Design Manager

OpenKrill; United States; Remote; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k) plan

Paid time off

Relocation assistance

Job summary

Overwatch is seeking a Design Manager to oversee multidisciplinary design execution for large-scale data center construction and development projects. You will coordinate external architects and engineers, manage design schedules and budgets, and ensure alignment with project requirements and quality standards.

You will work closely with development, construction, and engineering teams to drive design coordination from planning through project delivery, leading changes and risk management while

Qualifications

• 10+ years in architectural/engineering design management for data centers.
• 3+ years on large-scale Data Center projects.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary design teams with external consultants.
• Knowledge of design scope, cost, schedule, and change management.

Responsibilities

• Lead multidisciplinary design execution across MEP, structural, civil, architectural, telecom, and security.
• Manage external architects, engineers, and design consultants to ensure timely delivery.
• Oversee design schedules, budgets, milestones, risks, and coordination challenges.
• Review design documents for compliance with project requirements and standards.
• Coordinate design activities with development, construction, and client teams.
• Lead design changes, RFIs, and evaluate impacts to cost, schedule, quality.
• Lead design coordination meetings and quality assurance with project leadership.

Skills

Design leadership

Data center design

Project coordination

Consultant management

Budget management

Schedule management

MEP knowledge

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Job description

About Overwatch Mission Critical

Overwatch is a service-disabled Veteran-owned small business (SDVOB) certified through the National Veterans Business Development Council (NVBDC), offering construction professional services, talent acquisition, and general contractor services for the mission-critical infrastructure industry. Our mission is the construction and management of state-of-the-art data centers with the precision and reliability this industry demands. From high-end engineers to seasoned professionals, we deploy the people you need to get your data center off the ground. At Overwatch, it's more than a job. It's a purpose.

Role Description

The Design Manager is responsible for overseeing multidisciplinary design execution for large-scale data center construction and development projects. This role manages external architecture and engineering consultants, coordinates design deliverables, and ensures alignment with project requirements, schedules, budgets, and quality standards. Working closely with development, construction, and engineering teams, the Design Manager drives design coordination from early planning through construction administration and project delivery.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Lead multidisciplinary design execution across mechanical, electrical, plumbing, structural, civil, architectural, telecom, and security disciplines.
• Manage external architects, engineers, and design consultants to ensure timely delivery of coordinated, accurate, and constructible design packages.
• Oversee design schedules, budgets, milestones, and deliverables while identifying risks and resolving coordination challenges.
• Review design documents, drawings, specifications, and submissions to ensure compliance with project requirements, engineering standards, and quality expectations.
• Coordinate design activities with development, construction, engineering, and client teams to ensure alignment between design intent and construction execution.
• Manage design changes, scope modifications, RFIs, and technical issues while evaluating impacts to project cost, schedule, and quality.
• Lead design coordination meetings, milestone reviews, and quality assurance processes while providing regular updates to project leadership and stakeholders.

Key Qualifications & Competencies

• Bachelor's degree in Architecture, Engineering, or related field, or additional significant relevant working experience in lieu of degree.
• 10+ years of experience in architectural or engineering design management, with a strong background leading multidisciplinary design efforts for data centers, mission-critical facilities, or other technically complex projects.
• 3+ years of experience working on large scale Data Center projects.
• Demonstrated experience leading multidisciplinary design teams and managing external consultants.
• Experience managing design scope, cost, schedule, and change management processes throughout the project lifecycle.
• Advanced knowledge of the data center development, design, and construction principles and practices.
• Advanced knowledge of building systems and infrastructure, including MEP, structural, civil, and architectural disciplines.

Driver’s License Requirement

For roles that require on-site presence or travel between work locations as an essential function of the position, candidates must possess and maintain a valid driver’s license appropriate for the role and be eligible to operate a motor vehicle in accordance with applicable laws.

Communication Skills

Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively in a professional work environment, including preparing written reports and documentation, conveying information clearly to team members, clients, and stakeholders, and responding appropriately to verbal and written communications related to job duties.

Physical Requirements and Work Environment

This position operates primarily in an active data center construction environment, encompassing both indoor and outdoor work settings. The role requires the physical ability to perform essential job functions safely and effectively in a dynamic environment that includes ongoing construction activity and evolving site conditions. The work environment includes areas and temporary structures owned, leased, or controlled by third parties over which Overwatch may have limited or no control. Because the project remains under construction, certain areas of the site — including access routes, staging zones, and temporary structures — may not yet be fully ADA-compliant until construction is complete or those third-party areas are finalized.

Physical Requirements

• Must be able to walk, stand, stoop, twist, bend, and climb stairs or ladders for extended periods while navigating uneven, unpaved, or obstructed terrain.
• Must be able to lift, carry, push, or pull up to 50 pounds on an occasional basis.
• Must be able to drive between job sites and access all areas of an active construction zone, including raised platforms, scaffolding, and confined spaces.
• Must be able to tolerate exposure to outdoor weather conditions, dust, and construction-related noise, vibrations, and odors.
• Must be able to communicate effectively with contractors, engineers, and site personnel, and maintain situational awareness in high-activity environments.
• Personal protective equipment (PPE), including hard hats, safety vests, hearing protection, and steel-toe boots, is required.
• Must have sufficient visual acuity to read drawings, specifications, and safety signage, and to observe site activity.

Work Environment

Work is performed primarily in and around active construction areas, which may include unfinished buildings, temporary field offices, staging areas, and partially completed infrastructure. These locations may contain uneven surfaces, limited accessibility, and other conditions typical of construction projects prior to final completion. Overwatch does not control and cannot modify accessibility conditions within areas, facilities, or temporary structures owned or managed by third parties.

Reasonable Accommodation

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position, provided such accommodations do not create safety hazards, impede essential mobility within active work zones, or require modification of facilities not owned or controlled by Overwatch.

Benefits

We offer a competitive salary and benefits package,

• health insurance
• dental insurance
• vision insurance
• 401(k) plan
• paid time off
• Relocation assistance is available to support candidates transitioning to the location.

OVERWATCH is committed to creating a diverse work environment and is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer.

OVERWATCH considers candidates regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status.