Laboratory Planner

DLR Group; Denver, San Diego, Boston (CO, CA, MA); Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Disability insurance

Wellness programs

401(k) plan

Employee stock ownership

Bonus opportunities

Paid holidays

Paid time off

Job summary

DLR Group, a global design firm, seeks a Laboratory Planner with 5+ years of lab planning and design experience to support Science + Technology projects. You will collaborate with Principals, Project Managers, and multidisciplinary teams to program, plan, design, and document laboratory environments.

You will work on research facilities, teaching spaces, clinical and analytical labs, and contribute to client engagement, project delivery, and knowledge sharing.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in Architecture, Engineering, Planning, or a related field.
• Minimum five years of professional experience in laboratory planning and design.
• Experience supporting laboratory programming, planning, design, and documentation.
• Experience designing laboratory or research facilities, including BSL-2 and BSL-3 environments.
• Understanding of laboratory equipment, casework, workflows, and service‑distribution requirements.
• Understanding of building codes, laboratory design standards, regulations, and construction practices.
• Proficiency with Revit, Bluebeam, Microsoft Office, and other design software.
• Strong written, verbal, client‑service, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Strong problem‑solving, organizational, and time‑management abilities.
• Ability to collaborate with clients, consultants, and multidisciplinary project teams.
• Ability to travel up to 20% locally and nationally.
• Eligibility to work in the United States without visa sponsorship.

Responsibilities

• Develop program requirements, conceptual layouts, planning grids, and design criteria for lab facilities.
• Plan and design laboratory environments for Science + Technology clients.
• Develop space programs and physical plans for lab and high‑tech facilities.
• Collaborate with project teams on laboratory organization, workflows, and service distribution concepts.
• Document laboratory systems, including casework, equipment, utilities, and spaces.
• Prepare and coordinate drawings, specifications, and other contract documents using Revit and related software.
• Participate in client meetings, user groups, and project presentations with leadership.
• Gather client feedback and document design decisions in project platforms like Bluebeam and Revit.
• Collaborate with architects, engineers, consultants for integrated project delivery.
• Research laboratory equipment, casework, design standards, codes, and best practices.
• Assist with evaluation and selection of laboratory casework and equipment.
• Support construction administration and respond to questions during construction.
• Maintain high standards of quality, safety, and accuracy in planning and documentation.
• Manage multiple projects, schedules, budgets, and quality expectations.
• Contribute to proposals and marketing materials with technical content.
• Stay current on lab planning trends and innovations.

Skills

Communication

Collaboration

Time management

Client service

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Architecture/Engineering/Planning or related field

Tools

Revit

Bluebeam

Microsoft Office

AutoCAD

Enscape

Lumion

Adobe InDesign

Adobe Photoshop

Job description

DLR Group is an integrated design firm with a promise to elevate the human experience through design. This fuels the work we do around the world and inspires our mission to improve the lives of our clients, our communities, and our planet. If this sparks your interest, you’re in the right place.

We have an opening for a Laboratory Planner specializing in lab planning and supporting Science + Technology projects. We operate within a hybrid work model, supporting flexibility between office time and working from home.

Position Summary

This is an exciting opportunity for a talented individual with five or more years of laboratory planning and design experience to join our growing Science + Technology group. You will work closely with the firm’s Principals, Project Managers, Senior Laboratory Planners, architects, engineers, and consultants to support the programming, planning, design, and documentation of laboratory environments.

You will contribute to a variety of project types, including research and development facilities, teaching and learning environments, clinical laboratories, and analytical laboratories. This role provides opportunities for professional growth through client engagement, collaboration with multidisciplinary teams, and exposure to all phases of project delivery.

We are looking for an innovative, creative, and detail-oriented individual who is passionate about laboratory design, works well in a collaborative environment, and is committed to creating spaces that support research, learning, innovation, and discovery.

The successful candidate will:

• Work with Senior Laboratory Planners to develop program requirements, conceptual layouts, planning grids, and detailed design criteria for laboratory and research facilities.
• Participate in the planning and design of laboratory environments for a variety of Science + Technology clients.
• Assist in developing space programs and physical plans for laboratory and high‑tech facilities.
• Collaborate with project teams to develop laboratory organization, workflow, and service‑distribution concepts.
• Support the documentation of laboratory systems, including casework, equipment, utilities, and laboratory spaces.
• Prepare and coordinate project drawings, specifications, and other contract documents using Revit and related design software.
• Participate in client meetings, user-group sessions, project presentations, and coordination meetings alongside Senior Laboratory Planners and project leadership.
• Gather client and user feedback and document meeting outcomes and design decisions in Bluebeam, Revit, and other project platforms.
• Collaborate with architects, engineers, consultants, and other disciplines to support integrated and coordinated project delivery.
• Research laboratory equipment, casework, design standards, building codes, and industry best practices.
• Assist clients and project teams with the evaluation and selection of laboratory casework and equipment.
• Support construction administration activities and help respond to questions that arise during construction.
• Maintain high standards of quality, safety, and accuracy in laboratory planning and project documentation.
• Manage multiple project assignments while meeting established schedules, budgets, and quality expectations.
• Contribute technical information, project content, and presentation materials to proposals and other marketing efforts as requested.
• Remain current on laboratory planning trends, technologies, and innovations through continuing education and professional development.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in Architecture, Engineering, Planning, or a related field.
• Minimum five years of professional experience in laboratory planning and design.
• Experience supporting laboratory programming, planning, design, and documentation.
• Experience designing laboratory or research facilities, including BSL-2 and BSL-3 laboratory environments.
• Understanding of laboratory equipment, casework, workflows, and service‑distribution requirements.
• Understanding of applicable building codes, laboratory design standards, regulations, and construction practices.
• Proficiency with Revit, Bluebeam, Microsoft Office, and other relevant design software.
• Strong written, verbal, client‑service, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Strong problem‑solving, organizational, and time‑management abilities.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with clients, consultants, and multidisciplinary project teams.
• Ability to manage multiple assignments and adapt to changing project priorities.
• Ability to travel locally and nationally up to 20%.
• An attitude and commitment to being an active participant in our dynamic Science + Technology team culture.
• Must be eligible to work in the United States without the need for work visa or residency sponsorship.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Professional registration or demonstrated progress toward registration.
• Experience with academic, research, teaching, clinical, or analytical laboratory facilities.
• Proficiency with AutoCAD, Enscape, Lumion, Adobe InDesign, or Adobe Photoshop.
• LEED, WELL, or another sustainability-related credential.
• Knowledge of sustainable and integrated laboratory design practices.
• Membership in the International Institute for Sustainable Laboratories.

TO BE CONSIDERED, PLEASE SUBMIT A CURRENT PORTFOLIO OR WORK SAMPLES IN PDF FORMAT.

Our comprehensive Benefits at DLR Group include medical, dental, vision, disability, wellness programs, flex spending, paid holidays, and paid time off. We also offer a 401(k) plan, employee stock ownership, and bonus opportunities. Compensation considerations are based on location, experience, and skills. The suggested hourly rate for this position is:

$85,000 - $130,000 USD

DLR Group is an integrated design firm delivering architecture, engineering, interiors, planning, and building optimization for new builds, renovations, and adaptive reuse projects.

We are 100% employee‑owned: every employee is literally invested in our clients’ success. At the core of our firm are interdisciplinary teams engaged in every step of project lifecycles. Our teams champion true collaboration, open information sharing, shared risk and reward, value‑based decision making, and proficient use of technology to deliver exceptional design. We are pursuing the goals of the 2030 Challenge, the ME2040, and the SE2050, and are an initial signatory of the China Accord and the AIA 2030 Commitment.

Through our values – commitment, creativity, environmental stewardship, fun, integrity, ownership, sharing, teamwork – we elevate the human experience through design, together.

DLR Group follows a four‑day in‑office work model, with employees having the flexibility to work somewhere other than the office on Fridays.

We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/M/F/Veteran/Disabled employer.