Design Assist Lead

Island Facades; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) matching

AD&D insurance

Dental insurance

Family leave

Flexible schedule

Flexible spending account

Health insurance

Health savings account

Life insurance

Paid time off

Professional development assistance

Vision insurance

Job summary

Island Exterior Fabricators in New York seeks a Design Assist Lead to bridge preconstruction, design and fabrication, guiding early-stage coordination with architects, engineers and clients to ensure constructability and alignment with project goals.

You will translate architectural intent into actionable solutions, drive efficient system designs, and lead design-assist deliverables and timelines, collaborating across estimating, engineering, fabrication and installation teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Architecture, Engineering, or related discipline.
• 5+ years of experience designing and documenting facades, particularly unitized curtain wall systems.
• Directly managing clients and design teams in a Design Assist role, or similar.
• Strong knowledge of building envelope systems, applicable codes, and methods of construction.

Responsibilities

• Partner with internal teams and architects during preconstruction to support façade and system design.
• Review concepts to identify risks, constructability challenges, and opportunities for value engineering.
• Collaborate with estimating, engineering, fabrication, and installation teams to inform system selection and detailing.
• Represent the company in design meetings and document key decisions and next steps.
• Help manage design-assist deliverables and timelines.
• Share best practices to support team quality.

Skills

Articulate and clear communicator

Pragmatic problem solver

Reading architectural/structural docs

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Architecture/Engineering

Job description

For more than a decade, Island Exterior Fabricators (IEF) has operated as a privately owned practice specializing in the delivery of bespoke, high-performing prefabricated facade systems. Our 50-acre manufacturing campus is headquartered in Calverton, New York, and supported by design and engineering offices in Manhattan, Boston, and Hartford.

Our organization is fully self-sustained, supported by state-of-the-art equipment and facilities that enable us to deliver a high-quality product. Our production capabilities, installation network, and bonding capacity allow Island to complete large-scale, complex projects in a timely, efficient manner.

Job Summary

As a Design Assist Lead at IEF, you will be accountable for acting as the technical bridge between preconstruction, design, and fabrication. This role is responsible for leading early-stage design coordination with architects, engineers, and clients, ensuring constructability, feasibility, and alignment with project goals. You will provide strategic input to drive efficient system designs, while also translating architectural intent into solutions that can be engineered and built.

Accountabilities

• Partner with internal teams, architects, and consultants during preconstruction and early project phases to support façade and system design through the design-assist process
• Review architectural concepts and design packages to identify technical risks, constructability challenges, and opportunities for value engineering
• Collaborate with estimating, engineering, fabrication, and installation teams to inform system selection, detailing strategies, and bid direction
• Support the development of coordinated design models and 2D documentation to ensure clarity and alignment across disciplines
• Represent the company in design meetings by communicating technical feedback and documenting key decisions and next steps
• Help manage design-assist deliverables and timelines in alignment with overall project schedules
• Share best practices, lessons learned, and technical guidance to support team consistency and quality

Skills

• Articulate and clear communicator
• Pragmatic problem solver and adept strategist
• Proficient in reading architectural and structural documents, including project specifications.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Architecture, Engineering, or related discipline
• 5+ years of experience designing and documenting facades, particularly unitized curtain wall systems.
• Directly managing clients and design teams in a Design Assist role, or similar.
• Strong knowledge of building envelope systems, applicable codes, and methods of construction.

Salary Range

$110,000-$140,000

Location

New York, NY. Also open to our office in Boston, MA or Hartford, CT

Schedule

Monday – Friday 8:00am – 5:00pm - Hybrid

Benefits

• 401(k) matching
• AD&D insurance
• Dental insurance
• Family leave
• Flexible schedule
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Vision insurance.

ADA Requirements

The position requires the ability to sit or stand for extended periods while using a computer, along with sufficient manual dexterity to operate computers, mobile devices, and related IT equipment. The role may occasionally involve lifting or moving equipment weighing up to 25 pounds, as well as bending, crawling, or climbing—such as accessing under desks or server racks. Candidates must possess the ability to concentrate, troubleshoot, and solve problems in a fast-paced environment, demonstrating strong verbal and written communication skills. The role also demands effective task prioritization, management of multiple simultaneous support requests, and a capacity to quickly learn and adapt to evolving technologies and tools.

Island Exterior Fabricators is an equal-opportunity employer. We offer a welcoming and inclusive environment. All applicants are considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, or disability status.

Notice to Staffing Agencies

Island Exterior Fabricators and its subsidiaries will not accept unsolicited resumes from any source other than directly from a candidate. Any unsolicited resumes sent to Island, including unsolicited resumes sent to an Island mailing address, fax machine or email address, directly to Island employees, or to Island's resume database will be considered Island property. Island will NOT pay a fee for any placement resulting from the receipt of an unsolicited resume.