Design Manager

Job Title: Design Manager - Logistics, Industrial, and Aviation FacilitiesJob Description

The Design Manager supports the development and implementation of building design standards, templates, and planning strategies for large-scale logistics, industrial, and aviation-related operations facilities. The role focuses heavily on planning, reviewing, and optimizing air cargo, airport support, and operational facilities while coordinating closely with cross-functional stakeholders and external design consultants. This position is ideal for someone who enjoys solving complex design challenges, improving standards and processes, and balancing operational requirements with practical, high-quality design solutions across multiple projects and markets.

Responsibilities

• Review and coordinate facility designs with internal teams and external design consultants to ensure alignment with project goals and operational needs.
• Support the creation, implementation, and maintenance of design standards, templates, and planning strategies across multiple projects and facility types.
• Conduct QA/QC reviews to verify compliance with design standards, operational requirements, and applicable codes and regulations.
• Develop and evaluate conceptual layouts, test fits, and design alternatives for logistics, industrial, and aviation-related facilities.
• Coordinate closely with architecture, engineering, construction, operations, and real estate stakeholders throughout all project phases.
• Review consultant deliverables for completeness, accuracy, constructability, and adherence to established standards.
• Support planning efforts related to operational layouts, circulation paths, equipment clearances, and overall space utilization to improve efficiency and safety.
• Track design progress, key milestones, issues, and action items across active projects, and communicate status to stakeholders as needed.
• Provide technical design guidance and recommendations throughout the project lifecycle, from concept design through construction administration.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives related to design standards, workflows, and quality processes to enhance consistency and performance across the portfolio.
• Engage in design management activities for large industrial, warehouse, distribution, fulfillment, manufacturing, or logistics facilities.
• Perform design reviews, QA/QC checks, and consultant coordination to ensure cohesive and integrated design solutions.
• Conduct space planning, operational layout review, and test-fit analysis to validate design options and support decision-making.
• Collaborate with stakeholders across design, engineering, construction, and operations to align facility design with business and operational objectives.

Essential Skills

• 5-10 years of experience in architecture, industrial design, logistics facility design, or design management.
• Bachelor"s degree in Architecture or a related design discipline.
• Experience supporting projects from concept design through construction administration.
• Experience with warehouse, fulfillment center, manufacturing, distribution, logistics, mission-critical, or large industrial projects.
• Demonstrated experience in design management for large industrial, warehouse, distribution, fulfillment, manufacturing, or logistics facilities.
• Proficiency in Revit for building information modeling and design documentation.
• Proficiency with Bluebeam for drawing review and markups.
• Experience using BIM 360/ACC for collaborative design and document management.
• Proficiency with AutoCAD for design and drafting tasks.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office for documentation, reporting, and communication.
• Experience reviewing multidisciplinary design packages and construction documents.
• Strong consultant coordination and stakeholder management skills across design, engineering, construction, and operations.
• Strong QA/QC mindset and attention to detail in reviewing designs and documents.
• Ability to perform space planning, operational layout review, and test-fit analysis.
• Ability to manage and coordinate design reviews, QA/QC, and consultant deliverables across multiple projects.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience with aviation, air cargo, airport, or transportation facilities is preferred but not required.
• Experience with aviation planning or airport planning is a plus.
• Familiarity with design standards, templates, and planning strategies for logistics and operations facilities.
• Ability to quickly evaluate design options and provide practical, high-quality design solutions.
• Comfort working in fast-paced environments with multiple concurrent projects.
• Strong communication skills for collaborating with a wide range of internal stakeholders and external consultants.
• Interest in contributing to program-level design initiatives that impact operational efficiency, cost, safety, maintainability, and long-term scalability.
• Motivation to participate in continuous improvement of design standards, workflows, and quality processes.

Work Environment

The role involves working closely with engineers, architects, and designers to develop building designs for industrial, logistics, and aviation-related facilities. The position provides exposure to highly visible, program-level design initiatives involving industrial, logistics, air cargo, and operational infrastructure across multiple markets. The work environment is fast-paced and collaborative, with frequent coordination across architecture, engineering, construction, operations, and real estate teams, as well as external design consultants. The Design Manager uses tools such as Revit, Bluebeam, BIM 360/ACC, AutoCAD, and Microsoft Office to support design development, review, and documentation. The culture emphasizes problem-solving, cross-disciplinary collaboration, continuous improvement of standards and processes, and delivering design solutions that enhance operational efficiency, cost-effectiveness, safety, maintainability, and scalability.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of Seattle, WA.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $45.00 - $50.00/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: • Medical, dental & vision • Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital • 401(k) Retirement Plan - Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available • Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) • Short and long-term disability • Health Spending Account (HSA) • Transportation benefits • Employee Assistance Program • Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type

This is a fully remote position.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Sep 1, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.