[Hiring] Senior Manager, Design @Nscale

Role Description

As Senior Design Manager, you will own the design of assigned data center projects end to end. You'll lead the architecture and engineering (AE) team, coordinate every internal and external stakeholder, hold the AE accountable through permitting, and deliver fully coordinated design packages that construction can build from without hesitation. Once construction starts, you'll stay on the project as the design lead through Construction Administration until turnover to Operations.

This is a hands-on delivery role, not an oversight role. You will be the single point of accountability for design on your projects:

• Procure the AE at the project level.
• Set the design schedule.
• Run the design reviews.
• Resolve coordination conflicts.
• Ensure permits are issued on time.

You'll report to the Vice President, Design Management and serve as the project-level backbone of Nscale's design management function. This is an individual contributor role. You'll lead AE teams, specialist consultants, and internal stakeholders through influence and project authority rather than line management. The role is based in the United States, and you'll be assigned to one or more campus sites, with travel to sites and AE offices as required.

You'll thrive here if you:

• Treat the project as your own and own the outcome, not just the process.
• Make the call on an RFI in hours, not weeks, then document it and move on.
• Know the difference between a drawing set that looks finished and one that is actually coordinated.
• Earn the trust of Construction, Operations, and Commissioning by solving their problems, not defending the drawings.
• Are curious about AI-assisted design review, automated clash workflows, and anything that shortens the loop.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in the design and construction industry, in design management, architecture, engineering, or construction.
• Experience as the owner-side or AE-side design lead on at least one project delivered from early design through construction documents, permitting, and Construction Administration.
• Direct experience scoping, procuring, negotiating, and administering AE and specialist consultant contracts.
• Working knowledge of complex building systems, including electrical, mechanical, fire protection, structural, and site civil.
• Working knowledge of building permitting and agency approval processes.
• Proven Construction Administration experience, including RFIs, submittals, field issue resolution, and close-out, on a fast-paced construction program.
• Experience coordinating major equipment vendors and modular or prefabricated building components into a coordinated design.
• A disciplined organizer and communicator who can run meetings, document decisions, track actions, and keep many parties aligned on a tight schedule.
• A strong cross-functional collaborator who works effectively with Construction, Operations, Commissioning, Procurement, and external partners.
• Entrepreneurial and resourceful, and comfortable in a fast-moving environment where process is built alongside delivery.
• Bachelor's degree in Architecture, Civil, Structural, Mechanical, or Electrical Engineering, Construction Management, or a related discipline.

Requirements

• Define the AE scope of services, deliverables, and schedule for each project, and prepare and issue RFPs to the approved AE bench.
• Evaluate proposals, lead fee negotiations, and recommend award, balancing fee, team quality, capacity, and data center experience.
• Administer AE contracts by tracking scope, reviewing invoices against earned progress, and managing additional service requests and changes.
• Procure and manage specialist consultants, including geotechnical, civil, commissioning, acoustic, code, fire protection, and security, as each project requires.
• Run a disciplined requirements capture process with Construction, Operations, Commissioning, Security, Network/IT, Procurement, EHS, and Finance.
• Chair regular design coordination meetings with clear agendas, documented decisions, and tracked actions.
• Manage change discipline by evaluating late requests for schedule and cost impact and securing a decision before the AE proceeds.
• Coordinate design interfaces with utility providers, major equipment vendors, and modular and prefabricated component fabricators.
• Maintain a single, current log of all external design inputs and their status.
• Hold the AE accountable for developing and executing the project permitting strategy and schedule.
• Track permit submissions and comment responses, and escalate slippage before it reaches the construction schedule.
• Drive structured design reviews at schematic design, design development, and construction document milestones.
• Verify compliance with Nscale's design standards and owner's project requirements.
• Review constructability, maintainability, and operational access with Construction and Operations before documents are released.
• Serve as the design authority to the construction team and the owner's interface to the AE through construction.
• Conduct regular site visits and construction observation to validate design intent and catch deviations early.
• Support commissioning and close out the design side of the project, delivering as-builts, the record BIM model, and O&M documentation to Operations on schedule.

Benefits

• Highly competitive package, including base salary and equity, with reviews every 12 months.
• Join one of the fastest-growing tech startups: your chance to push boundaries, collaborate with brilliant minds, and make your mark on cutting-edge AI.
• Expect a dynamic progression plan tailored to your ambitions.
• Human-first flexibility, allowing you to shape your day around life's moments.
• Join our thriving remote-first team, empowering you wherever you work.