Technical Design Manager – Catering/Industrial Facility

PMA Consultants; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 213,000; Full time

Job summary

PMA Consultants seeks an experienced Design/Technical Manager to lead design management and technical integration for a complex facility at SFO. The role directs design from concept through construction authorization, coordinating architects, engineers, equipment vendors, and other technical disciplines to ensure fully integrated building systems and operational requirements.

Final placement will reflect experience and alignment with business needs.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in design management or technical project management on complex facilities.
• Bachelor’s degree in CM, Engineering, Architecture or related field preferred.
• RA or PE licensure required; LEED AP preferred.
• Experience coordinating Progressive Design-Build or Design-Build delivery.
• Strong understanding of MEP systems, process utilities, automation and equipment integration.
• Airport/aviation or secure-facility experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Review and validate conceptual plans, requirements, and space adjacencies.
• Maintain Basis of Design and a structured requirements process.
• Develop a design milestones-based decision schedule for timely resolutions.
• Develop technical requirements for Progressive Design-Build procurement.
• Coordinate design development, constructability reviews, and design-to-budget efforts.
• Direct integration of specialized facility systems (stowage, robotics, catering, refrigeration).
• Coordinate food-safety zoning, clean/soiled flows and PPE considerations.
• Coordinate utilities, standby power, chilled water, fire protection, IT and BMS.
• Support design validation and construction authorization; identify risks and gaps.

Skills

Design management leadership

Technical coordination

Multidisciplinary teamwork

Operational requirements translation

Project management

Strong communication

Industrial/food-production systems

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture

RA or PE licensure

LEED AP certification (preferred)

Tools

None

Job description

Position Summary

PMA Consultants is seeking an experienced Design/Technical Manager to lead design management and technical integration for a complex, systems-intensive catering and industrial facility at San Francisco International Airport (SFO). This position will manage the design and technical work from conceptual development through design validation, detailed design, and construction authorization. The Design/Technical Manager will establish the technical framework for the project and coordinate architects, engineers, consultants, equipment vendors, and other technical disciplines to ensure that building systems, specialized equipment, operational requirements, and stakeholder needs are fully integrated throughout design and project delivery. Note: This opportunity is available at multiple levels. Final placement will be determined based on the selected candidate’s experience, skills, and alignment with business needs. We are committed to providing fair and equitable consideration for all applicants.

Position Responsibilities

• Manage the review and validation of conceptual plans, drawings, program requirements, space adjacencies, equipment requirements, utility demands, and operational assumptions
• Establish and maintain the Basis of Design and a structured requirements-management process to track technical requirements, decisions, and design development
• Develop and maintain a decision schedule aligned with design milestones to support timely resolution of outstanding technical and operational requirements
• Develop technical requirements and performance criteria for the Progressive Design-Build procurement and support the technical evaluation of proposers
• Manage design development, constructability reviews, design-to-budget efforts, and documented multidisciplinary design reviews
• Direct and coordinate the integration of specialized facility systems, including automated storage and retrieval systems, robotic assembly, material handling, catering equipment, and refrigeration
• Coordinate requirements for food-safety zoning, clean and soiled separation, and gowned/ungowned personnel and material flows
• Coordinate structural and facility requirements associated with tilt-up concrete construction, deep foundations, high-bay structures, and specialized loads
• Coordinate integration of utilities, electrical service systems, standby power, chilled water, washdown systems, fire protection, information technology, security, and building management systems
• Coordinate technical requirements related to LEED certification, refrigerant selection, electrification, and facility resilience
• Verify that equipment loads, utility requirements, maintenance access, and provisions for future expansion are incorporated into the design
• Identify technical risks, design gaps, and integration issues and coordinate their resolution with project stakeholders and the Design-Builder
• Support the project team through design validation and construction authorization
• Other duties as assigned

Position Qualifications

• 10+ years of design management, construction project management, or technical project management experience on industrial, food-production, logistics, cold-storage, manufacturing, or similarly systems-intensive facilities
• Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, or a related field is preferred. Relevant experience may be considered in lieu of education
• Registered Architect (RA) or Professional Engineer (PE) required
• LEED AP certification is preferred
• Demonstrated experience managing design development and technical coordination for Progressive Design-Build, Design-Build, or similarly collaborative delivery
• Strong understanding of specialized MEP systems, process utilities, material handling, automation, and equipment integration
• Experience coordinating multidisciplinary design teams and integrating architectural, structural, MEP, process, equipment, and operational requirements
• Experience with design validation, constructability reviews, design-to-budget, and technical design coordination
• Airport, aviation, secure-facility, industrial, manufacturing, logistics, food-production, or similarly complex facility experience is preferred
• Ability to translate operational requirements into technical criteria and effectively coordinate designers, engineers, contractors, equipment vendors, and project stakeholders

Additional Requirements

Physical: Standing or sitting for long periods; must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at times and spend extended hours in front of a computer screen.

Cognitive: Problem-solving, written, and verbal communication skills; computer and software skills; and ability to read and interpret text online or in printed form.

About PMA

At PMA, employee well-being is a daily priority. We offer a combination of workplace options that include a PMA office location; work-from-home; or a client site. Wherever we work, we openly share knowledge as we believe that collaboration with peers improves our work product and that pursuing subject matter expertise is a lifelong endeavor.

We are committed to a culture of equity, diversity, and inclusion. We affirm and respect diverse backgrounds and opinions because we believe they yield the best solutions for our clients. We promote emotional intelligence and trust by nurturing these values within our new hires.

We encourage staff to develop rewarding, long-term careers at PMA, and we implement formal leadership development programs that help you attain your goals. At PMA, shared success is a core value. Every employee who contributes is recognized, celebrated, and rewarded. We look for self-driven candidates eager to assume responsibility and join a community of respect founded on collaboration and accountability, not titles. If you aim to transform the project management practice toward continuous improvement of project outcomes, the profession, and yourself, PMA looks forward to warmly welcoming you to our team.

We offer competitive pay and benefits, wellness programs for you and your family, and career development opportunities to advance your professional goals.

As a PMA professional, you will be empowered to make timely and effective decisions and significant daily contributions to complex facets of project delivery. Join a team that has achieved a world-class reputation in the construction industry and has been voted a “Best Place to Work.”

PMA offers competitive wages and comprehensive benefits, including medical, prescription, dental, vision, time off with pay, 401(k) with company match, life, disability, and professional development reimbursement for qualifying employees. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression), disability, national origin, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations, and ordinances. Qualified female and minority applicants are encouraged to apply.

EOE, including persons with disabilities and veterans.

VEVRAA federal contractor.

The salary range for this position is $149,833 to $212,719.

A hired employee will be placed within this salary range based on a variety of legitimate business reasons, including but not limited to the individual’s scope of relevant experience and geographic location.