Senior Lab Systems & Design Lead (Life Sciences)

Perkins&Will; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 129,000 - 189,000; Full time

Job description

Our SF studio, 100 people inside a 3,000-person global firm, is growing our life sciences, biotech, and advanced research pipeline and needs a Senior Technical Coordinator who treats lab planning and MEP coordination as core design work, not a background constraint.

This is not a project management role. You protect the research function itself, making sure the building's systems deliver exactly what the science requires while the design survives permitting and value engineering.

What You'll Own

• Design process leadership across all phases for a state-of-the-art lab facility, holding the line on firm standards, project goals, and living design principles in a building type where the margin for error is thinner than usual
• Technical coordination across architecture, interior design, landscape, and a dense specialty-consultant list (MEP, structural, lab planning, fume hood, vivarium, cleanroom classification)
• Responsiveness to technical implications, design decisions, and project financial goals as the project moves through development
• Regulatory review and code navigation specific to lab environments (life safety, hazardous materials, exhaust and ventilation requirements, accessibility), plus prep of submissions to authorities having jurisdiction
• Quality Control review at every phase, and input on constructibility and materials for high-performance systems, from casework and fume hoods to specialized MEP assemblies, in coordination with the project architect
• Quality Assurance direction, ensuring the work adheres to Perkins&Will standards start to finish
• Construction contract administration end to end: submittal review, RFI response, field observation, and project closeout
• Awareness of evolving building technology and lab-specific engineering systems, and what that means for how the project gets built
• Leadership of design reviews, charettes, and pin-ups, keeping the team aligned on intent as the technical complexity stacks up
• Client-facing technical conversations where "close enough" isn't good enough
• Mentorship of junior staff working lab-specific detailing for the first time

What You'll Bring

• 10-15+ years in project architecture or technical coordination, with direct lab or other high-compliance building type experience preferred
• Deep fluency in construction techniques, system assemblies, and materials selection, lab environments punish generalists
• Working knowledge of building, energy, and zoning codes, plus the added layer of lab-specific regulatory requirements (biosafety, chemical hazard, ventilation)
• Judgment to lead Quality Control and Quality Assurance efforts across every phase, with the discipline to hold the line on firm standards under project pressure
• A track record of leading design reviews, charettes, and pin-ups, and keeping a team aligned on design intent as technical complexity increases
• Advanced Revit and conceptual/computational modeling (Rhino, Grasshopper scripting a plus)
• Comfort in Enscape, VRay, and physical modeling tools (3D printing, laser cutting) for client-facing presentation
• Environmental analysis software experience (Pollination Ladybug, Climate Studio)
• LEED GA within 6 months of hire, plus one Living Design accreditation of your choosing (LEED AP, WELL AP, Passive House, ILFI, etc.)
• Bachelor's degree in architecture or related discipline
• Active progress toward licensure: ARE exams underway, engaged in AXP
• A track record of leading construction contract administration directly, not just supervising it, and mentoring others through it

What You'll Get

Salary range: $128,800–$189,300, commensurate with experience, education and skillset.

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) retirement plan and paid time off
• Professional development stipend and dedicated continuing education time
• Performance-based bonuses
• Access to firmwide affinity groups and leadership development programs
• Studio initiatives and events; a team that actually likes each other

Our Commitment

Our culture is grounded in a firmwide commitment to Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) — not as a tagline, but as how we hire, promote, and build teams. We conduct annual pay equity audits and train all managers on pay practices. We believe inclusion drives creativity.

Perkins&Will is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, genetic information, marital status, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law

Pay Transparency: We are committed to pay equity. Compensation decisions are based on qualifications, skillset, and experience. Employees may discuss their own compensation without fear of retaliation. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)