Lead Computational Designer

Company Overview

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Job Description

• Leads the development and governance of firmwide design automation frameworks.
• Architects’ scalable automation solutions using cross-platform scripting.
• Guides the implementation of proof-of-concept projects, authors internal documentation, and aligns research direction with business goals and innovation roadmaps.
• Provides technical leadership on tool development and evaluates emerging technologies for integration.
• Develops and implements algorithmic workflows across multiple projects, ensuring alignment with firmwide digital strategies.
• Mentors senior and intermediate designers in computational thinking, performance-based logic, and custom scripting.
• Facilitates reuse and scalability of algorithmic systems across disciplines and tools, while standardizing and documenting design logic libraries.
• Provides mentorship and technical guidance to junior computational designers on advanced digital workflows, tools, and problem-solving strategies.
• Offers support during project execution, fosters skill development, and promotes knowledge sharing across the team.
• Drives strategic research initiatives focused on advancing the firm's digital design capabilities.
• Identifies, and evaluates emerging computational technologies such as generative design, and advanced simulation workflows.
• Mentors junior staff in research methodology and integration into project work.
• Oversees the creation and continuous improvement of comprehensive documentation for design automation tools, standards, best practices, and workflows, ensuring consistency and clarity across the entire organization.
• Ensures all resources are structured to provide maximum value to teams at all levels.
• Lead efforts to maintain a central repository of documentation that is regularly updated with industry trends, new tools, and evolving best practices.
• Ensures that the documentation serves as a foundational resource for driving automation technology adoption, process improvement, and long-term business success.
• Leads stakeholder engagement efforts to align computational design initiatives with broader organizational and project objectives.
• Presents computational design workflows, tools and innovations to both internal and external audiences to share the knowledge on computational design.
• Promotes custom solutions to internal designers to encourage utilizing the solutions.
• Performs other duties as required.

Skills & Abilities

Demonstrates strong communication, and presentation skills with the ability to articulate complex computational design concepts, tools, and methodologies to both technical and non-technical audiences. Possesses high level of attention to detail. Leverages expert-level analytical thinking to proactively identify, assess, and solve sophisticated digital design challenges across multidisciplinary teams. Excellent understanding of business metrics and the ability to align company goals and objectives with computational design strategies and initiatives. Demonstrates strong awareness and knowledge of data governance principles, digital design integrity and data management protocols. Demonstrates leadership and influence where no direct line of control exists. Inspires forward-thinking and fosters creative problem-solving across complex design challenges.

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree. 8 years of related experience. Equivalent additional directly related experience will be considered in lieu of a college degree. Domestic and/or international travel may be required. The frequency of travel is contingent on specific duties, responsibilities, and the essential functions of the position, which may vary depending on workload and project demands.

Amount of Travel Required

No Travel is required
Background Check and Drug Testing Information

CDM Smith Inc. and its divisions and subsidiaries (hereafter collectively referred to as “CDM Smith”) reserves the right to require background checks including criminal, employment, education, licensure, etc. as well as credit and motor vehicle when applicable for certain positions. In addition, CDM Smith may conduct drug testing for designated positions. Background checks are conducted after an offer of employment has been made in the United States. The timing of when background checks will be conducted on candidates for positions outside the United States will vary based on country statutory law but in no case, will the background check precede an interview. CDM Smith will conduct interviews of qualified individuals prior to requesting a criminal background check, and no job application submitted prior to such interview shall inquire into an applicant's criminal history. If this position is subject to a background check for any convictions related to its responsibilities and requirements, employment will be contingent upon successful completion of a background investigation including criminal history. Criminal history will not automatically disqualify a candidate. In addition, during employment individuals may be required by CDM Smith or a CDM Smith client to successfully complete additional background checks, including motor vehicle record as well as drug testing.
Additional Pay Range Information

CDM Smith is committed to fair and equitable compensation practices. This pay range is a good faith estimate representative of all experience levels for the geographic location assigned to the position. In addition to geographic location, a candidate’s salary is determined by several other factors including, but not limited to, the role, function and associated responsibilities, relevant work experience, skills, required certifications, and education/training.
Additional Compensation

All bonuses at CDM Smith are discretionary and may or may not apply to this position.
Visa Sponsorship Available

No - We are not open to sponsoring for this position
Agency Disclaimer

All vendors must have a signed CDM Smith Placement Agreement from the CDM Smith Talent Acquisition Manager to receive payment for your placement. Verbal or written commitments from any other member of the CDM Smith Inc. and its divisions and subsidiaries staff will not be considered binding terms. All unsolicited resumes sent to CDM Smith Inc. and its divisions and subsidiaries and any resume submitted to any employee outside of CDM Smith Talent Acquisition Team will be considered property of CDM Smith. CDM Smith Inc. and its divisions and subsidiaries will not be held liable to pay a placement fee.