DESIGN TEAM LEAD

SharpMinds Consulting Engineers; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 350,000 - 700,000; Full time

Job summary

SharpMinds Consulting Engineers in Abu Dhabi seeks a Design Team Lead to guide and manage the design team across architectural and engineering projects. Reporting to the Design and Projects Director, the role ensures design quality, workflow efficiency, and successful delivery.

The candidate combines strong communication, problem solving, and leadership with a solid background in design and project coordination.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Architecture or related field; Master’s degree is a plus.
• 15+ years of relevant experience with 5+ years in leadership.
• Strong portfolio of completed projects across sectors.
• Proficiency in design and visualization tools (Revit, AutoCAD, SketchUp, Adobe Creative Suite).
• Excellent leadership, organizational and interpersonal skills.
• Strong knowledge of international codes, local regulations and sustainable design.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and teams.
• Fluent English; Arabic a plus.

Responsibilities

• Hands-on planning, design, and multidisciplinary coordination.
• Lead, mentor, and support the design team to meet objectives, timelines, and quality standards.
• Oversee development of architectural and engineering designs from concept through detailed design.
• Coordinate with internal stakeholders and external consultants to ensure cohesive design solutions.
• Design, plan, review and approve design outputs to ensure quality and compliance with client requirements.
• Manage team schedules, resource allocation, and task assignments.
• Support the Design Director in implementing design strategies and innovation.
• Participate in design reviews, client presentations, and workshops.
• Promote continuous development and knowledge sharing within the design team.
• Identify process improvements and implement best practices in design management.

Skills

Leadership

Team management

Architectural design

Multidisciplinary coordination

Revit

AutoCAD

SketchUp

Adobe Creative Suite

Project coordination

English communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Architecture

Master’s degree (plus)

Tools

Revit

AutoCAD

SketchUp

Adobe Creative Suite

Job description

Job Summary

The Design Team Lead will play a vital role in guiding and managing the design team across various architectural and engineering projects. Reporting to the Design and Projects Director, this role is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the design team, ensuring design quality, workflow efficiency, and successful project delivery. The ideal candidate is a strong communicator, creative problem solver, and experienced leader with a solid background in design and project coordination.

Job Summary

The Design Team Lead will play a vital role in guiding and managing the design team across various architectural and engineering projects. Reporting to the Design and Projects Director, this role is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the design team, ensuring design quality, workflow efficiency, and successful project delivery. The ideal candidate is a strong communicator, creative problem solver, and experienced leader with a solid background in design and project coordination.

Key Responsibilities

• Hands-on experience in planning, design, and multidisciplinary coordination
• Lead, mentor, and support the design team to ensure alignment with project objectives, timelines, and quality standards
• Oversee the development of architectural and engineering designs from concept through to detailed design stages.
• Coordinate with internal stakeholders (engineering, BIM, business development) and external consultants to ensure cohesive and integrated design solutions.
• Design, plan, review and approve design outputs to ensure quality, consistency, and compliance with client requirements and relevant standards.
• Manage team schedules, resource allocation, and task assignments to maintain high productivity and morale.
• Support the Design Director in implementing design strategies, innovation, and design excellence initiatives.
• Participate in design review meetings, client presentations, and workshops as needed.
• Promote continuous development and knowledge sharing within the design team.
• Identify process improvements and implement best practices in design management.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Architecture or related field (Master’s degree is a plus).
• At least 15 years of relevant experience, with at least 5 years in a leadership or supervisory role.
• Strong portfolio of successfully delivered projects across various sectors.
• Proficient in design and visualization tools (Revit, AutoCAD, SketchUp, Adobe Creative Suite, etc.).
• Excellent leadership, organizational, and interpersonal skills.
• Strong knowledge of international building codes, local regulations, and sustainable design practices.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and teams simultaneously.
• Strong communication and presentation skills in English (Arabic is a plus).
• Experience in leading multidisciplinary teams.
• Background in both conceptual design and technical detailing.
• Knowledge of BIM coordination is an advantage.