Aptitude Senior Design Manager

Senior Design Manager – Aptitude:
Intelligent Integration

The Senior Design Manager oversees the design process for projects, leading design teams and trade partners through business development to completion. They ensure design goals—functionality, aesthetics, sustainability—are met while integrating structural, mechanical, and electrical considerations. The role supports project teams to achieve goals in alignment with JE Dunn’s strategy, vision, and values.

• Develop turnkey design pricing proposals responding to client RFPs.
• Collaborate with estimating, pre‑construction, and business development teams to create competitive bid strategies.
• Ensure designs meet functional, aesthetic, and sustainability goals.
• Integrate structural, mechanical, and electrical considerations into technology plans.
• Manage the creation and completion of design packages including floor plans, elevations, one‑lines, and detailed drawings.
• Review bridging documents for compliance with RFP codes and criteria.
• Support early‑phase due diligence with clients to include jurisdictional and permitting requirements.
• Manage design schedules and identify project risks throughout the design phase.
• Leverage design experience to solve project‑specific challenges and monitor expectations for quality and schedule.
• Generate cost savings and value‑added solutions during design.
• Control design partner and consultant costs throughout development.
• Provide quality‑control review comments to meet specifications and safety requirements.
• Coordinate design document packaging with the project team.
• Maintain project documentation (proposals, drawings, specifications, reports, calculations, shop drawings) using 3D and 2D file systems.
• Develop sketches and plans for pre‑construction pricing of conceptual ideas.
• Provide technical design guidance throughout construction.
• Offer design engineering support for the entire project lifecycle.
• Steer projects to stay within budget and contractual details.

• Lead the process of understanding client business needs, creating conceptual plans, elevations, and 3D models.
• Work with the Project Executive to set design budgets, schedules, and fees.
• Act as a key liaison between JE Dunn and the design team to ensure accountability.
• Provide thought leadership and direction through all design phases.
• Manage external design teams to meet deadlines and deliverables.
• Engage in industry and community activities to build and strengthen external relationships.
• Manage change with internal and external design partners throughout the project duration.

• Accurate, complete, and timely execution of work.
• Intermediate verbal and written communication skills.
• Effective presentation skills.
• Advanced proficiency in MS Office.
• Thorough knowledge of project processes and support for project completion.
• Team collaboration and relationship building.
• Intermediate application of Lean processes and philosophy.
• Proficiency with AutoCAD, Revit, and/or Google Sketch Up.
• Experience with U.S. building design codes and material standards.
• Familiarity with linked design disciplines (Geotechnical, Architecture, Facade, Structural, MEP, Data, Communications, Transportation, Acoustics, Fire & Life Safety).
• Structured thinking across disciplines with creative solution development.
• Budget management, profitability maximization, and relationship‑driven future work generation.
• Technical market expertise and awareness of industry trends.
• Relationship building across project teams.

• Bachelor’s degree in architecture, engineering, or a related field (required).

• 10+ years of design and/or construction management experience (required).
• 8+ years as a Project Manager or Senior Project Manager (preferred).
• Cross‑functional knowledge of key engineering disciplines (Architectural, Structural, MEP, etc.) and relevant trades.
• Experience taking conceptual design through construction with internal and external partners.

• Successful completion of company training and role‑specific professional development coursework (required).
• Professional registration…