Design Quality Manager

Arup; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 140,000 - 168,000; Full time

Job summary

Arup is seeking a Design Quality Manager in Chicago to lead design quality across projects, ensuring deliverables meet client requirements, standards, and project objectives. You will blend practical design leadership with project quality management to drive technical excellence and risk reduction.

The role requires a strong track record in multidisciplinary design delivery, governance, and continuous improvement, with the ability to guide teams, manage interfaces, and address quality concerns

Qualifications

• Degree in Engineering, Architecture, or related discipline.
• 10+ years of design delivery experience including roles like Design Lead/Manager/Technical Lead.
• 5+ years of quality management experience as Project Quality Manager or Design Quality Manager on engineering or multidisciplinary projects.
• Strong understanding of design management, technical assurance, governance, and quality management systems.
• Experience in multidisciplinary design delivery, design coordination, and design review processes.

Responsibilities

• Promote a culture of quality and technical excellence within project teams.
• Support Design Managers, Discipline Leads, and Project Managers in achieving project quality objectives.
• Ensure design processes are planned, implemented, and monitored throughout project delivery.
• Facilitate collaboration between disciplines to improve design integration and constructability.
• Establish and oversee design review, checking, verification, and approval processes.
• Ensure interdisciplinary reviews (IDRs) and independent reviews are completed per project requirements.
• Monitor resolution of review comments and design issues.
• Verify deliverables comply with contractual, regulatory, and client requirements.
• Develop and implement design quality management plans (DQMPs).
• Monitor compliance with the Quality Management System and project procedures.
• Identify quality risks and implement controls.
• Support audits and management reviews.
• Apply DesignLead experience to guide design teams on delivery practices.
• Assist teams with design planning, coordination, and resource management.

Skills

Quality leadership

Design leadership

Technical assurance

Risk management

Stakeholder management

Project management

PMI PMP (preferred)

CMQ/OE (preferred)

PE/P.Eng. registration (preferred)

Education

Engineering degree

Architecture degree

PMP certification (preferred)

CMQ/OE certification (preferred)

PE/P.Eng. registration (preferred)

Job description

Joining Arup

Arup’s purpose, shared values, and collaborative approach has set us apart for over 80 years, guiding how we shape a better world.

The Opportunity

The Design Quality Manager is responsible for leading and overseeing design quality management across projects, ensuring that all deliverables meet client requirements, applicable standards, and project quality objectives. The role combines practical design leadership experience with project quality management expertise to drive technical excellence, risk reduction, compliance, and continual improvement throughout the design lifecycle.

Responsibilities

Design Quality Leadership

• Promote a culture of quality and technical excellence within project teams.
• Support Design Managers, Discipline Leads, and Project Managers in achieving project quality objectives.
• Ensure design processes are planned, implemented, and monitored throughout project delivery.
• Facilitate collaboration between disciplines to improve design integration and constructability.

Technical Assurance and Review

• Establish and oversee design review, checking, verification, and approval processes.
• Ensure interdisciplinary reviews (IDRs),technical checks, and independent reviews are completed in accordance with project requirements.
• Monitor the resolution of review comments and design issues.
• Verify that design deliverables comply with contractual, regulatory, code, and client requirements.

Quality Management

• Develop and implement project-specific Design Quality Management Plans (DQMPs).
• Monitor compliance with the Quality Management System and project procedures.
• Identify quality risks and opportunities and implement appropriate controls.
• Support internal and external audits and management reviews.

Design Leadership Support

• Apply previous DesignLeadexperience to guide design teams on effective project delivery practices.
• Provide advice on design planning, coordination, resource management, and deliverable development.
• Assist teams in addressing technical challenges, interfaces, and quality concerns.

Continuous Improvement

• Analyze quality performance trends, including review comments, NCRs, audit findings, and lessons learned.
• Identify recurring issues and drive corrective and preventive actions.
• Promote the incorporation of lessons learned into future projects and design processes.

Is this role right for you?

• Degree in Engineering, Architecture, or related discipline.
• 10 + years of design delivery experience, including experience as a Design Lead, Design Manager, Technical Lead, or similar role.
• 5 + years of quality management experience as a Project Quality Manager, Design Quality Manager, or equivalent on engineering, infrastructure, or multidisciplinary design projects.
• Strong understanding of design management, technical assurance, design governance, and quality management systems.
• Demonstrated experience in multidisciplinary design delivery, design coordination, and design review processes.
• Proven ability to integrate design leadership and quality management principles to improve project outcomes, reduce risk, and achieve client requirements.
• Excellent organizational, communication, stakeholder management, and problem-solving skills.
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification or equivalent project management qualification preferred.
• ASQ Certified Manager of Quality/Organizational Excellence (CMQ/OE) certification (or willing to attain within the first year of employment) preferred.
• ISO 9001 Quality Management lead auditor training or certification preferred.
• Professional Engineer (PE/P.Eng.) registration or equivalent professional designation preferred.
• Formal training or certification in design management, risk management, or technical assurance preferred.

Key Competencies

• Design leadership and technical excellence.
• Quality and risk management.
• Design assurance and governance.
• Interdisciplinary coordination.
• Problem-solving and decision-making.
• Stakeholder engagement and communication.
• Audit and compliance management.
• Continuous improvement and lessons learned management.At Arup, you belong to an extraordinary collective – in which we encourage individuality to thrive. Our strength comes from how we respect, share and connect our diverse experiences, perspectives and ideas.

You will have the opportunity to do socially useful work that has meaning – to Arup, to your career, to our members and to the clients and communities we serve.

What We Offer You

At Arup, we care about each member’s success, so we can grow together. Guided by our values, we provide an attractive total reward package that recognizes the contribution of each of our members to our shared success. As well as competitive, fair and equitable pay, we offer a career in which all of our members can belong, grow and thrive – through benefits that support health and wellbeing, a wide range of learning opportunities and many possibilities to have an impact through the work they do. We are owned in trust on behalf of our members, giving us the freedom, with personal responsibility, to set our own direction and choose work that aligns with our purpose and adds to Arup’s legacy. Our members collaborate on ambitious projects to deliver remarkable outcomes for our clients and communities. Profit Share is a key part of our reward, enabling members to share in the results of our collective efforts. Benefits at Work - At Arup, we have a comprehensive and valuable benefits program that works for our employees and their families while keeping costs low. These benefits provide health and welfare security for you as well as paid time off for rest and renewal. As a member of Arup, everyone shares in our success through a global profit share scheme (payments are dependent on the firm’s financial performance). Our Global Profit Share Plan (paid bi-annually) provides an opportunity for you to share in the success of the Firm. As a valued employee of Arup, you can also choose to participate in our 401(k) plan with up to 10% company match to help you save for your future Flexible Working - We believe that flexible arrangements create a more inclusive way of working that supports our diversity and the wellbeing of our people. Options for alternative schedules and the ability to work outside of the office for a portion of your workweek are available Hiring Range - The good faith base salary hiring range for this job if performed in Seattle is $140,000 to $168,000 per year. This range is commensurate with experience, educational background, and skill level. Benefits are not included in the base salary. Please note hiring ranges for candidates performing work outside of Seattle will differ.

Different People, Shared Values

Arup is an equal opportunity employer that actively promotes and nurtures a diverse and inclusive workforce. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, regardless of age (within legal limits), gender identity or expression, marital status, disability, neurotype or mental health, race or ethnicity, faith or belief, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, and whether you’re pregnant or on family leave. We are an open environment that embraces diverse experiences, perspectives, and ideas – this drives our excellence. Guided by our values and alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, we create and contribute to equitable spaces and systems, while cultivating a sense of belonging for all. Our internal employee networks support our inclusive culture: from race, ethnicity and cross-cultural working to gender equity and LGBTQ+ and disability inclusion – we aim to create a space for you to express yourself and make a positive difference. Discover more about life at Arup at www.arup.com/careers/your-life-at-arup.

Our Application Process

We will be reviewing our candidates for this position on a rolling basis. Once you have applied you will be evaluated and potentially moved on to the next round, at which point a member of the talent resourcing team will reach out to you directly. Arup is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, spouse of a protected veteran, or disability. Stay safe online. Recruitment fraud is on the rise, and Arup’s name, logo, and branding have been used in fraudulent job advertisements. Arup will never ask for bank information as part of our recruitment process.

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