About the Role
Discord is the heart of global gaming culture, serving as the digital third place for over 200 million monthly active users. With more than 90% of our community dedicated to gaming, we facilitate 1.5 billion hours of gameplay across thousands of unique titles every month. Our mission is to transform how people communicate before, during, and after their gaming sessions. As a Product Design Manager for Engagement, you will join an organization dedicated to deepening user retention by refining our core social infrastructure: voice and messaging. You will lead a talented team of designers in building the repeatable mechanisms that turn new users into lifelong members of the Discord community.
Key ResponsibilitiesIn this role, you will act as a strategic leader and mentor, independently guiding a domain-specific design team to deliver world-class user experiences. You will be responsible for the professional growth and output of your designers, fostering a culture of high ownership, accountability, and creative impact. By providing consistent direction and guidance, you will ensure that every feature—whether it involves making voice calls more discoverable or creating viral social feedback loops—meets Discord's rigorous quality standards.
- Develop and coach a high-performing team of designers, instilling a deep sense of ownership and helping them navigate complex product challenges.
- Cultivate strong partnerships with Engineering and Product Management leaders to influence long-term product strategy and ensure seamless execution.
- Collaborate with Staff-level designers and cross-functional partners to define, refine, and prioritize the design roadmap based on strategic business goals.
- Maintain a high pace of delivery while balancing holistic system thinking with immediate feature impact, making critical decisions on scope when necessary.
- Apply first-principles thinking to team composition and resourcing, adapting dynamics to meet the evolving needs of the Engagement organization.
- Champion design excellence across all owned systems, mentoring your team on user-centric design methodologies and effective risk mitigation.
- Step in as a hands-on designer when required, supporting your team during peak periods or on high-complexity prototypes to maintain momentum.
We are looking for a leader who blends exceptional design craft with a passion for people management. You should have a proven track record of navigating ambiguity and building scalable design processes within fast-paced, consumer-facing environments. The ideal candidate is a first-principles thinker who can translate complex user behaviors into intuitive, delightful social experiences across multiple platforms.
- Minimum of 2 years of direct experience as a Design Manager, with a history of leading at least two or more Product Designers within a professional design organization.
- Over 6 years of experience as a Product Designer working on multi-platform digital products, with specific fluency in mobile development and consumer-grade software.
- A comprehensive portfolio showcasing both your individual design contributions and examples of high-quality work delivered under your leadership and direction.
- Demonstrated ability to influence product organizations and design disciplines through strategic thinking and effective cross-functional communication.
- Expertise in prototyping tools and a sharp eye for visual and interaction design, identifying gaps where craft can be elevated.
- A genuine passion for recruitment, training, and organizational design, with the ability to lead by example and inspire a creative team.
- The ability to thrive in ambiguous environments, creating clarity through structured strategies and pragmatic problem-solving.
Discord is committed to creating a world-class employee experience that mirrors the quality of our product. We offer a competitive compensation package designed to attract and retain the best talent in the industry. Beyond the base salary, our team members enjoy the opportunity to work in a highly collaborative, remote-friendly environment that values inclusion and professional development.
- Competitive base salary range of $220,000 to $247,500 per year, determined by skills, experience, and training.
- Significant equity packages that allow you to share in the long-term success of the company.
- Comprehensive health, dental, and vision benefits for you and your family.
- A remote-first culture that supports work-life balance while maintaining strong connections through San Francisco-based hubs.
- A commitment to inclusion and diversity, with reasonable accommodations provided throughout the recruitment process and beyond.
- Opportunity to work on a product that touches hundreds of millions of lives and shapes the future of the gaming industry.