Senior Design Manager - Land Development

rowan; Denver (CO); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 185,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work environment

Team development & learning

Health benefits & 401(k)

Unlimited PTO

Transit/parking reimbursement

Job summary

Rowan Digital Infrastructure is seeking a Design Manager to provide architectural and engineering support across the data center portfolio. The role requires leading consultants, coordinating multi-discipline design, and ensuring constructability through preconstruction and on-site support.

Excellent leadership and client-facing communication are essential. The position is based in Denver, CO, with hybrid in-office requirements; remote work may be considered for the right candidate.

Qualifications

• Accredited professional degree in Architecture, Engineering or related field.
• PE license or AIA membership required.
• 9+ years of experience leading large-scale commercial/industrial development projects.
• 3-5+ years overseeing construction activities with strong safety and QA/QC.
• Knowledge of sustainability and integrated design guidelines.
• Knowledge of QA/QC and specification processes.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to coordinate large teams and consultants.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, including senior leadership interactions.

Responsibilities

• Lead, direct, and manage architectural and engineering consultants in design, permitting, and coordination of data center projects.
• Collaborate with internal engineering teams to drive cohesive data center building design.
• Coordinate with stakeholders to align customer design requirements with project goals.
• Provide on-site field support during construction to ensure design adherence.
• Develop and review construction documents, drawings, specs, and scopes of work.
• Review contractor submittals, RFIs, and ensure compliance with standards.
• Interface with Commercial team and program managers for key decisions.
• Support development of engineering standards and processes across Rowan.

Skills

Organizational skills

Communication

Analytical skills

Team coordination

Executive communication

Education

Accredited professional degree in Architecture/Engineering

PE license or AIA membership

Tools

MS Office Suite

AutoCAD

REVIT

GIS

Bluebeam Revu

Job description

At Rowan Digital Infrastructure, we are transforming data center delivery for speed and scale. Our mission is to deliver best-in-class data center solutions to hyperscale customers who share our commitment to sustainability, and to do so with an unwavering focus on efficiency, quality, and flexibility. Our data center solutions are tailored to our customers’ needs and delivered by our exceptional end-to-end team. Rowan is assembling a strategic portfolio of data center sites in Tier 1 markets across the United States at various stages of development, and we’re looking for incredible and passionate people to help us advance our company and our commitment to building a more sustainable future.

Rowan is backed by Quinbrook, a leading investor in the energy transition, and Blackstone, the world’s largest alternative asset manager.

Role Summary

We are looking for a Design Manager to provide engineering and/or Architectural expertise to support projects across the Rowan data center project portfolio. This position is a critical part of the technical team that will help support all aspects of the Rowan approach from site origination through facility operations. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record of successfully providing both design and field level engineering support for complex development projects in the data center, industrial design/build, or similar industrial construction industries. The successful candidate will have excellent strategic thinking skills, a customer service orientation, excellent organizational and communication skills, the ability to multitask, comfort with ambiguity, and the ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, cross-functional environment.

Travel:

Ability to travel up to (25%) for company gatherings or to project sites

Location:

Denver, CO (hybrid, in-office) - will consider remote for the right candidate

Compensation:

$150K - $185K - Offers Bonus

Essential Responsibilities

• Lead, direct, and manage architectural and engineering consultants in the design, permitting, and coordination of data center building and site design, inclusive of civil, geotechnical, architectural, structural, MEP, security, controls disciplines
• Collaborate with internal Subject Matter Expert engineering teams (electrical, mechanical, controls) to drive a cohesive data center building design. Expertise is not needed in all areas, but a general knowledge of all areas from a design and construction perspective is desired
• Coordinate with and ensure Rowan’s understanding of any engineering related Customer design requirements on a project-by-project basis
• Provide on-site field support as needed during construction, ensuring that engineering work is executed according to design specifications and standards
• Collaborate with the design and construction teams to address site-specific challenges and make recommendations to optimize designs for constructability
• Interface with and serve Rowan’s Commercial team and program managers for key stakeholder decisions related to design
• Support the preparation of construction documents, including drawings, specifications, and scopes of work, for all components of data center projects
• As needed, review contractor work, submittals, and RFIs to ensure that engineering elements adhere to Rowan's standards of quality and project requirements
• Nurture and create relationships with permitting agencies and client technical experts
• Identify risks during all stages of the project lifecycle from site origination through operations
• Support the site origination team through technical reviews of existing site conditions and infrastructure associated with potential sites
• Advise the development team with technical expertise from a preconstruction perspective
• Support the growth of the engineering team and of Rowan by helping to establish engineering standards and processes
• Support other technical tasks not listed as required
• Support site construction teams with engineering pre-construction services as an internal client
• Must be comfortable working with government and jurisdictional agencies on complex environmental review, permitting, and Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) approval processes

Education, Skills, and Experience

• Accredited professional degree in Architecture, Engineering or related field
• PE required or AIA required
• 9+ years of experience participating in and leading large-scale commercial/industrial development, architectural, or civil design projects
• 3-5+ years of hands-on experience overseeing construction activities in the field with strong knowledge of best practices, safety standards, and quality control procedures
• Knowledge of construction practices and processes required
• Knowledge of sustainability and integrated design guidelines
• Knowledge of QA/QC and specification processes
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to coordinate large teams and consultants
• Ability to communicate and present ideas in a clear, concise, and professional manner both verbally and in writing
• Experience communicating with senior leaders and executives at all levels of the organization
• Knowledge of data center industry and trends preferred
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Proficiency in MS Office Suite, AutoCAD, REVIT, GIS, and Blue Beam Revu
• Ability to work with little oversight. The Rowan team collaborates constantly; however, the successful candidate should be comfortable working independently

Fueled by Excellence & Collaboration

At Rowan, we are a distributed team united by a common mission to transform data center delivery. Across our two offices, we offer a hybrid work environment supported by teamwork, technology, and in-office gathering time to help you be successful. We are headquartered in downtown Denver, Colorado and have an office in Seattle, Washington. Our team of talented and passionate individuals is spread out across the U.S.

Here to support you

At Rowan, we want to make sure you can do great work. We offer competitive benefits focused on helping you be and achieve your best.

• Hybrid working environment
• Team building and educational opportunities
• Generous benefits package including robust health benefits and a 401(k)-company contribution
• Unlimited PTO
• RTD ECO pass or parking reimbursement
• Competitive compensation, bonus, and an incentive plan

Equal Opportunity Employer

Rowan Digital is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome and celebrate diversity in all aspects of our workforce. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or any other legally protected status. We strive to create an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive.