an interest in digital UI (User Interface) design.
• You're a team player and skilled at collaborating with a diverse group of stakeholders.
• You engage in open dialogue, communicate effectively and you're on your way to becoming a confident presenter.
• You handle ambiguity and constructive feedback with poise. You're interested in personal growth opportunities.
• You're empathetic, curious, and innovative. You put people at the center of the problem-solving process.
• You can handle multiple tasks and projects simultaneously, providing deliverables through completion and on time.
• You have basic proficiency in Outlook, Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint is preferred. Experience with digital whiteboards and remote collaboration is a plus.
There are always exceptions and variations to these criteria, so if you think you're qualified for the role, please don't hesitate to apply.
#LI-DNI
Working with Studio Blue
Most of our Studio Blue Americas team is based in Pittsburgh with several teammates dispersed across the United States. While we have a physical office, we also collaborate remotely. We require interns to be in the office three days a week with some flexibility, and we expect all team members to be available during core working hours (10 a.m. - 3 p.m.) in Eastern Standard Time. Occasionally, we attend meetings during non-standard hours to stay connected with the Studio Blue APAC team based in Shanghai. This team provides design consulting services to Eaton teams across the Asia Pacific region.
The industrial design team is highly collaborative with lots of opportunity to work with other design disciplines, and we are always iterating on and improving our strategy and processes. We work hard and have high standards. We also respect the importance of celebrating wins and encouraging a healthy work-life balance. Eaton values learning and growth and empowers its employees to invest in themselves.
If you're interested in joining a team of problem-solvers who are applying design expertise to infrastructure-level challenges and shifting culture by encouraging and building empathy, creativity, and innovation at an enterprise scale, then Studio Blue is the right team for you.
All positions may require participation in video and in-person interviews as part of the hiring process. All candidates will be evaluated based on job-related competencies, and all candidates' privacy rights and data security will be protected in accordance with applicable laws.
We are committed to ensuring equal employment opportunities for all job applicants and employees. Employment decisions are based upon job-related reasons regardless of an applicant's race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, marital status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other status protected by law.
Eaton believes in second chance employment. Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction history will be considered regardless of their arrest or conviction history, consistent with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance, the California Fair Chance Act and other local laws.
You do not need to disclose your conviction history or participate in a background check until a conditional job offer is made to you. After making a conditional offer and running a background check, if Eaton is concerned about conviction that is directly related to the job, you will be given the chance to explain the circumstances surrounding the conviction, provide mitigating evidence, or challenge the accuracy of the background report.
To request disability-related reasonable accommodation to assist you in your job search, application, or interview process, please call us at 1-800-836-6345 to discuss your specific need. Only accommodation requests will be accepted by this phone number.

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About Eaton

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Industry

Electrical equipment, appliance, and component manufacturing

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Cleveland, OH, US