Senior Project Designer, Aviation

DLR Group•Denver, CO

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

DLR Group is an integrated design firm with a promise to elevate the human experience through design. This fuels the work we do around the world and inspires our mission to improve the lives of our clients, our communities, and our planet. If this sparks your interest, you’re in the right place. Position Summary As a key leader in our team, you will take responsibility for significant aspects of projects, guiding the development and delivery of project documents. You will collaborate closely with our integrated design team to produce high-quality work, ensuring that all project activities align with schedules, budgets, and work plans. This role offers an opportunity to make a substantial impact on our projects while contributing to our commitment to excellence in design. If you are a collaborative thought leader with a strategic mindset, this might be the position for you. The Senior Aviation Project Designer develops and oversees our Aviation Practice’s daily design activities. This requires that they work directly with and under the direction of the National Aviation Leader so both will be fully informed of all practice-related activities. The Senior Designer manages design procedures and ensures they are carried out properly to maintain a high level of design quality. They assess the needs of the practice and respond proactively to meet those needs. They constantly look at the practice big picture by ensuring daily aviation design projects run smoothly and as efficiently as possible. Additionally, the Senior Designer regularly evaluates the practice’s organizational efficiency and makes necessary changes to maximize growth. DLR Group is 100% employee owned and as such you’ll enjoy the opportunity to have ownership in the Firm. We rely on all our employee-owners to apply their financial acumen to grow the Firm profitably. DLR Group is an integrated design firm delivering architecture, engineering, interiors, planning, and building optimization for new builds, renovations, and adaptive reuse projects. We are 100% employee-owned: every employee is literally invested in our clients’ success. At the core of our firm are interdisciplinary teams engaged in every step of project lifecycles. Our teams champion true collaboration, open information sharing, shared risk and reward, value-based decision making, and proficient use of technology to deliver exceptional design. We are pursuing the goals of the 2030 Challenge, the ME2040, and the SE2050, and are an initial signatory of the China Accord and the AIA 2030 Commitment. Through our values – commitment, creativity, environmental stewardship, fun, integrity, ownership, sharing, teamwork – we elevate the human experience through design, together. DLR Group follows a four-day in-office work model, with employees having the flexibility to work somewhere other than the office on Fridays. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/M/F/Veteran/Disabled employer.

Requirements

Undergraduate Degree in Architecture required; graduate degree not required unless mandated for licensure
Minimum of 15 years of professional experience working across all roles within a design team.
Minimum of 5 years of experience in design management or design leadership capacity.
Demonstrated practices specific knowledge of aviation clients and stakeholders.
Proven experience applying aviation planning and design expertise to consistently exceed client expectations. Including application of design techniques and sustainable principles to technical plans and models
Strong problem-solving and decision-making abilities with attention to detail and accuracy
Active participation in professional organizations and involvement in marketing and business development efforts
Demonstrated ability to lead and organize multiple projects simultaneously.
Deep understanding of aviation design practices, including competitor strengths, industry benchmarks, and applicable programming and planning guidelines.
Strong knowledge of consultant markets, teaming strategies, and partnership opportunities.
Proficiency in data analysis tools, CRM platforms, and performance metrics used in design management.
Proficient in Revit and Bluebeam, with high proficiency in standard architecture software

Responsibilities

Lead project development and manage client relationships in coordination with the Project Manager and Project Designer
Oversee all aspects of project implementation, ensuring alignment with schedules and profitability goals
Works with firm leadership, the National Aviation Leader and the National Infrastructure BD Leader in defining, developing, implementing, overseeing and revising design policies and guidelines for the Aviation practice.
Coordinate project teams and communication with clients and stakeholders
Develop and lead conceptual designs or technical strategies for projects
Manage project timelines, budgets, and profitability while prioritizing design elements
Supervise and mentor teams to ensure high-quality deliverables and design excellence
Present technical and design solutions to clients, acting as a subject matter expert in Aviation Design and Production Standards
Implement quality assurance/control processes and adhere to company practice standards
Working with firm leadership in defining, developing, implementing and revising design policies and design guidelines for Aviation Practice
Developing and overseeing client design services
Aviation BIM template development and oversite as well as the Design Families for airports.
Aviation QA/QC Design plan and oversite
Planning/Design/Production/CA/Closeout standards review and implementation
Works with Project Managers and Design team to manage resources in delivering superior design for Aviation Practice
Liaising with departmental design heads to develop and recommend design growth plans in opportunities
Supports contract negotiations and risk management, to maintain knowledge of scope boundaries and client deliverable expectations to ensure proper design management for each project
In collaboration with team, works to manage, and oversee project designs, schedules, and resource allocation and tracks client design satisfaction
Works with firm leadership to develop Business Development Design Deliverables, Marketing Design Deliverables, Pursuit Design Deliverables, and Practice Design Deliverables
Coordinates with Project Managers and operational leadership on practice Financial Tracking and Reporting
Oversees performance management, onboarding, evaluations, and career development for design staff.
Supports firm leadership with identifying, developing, and implementing a BD strategy for DLR Group
Developing and fostering aviation client relationships
Assists w/ tracking airport/airline programs, pursuits, and connections for teaming and winning airport projects
Knowing and understanding other firms’ design strengths and weaknesses for working with the Global Infrastructure Sector leader, the National Aviation Leader, and other senior staff to develop a strategy for aviation pursuit wins