Senior Design Build Design Manager

Industry

Cities & Places

At Jacobs, we're challenging today to reinvent tomorrow by solving the world's most critical problems for thriving cities, resilient environments, mission-critical outcomes, operational advancement, scientific discovery and cutting-edge manufacturing, turning abstract ideas into realities that transform the world for good.

Your impact

At Jacobs, we are shaping the future of infrastructure and the built environment through innovative delivery models that increase certainty, accelerate schedules, and create greater value for our clients. As Design-Build and Progressive Design-Build continue to transform project delivery throughout California, we are seeking a highly experienced Senior Design Manager - Design for Design-Build (D4DB) based in Northern or Southern California to help lead the pursuit, planning, and execution of major alternative delivery projects across California and the broader West region.

This is a senior leadership role within our Cities & Places business focused on complex vertical building projects delivered through Design-Build, Progressive Design-Build, CMAR, and other collaborative delivery models. The successful candidate will have a proven track record leading major building projects from procurement through delivery and will bring strong, active relationships with leading California contractors, developers, and design-build partners.

As a Senior Design Manager, you will lead integrated teams of architects, engineers, planners, interior designers, specialty consultants, and construction partners to develop winning technical solutions that balance owner expectations, contractor priorities, innovation, constructability, cost, schedule, and design excellence. You will play a key role in helping Jacobs expand its Design-Build presence across California's building markets, including commercial, civic, higher education, municipal, industrial, advanced technology, aviation support facilities, mixed-use, and workplace environments.

The ideal candidate combines technical leadership, pursuit experience, contractor collaboration, and business development acumen, with a demonstrated ability to develop trusted relationships and successfully deliver projects through alternative delivery models.

Please note: This is a hybrid position requiring regular attendance in a Jacobs office and travel throughout California for contractor engagement, client meetings, pursuits, workshops, and project activities.

What You'll Do

• Lead Design-Build, Progressive Design-Build, CMAR, and other alternative delivery pursuits and projects for complex vertical building developments throughout California.
• Develop and maintain strong working relationships with leading California contractors, developers, and Design-Build partners to support Jacobs' strategic growth objectives.
• Serve as Jacobs' design leadership representative during contractor engagement, pursuit development, project interviews, partnering workshops, and executive-level client interactions.
• Partner with contractor teams during procurement and preconstruction phases to develop innovative, competitive, and executable design solutions.
• Lead multidisciplinary design teams through all phases of project delivery, from pursuit and proposal development through final design and construction support.
• Drive design strategies that optimize cost, schedule, constructability, risk mitigation, operational performance, and sustainability while maintaining design excellence.
• Facilitate collaborative workshops involving clients, contractors, architects, engineers, consultants, and end-user stakeholders.
• Guide development of technical concepts, validation packages, pursuit deliverables, design narratives, and Alternative Technical Concepts (ATCs), where applicable.
• Establish and manage project design execution plans, design schedules, quality management processes, and interdisciplinary coordination efforts.
• Coordinate architecture, structural, civil, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire protection, interiors, and specialty consultant teams.
• Collaborate with project managers and construction partners to identify, evaluate, and manage project risks throughout pursuit and delivery.
• Provide mentorship and leadership to architects, engineers, design managers, and emerging professionals across the organization.
• Champion Jacobs' Quality Program while fostering a collaborative "One Team" culture among clients, contractors, and project stakeholders.

Here's what you'll need

• Bachelor's degree in Architecture, Engineering, Construction Management, or a related discipline.
• Minimum 15 years of experience leading complex building projects and multidisciplinary design teams.
• Demonstrated success leading Design-Build, Progressive Design-Build, CMAR, or other alternative delivery projects.
• Proven track record delivering large-scale vertical building projects in markets such as commercial, civic, higher education, municipal, industrial, advanced technology, aviation support facilities, or mixed-use developments.
• Established and current relationships with major California contractors and Design-Build organizations.
• Demonstrated success partnering with contractors during pursuits, preconstruction, and project delivery.
• Experience leading project pursuits, proposal development, technical presentations, and shortlist interviews.
• Strong understanding of Design-Build best practices, constructability, design management, risk management, and collaborative delivery methods.
• Experience leading integrated architecture and engineering teams across multiple disciplines.
• Strong leadership, communication, client management, and relationship-building skills.
• Ability and willingness to travel throughout California.

Ideally, You'll Also Have

• Licensed Architect or Professional Engineer in California.
• DBIA Professional Certification.
• Experience leading projects with construction values exceeding $100 million.
• Experience leading major Design-Build pursuits and interview teams.
• Existing relationships with ENR Top 100 contractors and leading California regional builders.
• Experience delivering projects for public-sector, institutional, higher education, municipal, commercial, or industrial clients throughout California.
• Experience with BIM-enabled project delivery and integrated digital design workflows.
• Experience with sustainable design frameworks such as LEED, WELL, Envision, or similar programs.

#LI-NW2

Posted Salary Range: Minimum

134,500.00

Posted Salary Range: Upper

210,250.00

Our health and welfare benefits are designed to invest in you, and in the things you care about. Your health. Your well-being. Your security. Your future. Employees have access to medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance, a 401(k) plan, and the ability to purchase company stock at a discount. Eligible employees may also enroll in a deferred compensation plan or the Executive Deferral Plan. Jacobs has an unlimited U.S. Personalized Paid Time Off (PPTO) policy for full-time salaried/exempt employees, seven paid holidays, and caregiver leave. And certain roles may be eligible for additional rewards, including merit increases, performance discretionary bonus, and stock.

The base salary range for this position is $134,500.00 to $210,250.00. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. Job posted on August 25, 2026. This position will be open for at least 3 days.

We value collaboration and believe that in-person interactions are crucial for both our culture and client delivery. We empower employees with our hybrid working policy, allowing them to split their work week between Jacobs offices/projects and remote locations enabling them to deliver their best work.

Your application experience is important to us, and we're keen to adapt to make every interaction even better. If you require further support or reasonable adjustments with regards to the recruitment process (for example, you require the application form in a different format), please contact the team via Careers Support.

Locations

CityStateCountrySan DiegoCaliforniaUnited StatesIrvineCaliforniaUnited States