Firmwide BIM Lead

At SOM, we are a collective committed to shaping a better future for our clients, communities and planet. We aspire to create the most sustainable, impactful work through creative, interdisciplinary teams with all the resources and diversity of a global firm. We value those who are passionate about excellence, innovation, integrity, inclusivity, and collaboration. Together we can achieve great things. Success at SOM Means Ideas: We believe in a meritocracy of ideas. We look to everyone to actively contribute to the discourse in the firm. Knowledge: We believe that expertise is the result of lifelong learning. We are not expected to know everything, but rather to passionately pursue answers, develop new skills and deepen our knowledge. Product: We strive for excellence in the concept, quality, and delivery of our work. Individual: We value individuals who bring the highest standards of professionalism and personal integrity in the way they work. Each person can develop and contribute their wealth of attributes, skills and knowledge to support the overall health of the firm. Team: We value the power of interdisciplinary integration. A positive team culture in which everyone collaborates openly towards common goals is essential. Firm: We have a history of making transformative contributions to the profession and our communities. We are constantly innovating and attempting to bring new approaches, solutions and processes to our work.

Position Responsibilities

You will be responsible for the development and firmwide implementation of BIM workflows, custom applications, and integrations across our architecture and structural engineering disciplines’ digital ecosystem. Explores, defines, and helps oversee the firmwide implementation of SOM’s BIM workflows across the full project lifecycle for our architecture and structural engineering disciplines, working with the firmwide Design Technology team. Works with the BIM Standards Lead to establish standards, assets, guidelines, and best practices for BIM workflows, collaborating with SOM’s firmwide Design Technology team, BIM leaders, and computational design experts. Develop, test, and deploy automation and agentic tools and standardized workflows for delivery phases to streamline documentation and reduce manual effort. This may include automated sheet creation, model data organization, automated dimensioning and tagging, and model health checking. Implement automated QA/QC protocols and data-validation pipelines to ensure models meet required Level of Development (LOD) standards, internal modeling and drawing standards, and contain accurate asset and material parameters required for downstream construction coordination, cost and embodied carbon tracking. Design and support digital workflows for coordination and Construction Administration, including model-based issue tracking, coordination clash resolution, digital submittal reviews, and tracking of field changes to maintain design integrity through construction. Develops and implements BIM data management strategies for projects of various types, phases, and scales to fulfill client deliverables and directly feed our internal data lakehouse of project design information. Maintains comprehensive documentation of standard assets and workflows. Develops training plans and materials for SOM's BIM best practices. In support of training the trainers, organizes and conducts initial training sessions to promote BIM workflows and best practices as part of program roll-outs. Contributes to tools and processes related to project specifications, tracking of material lists, energy, water and carbon use intensities on Projects. Leads organization, management and maintenance of BIM technologies and other related resources in collaboration with the Office of Technology. Keeps informed of industry standards, trends and developments related to BIM practices. Performs quality assurance testing of new tools related to BIM or asset management. Manages planning, development and advancement of innovative ideas/solutions to support BIM workflow. Coordinates such development with other Design Technology subject matter experts. Manages external parties to develop standard content or custom tool development within the framework and infrastructure defined by Office of Technology; Manages change, adoption and integration of new standard or workflow into existing BIM workflows. Additional expertise in one or more of the following specialities is highly beneficial: computational design, environmental performance analysis, visualization, AI-driven automation and design, scripting and software development, digital fabrication, DfMA / industrialized construction, and construction-phase BIM efforts.

Leadership Responsibilities

Fosters collaborative relationships with BIM Leads, discipline subject matter experts, and knowledge leaders to align BIM standards and workflows with project delivery goals and SOM's overall technology vision. Drives strategic initiatives and delivery methods to maintain SOM's leadership position in BIM services and project delivery. Champion the strategic exploration, testing, and piloting of emerging project delivery methods and cloud-first "BIM 2.0" ecosystems (such as multi-platform interoperability, open data environments, and cloud-native collaboration tools) to future-proof firm workflows. Lead initiatives to integrate artificial intelligence, design-assist agents, and advanced scripting into delivery workflows, scaling productivity gains while ensuring appropriate governance and data quality. Partner with regional BIM leaders, technical design directors, and sustainability teams to bridge the gap between design intent and construction-phase execution, establishing unified global standards that enhance cross-office collaboration and data continuity. Co-leads and organizes regular firm-wide BIM Leadership meetings with regional BIM and Design Technology Leads. Engages in talent strategy to find specialists, leaders, and future professionals for the firm. Keeps informed of security risks in tools and processes, and data management strategies through close collaboration with the Office of Technology. Creates and drives new ways of working through contributing to the development of services, standards, procedures based in an understanding of the business principles that protect SOM from financial and legal risk. Effectively communicates and promotes the work of the firm.

Minimum Qualifications

• Completion of a professional degree in Architecture, Engineering, or a related field.
• Minimum 8 years of focused professional experience in applying and developing digital tools and processes to AEC project work, including experience in Revit to document a variety of large-scale building projects.
• Demonstrates attention to detail and consistency in the work.
• General knowledge of architectural practice including site-planning, civil, structural, mechanical, electrical engineering, and construction.
• Demonstrated knowledge of architectural design, documentation, detailing, building materials, construction techniques, building systems selection, related engineering principles and building codes.
• Wide knowledge of concepts, workflows and tools used in other design technology fields such as Computational Design, Performance Analysis/Simulation, Visualization, etc.
• General understanding of sustainable strategies and principles including familiarity with LEED or other green building rating systems.
• Demonstrated expertise in digital tools such as Revit, Forma, Dynamo, and Revizto.
• Demonstrated understanding of scripting, programming, Grasshopper, Rhino and their relationship to BIM workflow.
• Demonstrated experience in data visualization and ability to create engaging visual communication.
• Demonstrates proficiency in Google Workspace, Adobe, Miro, and other business communication and collaboration tools.
• LEED or other green building accreditation preferred.

Compensation for this role is based upon experience, qualifications, location, and education and typically ranges from $140,000 to $160,000.

Working at SOM

Our practice was built to champion inclusivity of expertise, people, and ideas. Together, we cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset that equips our teams to face new challenges. Our studio culture offers opportunities for mentorship, growth, and leadership across project teams, offices, and employee resource groups. SOM is proud to be an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer, and we have been recognized with the highest ranking awarded on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s Corporate Equality Index. We publish an annual Impact Report as part of our ongoing commitment to advancing equity in our practice and the profession.

Our Benefits

Our comprehensive benefits package is built to support many facets of your well-being—your health, your financial future, and your continued professional growth. We offer medical, dental, vision, disability, life, and accident insurance. We also offer retirement support, free access to employee assistance programs for employees and family members, workplace flexibility, paid holidays, family leave, and paid time off. We reimburse costs for professional licenses, certifications, and exams, and offer specialized, in-house career development and mentorship programs designed to help you advance your knowledge and expertise.

Learn more about SOM: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) is a global practice of architects, engineers, and planners renowned for designing buildings, interiors, and public spaces that push the boundaries of technical and environmental innovation. Our interdisciplinary teams collaborate across an international network of studios to deliver projects of lasting impact. Through our built work, research, and advocacy, we are advancing strategies to decarbonize the built environment. Learn more about our commitment to climate action.