Senior Design Manager

Aligned Data Centers; Ashburn (VA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Coverage: Medical, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) plan with company match

Paid Time Off and Holiday Pay

Wellness Programs

Job summary

Aligned Data Centers is seeking a Senior Design Manager to lead major technical programs in Ashburn, Virginia. This role requires oversight in the preconstruction phases and demands strong communication and organizational skills. The ideal candidate will drive project efficiencies and innovation while ensuring exceptional service delivery to clients. With 9+ years in commercial construction design management preferred, the position offers compensation between $150,000 - $210,000 plus bonus, health coverage, and a comprehensive benefits package.

Qualifications

• 9+ years of progressive experience managing commercial construction project design programs, with data center experience preferred.
• Mechanical/Electrical background preferred.
• Ability to interpret construction drawings and specifications.

Responsibilities

• Drive projects from inception through customer turnover, focusing on preconstruction and design phases.
• Collaborate with sales and solutions engineering to meet customer requirements.
• Manage projects with business objectives in mind while promoting safety and compliance.

Skills

Strong communication skills

Organizational skills

Time management

Team player

Analytical skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering or equivalent

Tools

Excel

Smartsheets

AutoCAD

Project Management Software (MS Projects, Prolog, Procore, BIM 360)

Job description

Overview

Senior Design Manager - IAD. This role supports all aspects of major technical programs targeting both colocation and hyperscale builds, including oversight of employees and third‑party organizations engaged in the preconstruction, design and construction phases. Working under supervision, this role requires strong communication skills, and demonstrates advanced organizational and time management competencies. A successful Design Manager with Aligned will possess a hunger to drive efficiencies and innovation, the humility to understand we are all working together during the construction process, and a heart to provide exceptional service to both internal and external customers and vendors.

Aligned Data Centers is a data center provider focused on continuous innovation, diversity and inclusion, and corporate sustainability. We offer a comprehensive benefits package, a generous 401k match with immediate vesting, and wellness benefits.

Duties And Responsibilities

• Drive projects from inception through customer or business turnover, with emphasis on the preconstruction and design phases. The Design Manager assumes project lead at design hand-off and shifts leadership to the Construction Manager at GC mobilization.
• In conjunction with the Construction Manager, support day-to-day program activities with architects, consultants, equipment providers, GCs, etc.; coordinate project activities with building operations while promoting safety and compliance.
• Serve as the primary support to the Construction Manager from GC mobilization to turnover to Operations.
• Collaborate with sales and solutions engineering to meet customer requirements and ensure design deliverables are met.
• Interface with customers through fit-out design, construction, and integration; accountable for successful delivery of customer contracts.
• Manage projects with business objectives in mind and align with directives from CRC/SLT/Board.
• Promote continuous improvement, creativity, efficiency and innovation; lead design management teams with potential to oversee multiple projects across campuses or regions; responsible for direct reports as described above.

Direct Accountabilities Include

• Coordinate with land enablement to ensure offsite improvements, early permitting, easements, and environmental studies.
• Coordinate and create project risk registers from land enablement through turnover to Aligned Operations.

Project Design Management

• Lead onboarding of third‑party design teams and create design schedules to meet project needs.
• Oversee management of external design teams through project completion/turnover to Aligned Operations.
• Drive review and management of design deliverables, including stakeholder review and comment cycles.
• Hold design teams accountable for design progression and gating.
• Work with SMEs, Operations, and Construction Managers to ensure design compliance with Aligned Design Efficiency Capture (DEC).
• Identify design variances, track approvals as required, and manage related processes.
• Enforce accountability to Aligned’s Cost Control Log (CCL) and Complies, Deviates, Excludes (CDE) matrices.
• Collaborate with the Construction Manager for communications/escalations and regular reporting to internal and external stakeholders.
• Create and maintain project metrics in Smartsheets (project dashboards) for each project.
• Own or direct administrative duties related to the design management process.
• Assist the Construction Manager with building and maintaining budget/cost models for design costs and timelines; help prepare funding requests.
• Coordinate with the Construction Manager to prepare and present quarterly project updates to leadership.
• Review construction plans with an understanding of architectural design within data center environments and communicate conceptual designs to internal teams with required documentation prior to and during construction.
• Cross-reference with customer requirements as needed.

Strongly Desired Working Experience And Knowledge Of

• Design engineering experience
• Building design process and design deliverables management
• Management of design teams
• Exposure to IPD, Design-Build, and/or construction management
• Data center design/construction experience, specifically with MEP systems
• Project Management Software (MS Projects, Prolog, Procore, BIM 360, or similar)
• Knowledge and experience working with CAD is a plus

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering or equivalent
• 9+ years of progressive experience managing commercial construction project design programs, with data center experience preferred
• Mechanical/Electrical background preferred
• Advanced experience in Excel, Smartsheets and/or AutoCAD
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to multi-task with strong time and change management / organizational skills
• Ability to maintain discretion and confidentiality
• Ability to understand and follow clear directions and meet deadlines with reporting and project schedules
• Team player with strong communication skills
• Ability to interpret construction drawings and specifications
• Knowledge of construction cost estimating methods and development of scopes of work
• Ability to understand construction project scopes
• Ability to monitor and interpret design and schedule changes and forecast their impact on costs
• May travel up to 25%

General Competencies

• Adaptability
• Analytical
• Business Acumen
• Change Management
• Cost Consciousness
• Customer Service
• Dependability
• Diversity
• Ethics
• Innovation
• Interpersonal Skills
• Judgement
• Motivation
• Oral Communication
• Organizational Support
• Planning/Organizing
• Problem Solving
• Professionalism
• Project Management
• Quality
• Safety and Security
• Strategic Thinking
• Teamwork
• Written Communication

Physical Demands And Work Environment

• Frequently stand/walk/sit
• Frequently bend/climb
• Frequently utilize hand and finger dexterity
• Occasionally work near moving mechanical parts

Compensation

• $150,000 - $210,000 + Bonus

Benefits & Perks

• Health Coverage: Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Health Savings and Flexible Spending Accounts: HSA with employer contribution; FSA for health and dependent care
• Retirement Savings: 401(k) plan with company match
• Paid Time Off and Holiday Pay: Includes sick and safe leave as required by Maryland law
• Company-Sponsored Insurance: Short-Term Disability, Life Insurance, and Long-Term Disability
• Optional Benefits: Voluntary life, critical illness, legal, and additional disability coverage
• Wellness Programs: Employee assistance program (EAP), gym membership, and other wellness initiatives

The above is intended to describe the general content of and requirements for the performance of this job. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or physical requirements. Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.