Buildings Design Manager

At Mott MacDonald, we are driven by purpose and powered by brilliant people. As a trusted engineering, management, and development consultancy, we work with clients to solve complex challenges and deliver sustainable outcomes that make a meaningful difference for the communities we serve.

When you join us as an experienced professional, you will bring your expertise to work that matters while continuing to grow your career. You will collaborate with talented colleagues across disciplines and geographies, contribute your perspective, and help shape better outcomes through technical excellence, innovation, and integrity.

Build on your experience while helping shape what comes next. At Mott MacDonald, you'll work alongside talented people on complex and rewarding projects that make a real difference. We value fresh perspectives, encourage collaboration, and provide opportunities to expand your skills, take on new challenges, and grow your career. Whether you're deepening your technical expertise, broadening your leadership experience, or exploring new opportunities across our business, you'll be supported by a team that is committed to helping you succeed.

Buildings Design Manager – Southwest Division

Mott MacDonald is seeking a Buildings Design Manager (BDM) to lead and grow our Buildings practice across the Southwest Division. Based in Los Angeles, this role serves as the senior technical and operational leader for the Buildings design team, responsible for driving project delivery excellence, business growth, and team development across a diverse portfolio of building and infrastructure projects.

Reporting to the Vice President of Facilities Design and Program Management, the Buildings Design Manager will work closely with Division Leadership, Global Discipline Leaders, and Market Leaders to expand Mott MacDonald's presence across key sectors including transportation, aviation, rail, data centers, civic facilities, healthcare, higher education, energy, and major infrastructure programs.

The successful candidate will combine technical leadership, client relationship management, business development, and people leadership to strengthen Mott MacDonald's Buildings practice throughout California and the broader Southwest region.

Role Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the Southwest Buildings design practice, ensuring the successful delivery of projects on schedule, within budget, and to the highest quality standards.
• Provide leadership and oversight across multidisciplinary engineering teams, including mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire protection, structural, civil, and related building disciplines.
• Serve as a senior client manager, building trusted relationships and ensuring exceptional client service and project delivery performance.
• Develop and execute growth strategies for Buildings design services across the Southwest Division, with an initial focus on California.
• Partner with Division and Global Leadership to identify, pursue, and secure new business opportunities across targeted market sectors.
• Support business development efforts by developing client relationships, identifying upcoming capital programs, positioning for pursuits, and contributing to capture strategies.
• Lead major proposals, presentations, interviews, and pursuit activities, helping to develop compelling win themes and differentiators.
• Drive operational excellence through effective project planning, resource management, quality assurance, risk management, and performance monitoring.
• Monitor business performance through key operational and financial metrics and implement strategies to improve utilization, project profitability, and delivery outcomes.
• Foster collaboration across offices, disciplines, regions, and business units to deliver integrated, client-focused solutions.
• Recruit, mentor, develop, and retain high-performing technical professionals while supporting career progression, succession planning, and workforce growth.
• Establish training and development programs that promote technical excellence and professional growth across the Buildings team.
• Build strong internal and external networks to support project delivery, resource sharing, innovation, and business growth.

Candidate Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or a related discipline required.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license in California or Texas required; California registration strongly preferred.
• Minimum 20 years of experience delivering building systems engineering and design consulting services for public and private sector clients.
• Proven experience leading multidisciplinary building engineering design teams and managing complex project delivery programs.
• Strong technical expertise in building systems engineering, including mechanical, electrical, power, energy, sustainability, and infrastructure-related systems.
• Experience delivering projects within one or more of the following sectors: transportation, aviation, rail, civic facilities, healthcare, higher education, data centers, energy, major venues, or critical infrastructure.
• Demonstrated success delivering public-sector building projects in California; Texas experience is highly desirable.
• Experience leading innovative and technically complex building projects, including sustainable and high-performance facilities.
• Knowledge of decarbonization strategies, renewable energy systems, energy storage technologies, and resilient building design.
• Experience delivering Net Zero, LEED, WELL, Envision, or other sustainability-focused projects is preferred.
• Strong client management skills with a proven ability to develop long-term relationships and grow strategic accounts.
• Demonstrated success developing pursuit strategies, winning work, and expanding market presence.
• Commercial awareness across buildings, transportation, energy, and infrastructure markets.
• Experience managing staffing, resource planning, recruitment, performance management, and team development.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, collaboration, and stakeholder engagement skills.

Bring your expertise, curiosity, and drive to make a difference. If you are ready to join a collaborative consultancy where your perspective is valued, your growth is supported, and you are empowered to lead with integrity, we would love to hear from you.

Benefits & Rewards

The expected salary for this position is $250,000 - $300,000.

Individual pay is determined based on several factors such as work location, education, experience, and unique skills.

In addition to base salary, Mott MacDonald offers performance-based bonuses and a comprehensive benefits package, giving employees a direct connection to our success.

Our comprehensive benefits package is designed to support the health, wellbeing, financial security, and professional growth of our employees. Eligible employees have access to medical, dental, and vision coverage, FSA and HSA accounts, company-paid life insurance, short-term and long-term disability coverage, and a competitive 401(k) plan with company matching. We also provide paid time off, paid holidays, caregiver leave, employee referral bonuses, professional registration and membership reimbursements, and tuition assistance to support continued learning and career development.

Collaboration at Our Core

At Mott MacDonald, we believe great ideas happen when we're together. Our hybrid approach centers on an in-office culture, with most of your time spent collaborating face-to-face and a minimum of three days per week in the office. We balance flexibility with connection, so you and your manager can choose how to meet clients, team, and personal commitments.

Equal opportunity is the law.

We seek to promote fair employment procedures and practices to ensure equal opportunities for all. We encourage individual expression in our workplace and are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels they have the opportunity to contribute.

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All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, protected veteran status, creed, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, citizenship status or disability status.