Parsons Federal - Engineered Systems - Design Manager

Job Description

The Federal Design Manager leads the design execution process from project startup through final design, construction support, commissioning, and closeout, as applicable. The role integrates contract requirements, federal criteria, client direction, design-basis information, discipline work, specialty studies, vendor and subconsultant inputs, quality records, schedule commitments, and change-control evidence into a coordinated delivery approach.

The Design Manager operates as part of a project design-leadership triad with the Project Manager and the Project Engineer / Senior Project Engineer. The Design Manager owns design integration, readiness discipline, action visibility, and evidence-based closure. The Project Manager retains authority for contract performance, cost, schedule, client commitments, commercial position, and formal changes. The Project Engineer / Senior Project Engineer validates material technical direction, design basis, quality expectations, and engineering-execution risk. Discipline Leads and Engineers of Record retain responsibility for discipline technical content and professional judgment.

A successful candidate will be able to explain, at any point in execution, what design actions and decisions are open; who owns them; when they are due; what deliverables or milestones are affected; what evidence supports closure; and what unresolved conditions may affect scope, cost, schedule, quality, safety, security, constructability, commissioning, client acceptance, or contractual entitlement.

Position Overview

• The Federal Design Manager leads the design execution process from project startup through final design, construction support, commissioning, and closeout, as applicable. The role integrates contract requirements, federal criteria, client direction, design-basis information, discipline work, specialty studies, vendor and subconsultant inputs, quality records, schedule commitments, and change-control evidence into a coordinated delivery approach.




• The Design Manager operates as part of a project design‑leadership triad with the Project Manager and the Project Engineer / Senior Project Engineer. The Design Manager owns design integration, readiness discipline, action visibility, and evidence-based closure. The Project Manager retains authority for contract performance, cost, schedule, client commitments, commercial position, and formal changes. The Project Engineer / Senior Project Engineer validates material technical direction, design basis, quality expectations, and engineering‑execution risk. Discipline Leads and Engineers of Record retain responsibility for discipline technical content and professional judgment.




• A successful candidate will be able to explain, at any point in execution, what design actions and decisions are open; who owns them; when they are due; what deliverables or milestones are affected; what evidence supports closure; and what unresolved conditions may affect scope, cost, schedule, quality, safety, security, constructability, commissioning, client acceptance, or contractual entitlement.

Position Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in engineering, architecture, construction management, or a closely related technical discipline.




• Fifteen or more years of progressive design, engineering, architecture, or project-delivery experience, including substantial responsibility for multidisciplinary design coordination and formal deliverables.




• Demonstrated experience leading or serving in a senior design‑management role on complex, high‑profile, regulated, mission‑critical, infrastructure, facility, or federal projects.




• Experience supporting projects from startup and design planning through intermediate and final design, issue for construction, construction support, commissioning, and closeout.




• Working knowledge of contract requirements, codes and criteria, requirements traceability, basis‑of‑design control, assumptions, technical decisions, and change screening.




• Experience planning and coordinating design reviews, interdisciplinary checks, QA/QC interfaces, comment disposition, package‑readiness reviews, and documented exceptions.

Preferred Qualifications

• Active Professional Engineer or Registered Architect license; registration may be required for specific assignments.




• PMP, DBIA, CCM, or other relevant project, design‑build, construction, quality, or safety credential.




• Experience with U.S. federal agencies, defense or civilian programs, secure facilities, complex infrastructure, or mission‑critical environments.




• Experience with design‑build, engineer‑procure‑construct, integrated delivery, progressive design‑build, or other delivery methods requiring close design‑construction integration.




• Strong understanding of multidisciplinary building, site, utility, infrastructure, systems, digital‑delivery, constructability, procurement, and commissioning interfaces.




• Experience supporting design budgets, labor forecasts, change documentation, scope clarification, entitlement protection, and recovery planning.




• Experience integrating subconsultants, specialty consultants, vendors, utilities, reviewers, authorities having jurisdiction, and construction teams.




• Demonstrated success coaching, mentoring, and developing design managers, discipline leads, and emerging project leaders in a matrixed organization.

Security Clearance Requirement

None

Salary Range: $125,100.00 - $225,200.00

Benefits

• Medical




• Dental




• Vision




• Paid time off




• Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)




• 401(k)




• Life insurance




• Flexible work schedules




• Holidays to fit your busy lifestyle!

Parsons is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, veteran status or any other protected status.