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Senior Design Manager Jobs in Silver Spring, MD (NOW HIRING)

You will design the mechanical and electrical architecture for various unmanned and autonomous ... Integrate COTS/GOTS equipment to meet high-level system objectives while managing size, weight ...

You will design the mechanical and electrical architecture for various unmanned and autonomous ... Integrate COTS/GOTS equipment to meet high-level system objectives while managing size, weight ...

Provide design vision and innovation strategies to senior leadership, program managers, and product owners that align with organizational objectives. * Apply modern design and accessibility standards ...

Provide design vision and innovation strategies to senior leadership, program managers, and product owners that align with organizational objectives. * Apply modern design and accessibility standards ...

Product Design Manager

Mclean, VA · On-site

$191K/yr

Product Design Manager We're currently seeking a Product Designer to join our Experience Design ... senior levels The ideal candidate has a strong portfolio demonstrating your leadership, process ...

Sr Design Professional

Washington, DC · On-site

$115K - $123K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

With preliminary direction from the project architect or project manager, analyzes and develops ... With direction from the project designer or more senior design technician, develops, modifies, and ...

Product Design Manager Product Designer (Manager level - IC) We're currently seeking a Product ... senior levels The ideal candidate has a strong portfolio demonstrating your leadership, process ...

About the Opportunity LINK is actively seeking a Senior Design Strategist to join our dynamic team, where we leverage strong partnerships and a robust portfolio of clients across diverse industries.

Product Design Manager We're currently seeking a Product Designer to join our Experience Design ... senior levels The ideal candidate has a strong portfolio demonstrating your leadership, process ...

Product Design Manager

Mclean, VA · On-site

$191K/yr

Product Design Manager We're currently seeking a Product Designer to join our Experience Design ... senior levels The ideal candidate has a strong portfolio demonstrating your leadership, process ...

Product Design Manager We're currently seeking a Product Designer to join our Experience Design ... senior levels The ideal candidate has a strong portfolio demonstrating your leadership, process ...

About the Opportunity LINK is actively seeking a Senior Design Strategist to join our dynamic team, where we leverage strong partnerships and a robust portfolio of clients across diverse industries.

About the Opportunity LINK is actively seeking a Senior Design Strategist to join our dynamic team, where we leverage strong partnerships and a robust portfolio of clients across diverse industries.

Digital Product Design Manager

Arlington, VA · On-site

$216K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Strong facilitation skills and executive presence; ability to present product strategy and design rationale to senior client stakeholders and manage competing priorities under pressure. * 4+ years ...

Showing results 21-40

Senior Design Manager information

See Silver Spring, MD salary details

$69.5K

$149K

$204.5K

How much do senior design manager jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 13, 2026, the average yearly pay for senior design manager in Silver Spring, MD is $148,993.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $131,414.00 and $174,878.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

How much does a senior design manager make?

A senior design manager typically earns between $100,000 and $160,000 annually, depending on industry, location, and experience. They often oversee design teams, require strong leadership skills, and may have expertise in design tools like Adobe Creative Suite or CAD software.

What is the difference between Senior Design Manager vs Design Director?

AspectSenior Design ManagerDesign Director
CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in Design, Architecture, or related field; experience in project managementSimilar educational background; often more extensive experience and leadership credentials
Work EnvironmentLeads design teams on multiple projects, collaborates with clients and stakeholdersOversees entire design departments, sets strategic vision, and manages senior teams
Industry UsageCommonly used in architecture, product, and interior design firmsTypically found in larger organizations with broader strategic responsibilities

The main difference between a Senior Design Manager and a Design Director lies in scope and strategic influence. Senior Design Managers focus on managing design teams and project execution, while Design Directors oversee overall design strategy and department leadership, often with higher-level responsibilities.

How does a senior design manager typically collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive project success?

As a Senior Design Manager, you will work closely with product managers, engineers, marketing, and other stakeholders throughout the design process. Effective collaboration involves facilitating design reviews, ensuring alignment between business objectives and creative direction, and proactively seeking feedback from multiple departments. You’ll often act as a bridge between the design team and other functions, translating technical or business requirements into actionable design solutions. This collaborative dynamic is essential for delivering cohesive, user-centered products and achieving shared project goals.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a senior design manager, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Senior Design Manager, you need advanced design expertise, leadership experience, and a strong portfolio, often supported by a degree in design or a related field. Familiarity with design tools like Adobe Creative Suite, Figma, and project management platforms such as Asana or Jira is typically required. Exceptional communication, team leadership, and stakeholder management skills set top performers apart. These abilities are crucial for delivering high-quality design solutions, leading creative teams, and aligning design objectives with business goals.

Is a senior design manager a stressful job?

A senior design manager role can be stressful due to responsibilities such as overseeing design teams, managing project deadlines, and coordinating with other departments. The level of stress often depends on workload, company culture, and project complexity, but strong leadership and time management skills can help mitigate it.

What is a senior design manager?

Senior Design Managers are experienced professionals who lead and oversee design teams within an organization. They are responsible for setting design strategies, managing multiple projects, mentoring designers, and ensuring that design outputs align with business objectives. Senior Design Managers collaborate with stakeholders across departments, drive innovation, and maintain high-quality standards in all design processes. Their role is crucial in bridging creative vision with practical execution, ensuring that projects meet both user needs and business goals.
What are popular job titles related to Senior Design Manager jobs in Silver Spring, MD? For Senior Design Manager jobs in Silver Spring, MD, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Senior Design Manager jobs in Silver Spring, MD look for? The top searched job categories for Senior Design Manager jobs in Silver Spring, MD are:
What cities near Silver Spring, MD are hiring for Senior Design Manager jobs? Cities near Silver Spring, MD with the most Senior Design Manager job openings:
Infographic showing various Senior Design Manager job openings in Silver Spring, MD as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 81% Full Time, 16% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 93% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 4% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $148,993 per year, or $71.6 per hour.

Senior Design Engineer

Helsing

Washington, DC • On-site

Full-time

Medical, PTO

Re-posted 2 days ago


Job description

Who we are
Helsing develops artificial intelligence-enabled capabilities to protect and defend democracies. We are growing our US operations, cultivating an ambitious and committed team of mission-driven professionals to apply their skills to solve challenging problems.
The role
As a Design Engineer, you will work on innovative UAV platforms, modifying and adapting existing mechanical and electrical designs to meet US customer requirements and specifications. You will design the mechanical and electrical architecture for various unmanned and autonomous systems, ensuring their design, implementation, and testing meets the needs of the end-user. You will work in close collaboration with systems engineers, embedded systems engineers, production teams, and customer-facing program managers.
Your role will be crucial in guiding the team's choices and ensuring the consistency of technical decisions. You will conceptualize innovative hardware configurations, conduct comprehensive trade studies, and create solutions optimized for both manufacturing efficiency and field assembly. Your expertise will be vital in realizing robust, scalable, and cost-effective solutions that enhance the performance of Helsing's UAV systems, directly supporting our mission to provide advanced defense capabilities.
The day-to-day
  • Modify and adapt existing UAV platform mechanical and electrical designs and interfaces to meet US customer needs, specifications, and regulatory requirements
  • Own subsystems design and participate in the overall development of platform architecture, ensuring consistency in decision-making meetings
  • Conceptualize and design UAV and supporting system hardware configurations through comprehensive trade studies and analytical assessments
  • Develop modular solutions using WOSA (Weapons Open Systems Architecture) standards to ensure interoperability and upgradability
  • Create electronic architectures and mechanical design concepts, specification design, and select appropriate components
  • Produce 3D and 2D documentation using SolidWorks or similar CAD/PLM tools, ensuring proper form, fit, and function of components by using analytical and simulation tools
  • Integrate COTS/GOTS equipment to meet high-level system objectives while managing size, weight, power, and cost constraints
  • Apply latest design and drawing standards, including ASME/ISO standards, GD&T, and strong consideration for manufacturing aspects
  • Design for manufacturing (DFM) and end-user field assembly, developing robust, scalable, and cost-effective components
  • Define and perform validation tests for technical maturation with general electronics and electrical troubleshooting, and mechanical testing
  • Create comprehensive design documentation in accordance with company guidelines and quality standards
You should apply if you
  • Have several years of experience in mechanical and/or electrical design for UAV platforms, aerospace systems, or similar demanding applications
  • Hold a Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Mechatronics, or a related field
  • Possess outstanding hands-on experience with 3D/2D CAD and PLM tools (preferably SolidWorks/PDM or similar platforms)
  • Have strong knowledge of modular design principles and experience with WOSA or similar open systems architecture standards
  • Demonstrate proven experience integrating COTS/GOTS equipment into complex systems
  • Possess knowledge of electronic component integration, preferably using ECAD/MCAD interfaces for component realization
  • Are keen on fast-track developments and realizations and are able to work independently, owning a project from concept to validation
  • Enjoy working in a highly flexible environment

Note: We encourage you to apply even if you don't meet all the listed qualifications; ability and impact cannot be summarized in a few bullet points.
Nice to Have
  • Professional working experience with US defense customers and familiarity with US military specifications and standards
  • Experience with unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) design, including airframe structures, propulsion integration, and payload mounting
  • Knowledge of export control regulations (ITAR, EAR) and experience working on US defense programs
  • Experience with schematic and PCB (Printed Circuit Board) design for embedded systems
  • Familiarity with EMC (Electromagnetic Compatibility) design and validation
  • Experience with actuators (brushed and brushless motors, servomotors, magnetic coupling) and sensors used in aerospace or mechatronics applications
  • Background in Battery Management Systems and power circuit design
  • Experience with environmental testing requirements (vibration, shock, temperature, humidity) for aerospace applications
  • Familiarity with FEA (Finite Element Analysis) for structural and thermal analysis
  • Understanding of airworthiness certification processes and safety assessment methodologies
Join Helsing and work with world-leading experts in their fields
  • Helsing's work is important. You'll be directly contributing to the protection of democratic countries while balancing both ethical and geopolitical concerns
  • The work is unique. We operate in a domain that has highly unusual technical requirements and constraints, and where robustness, safety, and ethical considerations are vital. You will face unique Engineering and AI challenges that make a meaningful impact in the world
  • Our work frequently takes us right up to the state of the art in technical innovation, be it reinforcement learning, distributed systems, generative AI, or deployment infrastructure. The defense industry is entering the most exciting phase of the technological development curve. Advances in our field of world are not incremental: Helsing is part of, and often leading, historic leaps forward
  • In our domain, success is a matter of order-of-magnitude improvements and novel capabilities. This means we take bets, aim high, and focus on big opportunities. Despite being a relatively young company, Helsing has already been selected for multiple significant government contracts
  • We actively encourage healthy, proactive, and diverse debate internally about what we do and how we choose to do it. Teams and individual engineers are trusted (and encouraged) to practice responsible autonomy and critical thinking, and to focus on outcomes, not conformity. At Helsing you will have a say in how we (and you!) work, the opportunity to engage on what does and doesn't work, and to take ownership of aspects of our culture that you care deeply about
What we offer
  • A focus on outcomes, not time-tracking
  • A generous compensation and benefits package (in addition to base salary) that includes, but may not be limited to, insurance coverage (medical and travel), flexible paid time off, paid holidays, and remote and/or hybrid work available depending on position. All compensation and benefits are subject to the terms and conditions of the underlying plans or programs, as applicable and as may be amended, terminated or superseded from time to time.

The base salary offered to the successful candidate will be determined by a variety of factors including relevant experience, qualifications, education, skill level, interview performance, and the level and scope of the position.
Helsing is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We will consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetics, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. Please do not submit personal data revealing racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious or philosophical beliefs, trade union membership, data concerning your health, or data concerning your sexual orientation.
Helsing's Candidate Privacy and Confidentiality Regime can be found here.