Senior Design Project Manager

GagaMuller; South Carolina; On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

GagaMuller is seeking a Senior Design Manager to lead multidisciplinary design activities for major hyperscale data centre developments in the United States. You will coordinate Mechanical, Electrical, CSA, Architectural, Structural, and specialist systems from concept to handover, ensuring constructibility and alignment with project objectives.

You will work closely with Project Directors, Commercial Leads, BIM teams, and client representatives to drive design governance, risk management, and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in relevant engineering or architecture field.
• PE/CEng or equivalent is advantageous.
• Strong knowledge of multidisciplinary design management in mission-critical environments.
• Advanced BIM workflows and digital design coordination.

Responsibilities

• Lead design strategy across Mechanical, Electrical, CSA, Architectural, Structural, and specialist disciplines.
• Coordinate design activities from concept through handover and commissioning.
• Review consultant design deliverables for client requirements and standards.
• Ensure designs are coordinated, constructible, and operable.
• Lead risk, governance, and change management throughout the project lifecycle.
• Mentor Design Managers and project teams to drive performance.
• Promote BIM best practices and digital design coordination.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Multidisciplinary design management

BIM workflows

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Building Services Engineering, Architecture, Construction Management

Professional Engineering registration (PE) or Chartered Engineer (CEng) or equivalent

Job description

GagaMuller is a Project Management Consultancy with specific divisions focused on providing Project Management, Cost Management, and Digital services to owner organisation within the construction industry.

With a proven track record working alongside global technology leaders and data centre developers, we combine local expertise with global standards to ensure projects are delivered on time, on budget, and to the highest quality.

At GagaMuller, we empower people and organisations to build with data.

Role Description:

We are looking for a Senior Design Manager to join GagaMuller. You will collaborate with experienced, diverse, and passionate teams, fostering a strong social dynamic and collective sense of achievement. This role offers you extensive industry exposure, helping you broaden your skills, open doors to new opportunities, and expand your perspective. We are committed to empowering you, providing real responsibility, and supporting your career growth through mentorship from industry leaders and the tools you need to succeed. You will also contribute to shaping our business strategy as we continue to grow. At GagaMuller, building lasting, trusted relationships with our teams and clients is at the core of what we do.

With a market-leading client base and the opportunity to take the lead on strategic commissions and high-profile projects, this is an exciting time to join the business unit and grow a career with GagaMuller.

The Opportunity:

GagaMuller is supporting the delivery of major hyperscale data centre developments in United States.

As the Senior Design Manager, you will provide strategic leadership for all multidisciplinary design activities on behalf of the client, ensuring Mechanical, Electrical, CSA, Architectural, Structural, and specialist systems are coordinated, compliant, buildable, and aligned with project objectives.

Working closely with Project Directors, Construction Directors, Commercial Leads, Project Controls, BIM teams, Commissioning Managers, Design Consultants, Contractors, and Client Representatives, you will oversee design strategy, programme integration, technical governance, risk management, and stakeholder engagement from concept design through construction, commissioning, and operational handover.

This role offers the opportunity to lead the design delivery of one of the United States' largest mission critical developments while driving best practice in design management across complex international projects.

Responsibilities:

• Scope & Delivery Management
• Lead and manage the overall design strategy across Mechanical, Electrical, CSA, Architectural, Structural, and specialist disciplines.
• Direct multidisciplinary design activities from concept design through detailed design, construction, commissioning, and final handover.
• Review and approve consultant design deliverables to ensure compliance with client requirements, technical standards, and project objectives.
• Ensure designs are fully coordinated, constructible, maintainable, and operationally efficient.
• Lead value engineering initiatives while maintaining resilience, redundancy, uptime, and operational performance requirements.
• Oversee technical submittals, RFIs, design changes, engineering approvals, and document control processes.
• Ensure design activities support procurement, construction sequencing, commissioning, and operational readiness.

2. Stakeholder Coordination

• Act as the senior client-side design representative across all project disciplines.
• Lead multidisciplinary coordination between design consultants, contractors, specialist vendors, commissioning teams, and client representatives.
• Chair executive design reviews, technical workshops, coordination meetings, and client presentations.
• Work closely with BIM Managers to ensure coordinated, clash-free, and information-rich digital models.
• Collaborate with Commercial, Procurement, Construction, Quality, Project Controls, and Commissioning teams to achieve integrated project delivery.
• Provide technical leadership and mentoring to Design Managers and project teams.

3. Risk & Compliance Management

• Lead identification, assessment, and mitigation of technical and design-related risks.
• Ensure compliance with client standards, industry regulations, building codes, and mission critical design requirements.
• Review and approve design changes while assessing programme, cost, and operational impacts.
• Oversee implementation of design governance and change management procedures.
• Support project risk workshops and technical assurance reviews.
• Drive continuous improvement across design management processes and technical delivery standards.

4. Reporting & Documentation

• Prepare executive-level reports on design progress, technical risks, programme status, and key project milestones.
• Maintain oversight of design reviews, technical approvals, RFIs, submittals, and design change registers.
• Support project reporting through dashboards, technical summaries, and executive presentations.
• Ensure project documentation complies with governance procedures and client requirements.
• Oversee preparation of design documentation supporting commissioning and operational handover.
• Ensure seamless integration between Mechanical, Electrical, CSA, Architectural, Structural, BIM, Commercial, Procurement, Construction, Project Controls, Quality, Safety, and Commissioning teams.
• Support commissioning strategies by ensuring systems are designed for testing, validation, maintainability, and operational readiness.
• Collaborate with Procurement and Commercial teams to align technical specifications with procurement strategies.
• Promote innovation, digital design processes, BIM best practice, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Foster a collaborative, solutions-focused culture across all project stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Building Services Engineering, Architecture, Construction Management, or a related engineering discipline.
• Professional Engineering registration (PE), Chartered Engineer (CEng), or equivalent professional accreditation is advantageous.
• Strong understanding of multidisciplinary design management within mission critical construction environments.
• Advanced knowledge of BIM workflows, digital design coordination, and information management.
• Excellent leadership, communication, organisational, and stakeholder management skills.