Construction Design Manager

Shield AI is a venture-backed defense-tech company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Its products include Hivemind autonomy software, V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft, and Aechelon simulation and synthetic reality technologies. With offices and facilities across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific, Shield AI’s technology actively supports operations worldwide. For more information, visit www.shield.ai. Follow Shield AI on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and YouTube. 

Job Description:

This role will serve as the owner's representative responsible for leading facility planning, programming, design development, and project delivery for manufacturing, engineering, laboratory, office, and secure facility projects.

This position is heavily focused on design management and will be responsible for directing external architecture and engineering (A&E) firms throughout the entire project lifecycle. The successful candidate will lead stakeholder engagement, requirements development, programming, consultant management, design reviews, constructability reviews, and technical decision-making while ensuring designs align with operational objectives, budget constraints, schedule requirements, security requirements, and long-term facility strategies.

The ideal candidate thrives in environments where requirements are evolving and can effectively guide design teams through ambiguity to produce practical, constructible, and scalable solutions. Construction oversight is expected, but the primary focus of this role is ensuring design quality, design coordination, and successful project definition before construction begins.

The initial assignment will be the planning, design, and delivery of a prototype laboratory facility supporting advanced engineering and development activities.

What you'll do:

• Serve as the owner's lead representative for facility planning, programming, and design execution.

• Manage and direct architecture, engineering, specialty consultant, and design-build teams.

• Develop project requirements in partnership with engineering, manufacturing, operations, security, and executive stakeholders.

• Convert high-level business and operational objectives into actionable facility and infrastructure requirements.

• Lead programming efforts, space planning exercises, feasibility studies, and conceptual design development.

• Oversee design development from concept through construction documents.

• Establish and manage design schedules, consultant deliverables, review cycles, and design budgets.

• Lead design review meetings and drive resolution of technical issues, scope gaps, and coordination conflicts.

• Review architectural, civil, structural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire protection, and specialty system designs.

• Evaluate designs for constructability, maintainability, operational efficiency, scalability, safety, and lifecycle performance.

• Ensure designs support manufacturing operations, engineering workflows, laboratory functions, airfield activities, and secure facility requirements.

• Coordinate internal stakeholder reviews and ensure project requirements are properly incorporated into design documents.

• Support permitting, entitlement, and regulatory approval efforts.

• Provide technical leadership during procurement, contractor selection, and project execution activities.

• Manage design-related RFIs, submittals, field modifications, and consultant support during construction.

• Utilize AutoCAD to review, coordinate, and comment on design documentation.

• Serve as the primary interface between internal stakeholders and external design consultants.

Required qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Architecture, Construction Management, or related technical field.

• Minimum 10 years of experience in design management, owner's representation, architecture, engineering, facilities development, or capital project delivery.

• Demonstrated experience managing architecture and engineering firms on complex facility projects.

• Strong understanding of facility planning, programming, design development, and construction documentation.

• Experience leading multidisciplinary design teams through all phases of project development.

• Ability to review and interpret architectural and engineering drawings, specifications, calculations, and technical documentation.

• Working knowledge of building systems, construction methods, codes, and industry best practices.

• Proficiency with AutoCAD.

• Experience supporting projects in active operational environments, including aviation or airfield facilities.

• Strong stakeholder management, communication, and decision-making skills.

• Ability to work effectively in situations with incomplete or evolving requirements.

• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. SECRET Security Clearance.

• Ability to lift 50 pounds or greater and perform site visits in active construction environments.

Preferred qualifications:

• Active U.S. SECRET Security Clearance or higher.

• Experience supporting advanced manufacturing, aerospace, defense, or technology environments.

• Experience planning and designing laboratories, prototype development spaces, engineering facilities, or manufacturing operations.

• Familiarity with ICD 705 requirements and secure facility design.

• Experience with SCIF planning, design, and accreditation processes.

• Experience delivering projects using design-build, progressive design-build, or fast-track delivery methods.

• Professional registration or certification such as PE, RA, PMP, CCM, LEED, or similar.

• Experience managing mission-critical or highly technical facilities.

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Full-time regular employee offer package:

Pay within range listed + Bonus + Benefits + Equity

Temporary employee offer package:

Pay within range listed above + temporary benefits package (applicable after 60 days of employment)

Salary compensation is influenced by a wide array of factors including but not limited to skill set, level of experience, licenses and certifications, and specific work location. All offers are contingent on a cleared background and possible reference check. Military fellows and part-time employees are not eligible for benefits. Please speak to your talent acquisition representative for more information.

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Shield AI is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know.