Director of Design Engineering

Director of Design Management , Data Center

Location: Pittsburgh, PA or able to travel to site regularly

Salary: Up to $250,000 per year plus 20% annual bonus

Travel: Up to 25%

Type: Full-time

The role

A privately held data center company with a significant and growing colocation and hyperscale portfolio is hiring a Director of Design Management for their Pittsburgh region. This is a senior leadership position with direct reports and full accountability for design management programme performance across a geographic region.

You will own the design phase of major data center projects from land enablement handoff through to GC mobilisation, working closely with the regional Director of Construction Management and leading a team of Design Managers. The company is growing fast and this role is central to how that growth gets delivered well.

If you have 12 or more years in commercial construction design management, a strong MEP background, and experience leading teams on data center projects, this is a strong opportunity at a well-capitalised operator.

What you'll be doing

• Lead day-to-day design management operations and long-term strategic direction across all projects in the Pittsburgh region
• Manage a team of 2 to 5 Design Managers, responsible for their performance, development, and accountability
• Drive projects from inception through customer turnover with a heavy focus on preconstruction and design phases
• Serve as the primary design management point of contact for your region, working in lockstep with the regional Director of Construction Management
• Coordinate onboarding of third-party design teams, create and manage design schedules, and drive review and comment cycles through to resolution
• Hold design partners accountable to design progression, gating milestones, cost control, and compliance requirements
• Manage project risk registers from land enablement through completion and turnover to operations
• Develop and maintain deep relationships with design partners, AHJs, general contractors, and trade partners in the region
• Oversee all administrative duties related to the design management process including budget support, funding requests, and quarterly project updates
• Interface with customers through fit-out design, construction, and integration to ensure successful delivery of customer contracts
• Collaborate with sales and solutions engineering during the revenue generation process
• Contribute to cross-regional consistency by collaborating with Director of Design Management peers in other regions
• Assist with hiring, training, and development of design management staff

What we need from you

• Degree in Construction Management, Engineering, or equivalent
• 12 or more years of progressive experience managing commercial construction design programmes, with data center experience required
• Mechanical or electrical engineering background preferred
• At least 5 years of design team management experience
• Strong working knowledge of building design process, design deliverables management, and project delivery methods including IPD, Design-Build, and Design-Bid-Build
• Familiarity with contract methods including lump sum, CM at risk, and open book GMP
• Deep network within the data center design and construction community
• Ability to navigate AHJs and local permitting and zoning authorities
• Proficiency in MS Project, Procore, Smartsheets, BIM 360, or similar
• Advanced Excel and CAD knowledge a plus
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to present to senior leadership
• Comfortable managing multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-moving environment
• Up to 25% travel

Compensation and benefits

Up to $250,000 per year DOE plus 20% annual bonus target

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

HSA with employer contribution

FSA for health and dependent care

401(k) with company match

Short and long-term disability, life insurance

Voluntary life, critical illness, and legal coverage options

Wellhub gym membership

Employee assistance programme

Paid time off and holidays

For more information please contact: View email address on click.appcast.io