Construction Innovation Design Manager (DfMA)

Laing O'Rourke; Dartford; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Laing O'Rourke is seeking a Construction Innovation Design Manager (DfMA) to lead the development of industrialised construction products and configurable building systems in the Technology & Innovation Group, Dartford.

The role involves coordinating multidisciplinary teams across engineering, digital, manufacturing and project delivery to transform traditional packages into scalable product platforms, with a strong emphasis on digital workflows and manufacturing integration.

Qualifications

• Experience in design management, product development, or technical delivery within construction or manufacturing.
• Strong understanding of DfMA and industrialised construction.
• Experience coordinating multidisciplinary teams across engineering, digital, and manufacturing functions.
• Working knowledge of BIM and digital design workflows.
• Understanding of fabrication, manufacturing, or assembly processes.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development of standardised products, assemblies, and configurable building systems.
• Define technical requirements and guide designs from concept through to delivery.
• Champion DfMA principles and embed them into workflows.
• Support shift toward productised, platform-based delivery.
• Coordinate across engineering, digital, and manufacturing teams.
• Manage design programmes, deliverables, and key technical reviews.
• Oversee system interfaces to ensure seamless integration.
• Support prototyping, testing, and real-world implementation on projects.
• Contribute to innovation programmes and new delivery models.

Skills

Design management

DfMA

Team coordination

BIM workflows

Communication

Education

Architecture or Engineering degree

Tools

BIM (Revit)

CAD

Automation tools

Job description

Construction Innovation Design Manager (DfMA)

Location: Technology & Innovation Group, Dartford

The Technology & Innovation (T&I) Group sits at the centre of the Laing O'Rourke group of companies and is a key driver of the transformation of construction. T&I is a highly ambitious, multidisciplinary team bringing together engineering, manufacturing, digital, product development and systems thinking to create the next generation of construction products and delivery models.

The Opportunity

We are seeking a Product Development Design Manager (DfMA) to join the Technology & Innovation team.

This role focuses on leading the development of industrialised construction products, configurable building systems and digitally enabled delivery workflows across a range of DfMA initiatives. You will coordinate multidisciplinary teams spanning engineering, digital, manufacturing and project delivery to transform traditional construction packages into scalable product platforms.

The role combines product development, design management, digital workflows and manufacturing integration, supporting innovation projects from concept development through prototyping, manufacturing implementation and live project deployment.

In this role, you will:

• Lead development of industrialised construction products and systems.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary product development and technical delivery teams.
• Support BIM-to-manufacturing and design automation workflows.
• Help transform project-based construction into scalable platform-based delivery.

Key Responsibilities

Are you an innovator who wants to help shape how buildings are designed and delivered? This role focuses on driving DfMA-led product development—moving from one-off design to scalable, repeatable systems.

Product Development & DfMA

• Lead the development of standardised products, assemblies, and configurable building systems
• Define technical requirements and guide designs from concept through to delivery
• Champion DfMA principles and help embed them into everyday workflows
• Support the shift toward productised, platform-based delivery

Design Management & Coordination

Do you thrive in complex, multidisciplinary environments?

• Coordinate across engineering, digital, and manufacturing teams
• Manage design programmes, deliverables, and key technical reviews
• Oversee system interfaces to ensure seamless integration
• Support prototyping, testing, and real-world implementation on projects

Digital & BIM Workflows

Excited by digital innovation and automation?

• Support BIM-enabled workflows and digital delivery approaches
• Contribute to BIM-to-CAM integration and design automation
• Help develop connected workflows from design through to manufacture and installation

Manufacturing Integration

Can you bridge the gap between design and production?

• Collaborate with manufacturing teams to optimise designs for fabrication and assembly
• Support production strategies, logistics planning, and assembly methodologies
• Engage with suppliers and specialist partners to deliver practical, buildable solutions

Innovation & Continuous Improvement

• Contribute to innovation programmes and new delivery models
• Identify opportunities for standardisation, automation, and smarter ways of working
• Promote knowledge sharing and systems thinking across teams

What We're Looking For

Do you have the experience and mindset to drive change?

Essential:

• Background in design management, product development, or technical delivery (construction or manufacturing)
• Strong understanding of DfMA and industrialised construction
• Experience coordinating multidisciplinary teams
• Working knowledge of BIM and digital design workflows
• Understanding of fabrication, manufacturing, or assembly processes
• Strong communication, organisation, and problem‑solving skills
• Degree in Architecture, Engineering, Product Design, or similar

Desirable:

• Experience with modular, off-site, MEP, façade, or precast systems
• Exposure to BIM-to-CAM or digital manufacturing
• Knowledge of computational or parametric design
• Experience with product platforms, configurators, or automation tools
• Collaboration with manufacturing or production engineering teams

About Laing O'Rourke

Laing O'Rourke is an international engineering and construction business known for pushing boundaries in digital engineering, modern methods of construction and sustainable delivery. With more than 150 years of heritage, we are committed to creating environments in which diverse teams can excel and thrive.

Accessibility & Inclusion

We are proud to be part of the Disability Confident scheme. If you meet the essential criteria and would like to be considered through our Offer an Interview scheme, please let us know. We're also happy to provide reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process.

If you require an alternative format of this advert or need support during the application, please contact: [e-mail]

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