Facilities Design Engineer (lab/pharma)

Kelly Services; Richmond (VA); On-site; USD 125,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k) retirement plan

Job summary

Kelly Engineering is seeking a Design Leader to direct Lab/Admin, Welcome Center, and Security design efforts for a greenfield bioconjugation and biologics campus in Goochland County, VA. You will lead engineering standards, regulatory alignment, and coordination with the Design-Build contractor to maintain design intent and schedules.

The role requires 6–12 years in GMP-regulated capital projects, strong communication, and proven leadership of multidisciplinary teams through concept to detail

Qualifications

• Requires a bachelor’s degree in Engineering or Architecture (mechanical/electrical/architectural preferred).
• 6–12 years of engineering/design delivery experience in GMP-regulated capital projects.
• Proven experience delivering capital projects via Design-Build delivery.
• Strong communication and leadership across multidisciplinary teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead design accountability for Lab/Admin, Welcome Center, and Security program elements.
• Coordinate with Design-Build contractor to ensure design intent, cost, schedule.
• Own design delivery through concept to detail design.
• Represent node in program-wide status reporting and cross-node coordination.

Skills

Communication

Leadership

Project management

Design review

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or Architecture

Job description

About the Opportunity

Join an exciting program supporting the design and delivery of a state-of-the-art, greenfield bioconjugation and biologics campus in Goochland County, Virginia. This role will lead the design efforts for the Lab/Admin building, Welcome Center, and Security scope, ensuring new and renovated capital assets meet world-class standards for pharmaceutical, biotech, and GMP-regulated environments.

Key Responsibilities

Design Leadership - Lab/Admin Node

• Serve as the single point of design accountability for the Lab/Admin, Welcome Center, and Security program elements.
• Lead identification and application of Engineering Design Standards, Specifications, and regulatory requirements.
• Coordinate directly with the Design-Build contractor to maintain design intent and ensure compliance with commitments on cost and schedule.
• Own overall design delivery for the node through all phases (concept, basic, and detailed design).
• Lead reviews, facilitate design sessions, and drive consensus among diverse user groups.
• Guide requirements development for laboratories, administrative spaces, security, and public areas.
• Support design schedule management, invoice validation, and value engineering.
• Integrate lab-specific systems (utilities, casework, equipment, gases) with MEP and process disciplines.
• Act as point-of-contact for problem resolution between contractors, engineering teams, and end users.
• Champion verification, traceability, and best-practice replication from prior capital projects.
• Represent the Lab/Admin node in program-wide status reporting and cross-node coordination forums.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or Architecture (mechanical, electrical, architectural, or related discipline preferred).
• 6-12 years of engineering/design delivery experience in pharmaceutical, biotech, or comparable GMP-regulated capital projects.
• Demonstrated proficiency in laboratory and/or administrative/office building design.
• Proven track record delivering capital projects through Design-Build delivery methods.
• Strong, clear communicator comfortable leading multidisciplinary teams and facilitating complex decisions.
• Experienced in project management, design review, negotiation, and issue resolution.
• Working knowledge of laboratory functional design and general office space planning.
• Able to influence without direct authority and build credibility among internal and external stakeholders.
• Familiarity with change control processes and design/verification estimating concepts.

Essential Attributes

• Deep understanding of US capital project delivery processes and Design-Build contractor operations.
• Demonstrated leadership with excellent problem-solving skills and innovative thinking.
• Sound judgment, ability to anticipate scope changes, facilitate resolution, and drive safely for quality, speed, and value.
• Experience with project-specific governance, verification, and risk assessments.

Engagement Model

• Full-time, strictly onsite presence required in Richmond, VA (immediate start).
• Functional reporting to the Program Design Lead; daily coordination with node project management and external Program EPCM team.
• Position term aligned to the Lab/Admin design-to-turnover schedule; possible extension based on project needs.
• Minimal travel expected, with occasional visits to contractor offices as required.

As part of our promise to talent, Kelly supports those who work with us through a variety of benefits, perks, and work-related resources. Please note: The following benefits reflect Kelly's general offerings. Eligibility may vary by assignment, location, and job type. Kelly offers eligible employees voluntary benefit plans including medical, dental, vision, telemedicine, term life, whole life, accident insurance, critical illness, a legal plan, and short-term disability. As a Kelly employee, you will have access to a retirement savings plan, service bonus and holiday pay plans (earn up to eight paid holidays per benefit year), and a transit spending account. In addition, employees are entitled to earn paid sick leave under the applicable state or local plan.

Why Kelly Engineering

Your engineering skills are in demand, but how do you find the right fit? Easy. At Kelly Engineering, our team creates expert talent solutions to solve the world’s most critical challenges. We connect you with leading organizations where you can collaborate on innovative projects, work with cutting-edge technologies and accelerate your growth. Whether you prefer the variety and flexibility of short-term projects or are looking for a long-term opportunity, we’re here to guide you to the next step in your engineering career.

About Kelly

Work changes everything. And at Kelly, we’re obsessed with where it can take you. To us, it’s about more than simply accepting your next job opportunity. It’s the fuel that powers every next step of your life. It’s the ripple effect that changes and improves everything for your family, your community, and the world. Which is why, here at Kelly, we are dedicated to providing you with limitless opportunities to enrich your life—just ask the 300,000 people we employ each year.

Kelly is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all qualified employees and applicants regardless of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, age, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and we take affirmative action to recruit, employ, and advance qualified individuals with disabilities and protected veterans in the workforce. Requests for accommodation related to our application process can be directed to the Kelly Human Resource Knowledge Center. Kelly complies with the requirements of California's state and local Fair Chance laws. A conviction does not automatically bar individuals from employment. Kelly participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.

Kelly may use AI-powered tools during the recruitment and hiring process. For full details, including how Kelly uses AI, your rights, and how to request a reasonable accommodation, visit the Recruitment Artificial Intelligence Notice (https://www.kellyservices.com/hubfs/myKelly/Resources/Employment_Policies/Recruitment-Artificial-Intelligence-Notice.pdf?hsLang=en) .

Kelly Services is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and affirmative action employer. We welcome, value, and embrace diversity at all levels and are committed to building a team that is inclusive of a variety of backgrounds, communities, perspectives, and abilities. At Kelly, we believe that the more inclusive we are, the better services we can provide. Requests for accommodation related to our application process can be directed to Kelly's Human Resource Knowledge Center. Kelly complies with the requirements of California's state and local Fair Chance laws. A conviction does not automatically bar individuals from employment.