Design Manager

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

This Design Manager role supports the development and implementation of building design standards, templates, and planning strategies for large-scale logistics, industrial, and aviation-related operations facilities. The position focuses heavily on planning, reviewing, and optimizing air cargo, airport support, and operational facilities in close collaboration with cross-functional stakeholders and external design consultants. The successful candidate balances operational requirements, safety considerations, design standards, and stakeholder alignment across multiple concurrent programs, contributing directly to scalable, high-quality, and efficient facility designs.

Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and maintain building design standards, templates, and planning strategies for large-scale logistics, industrial, and aviation-related operations facilities.
• Plan, review, and optimize air cargo, airport support, and operational facilities, ensuring designs meet operational, safety, and regulatory requirements.
• Coordinate closely with cross-functional stakeholders and external design consultants to align design solutions with program goals and operational needs.
• Plan, design, and review airport, air cargo, aviation support, airside, and transportation infrastructure facilities, with a focus on functional and safe operations.
• Analyze aircraft maneuvering areas, apron and ramp operations, ground support equipment (GSE) circulation, aircraft clearances, safety zones, jet blast considerations, foreign object debris (FOD) prevention, and airside operational requirements.
• Evaluate aircraft and vehicle circulation conflicts, operational workflows, site utilization, and safety impacts to improve facility performance.
• Develop and review air cargo facility layouts, apron configurations, operational support spaces, and airport infrastructure improvements.
• Lead or support the design of industrial and logistics facilities such as distribution centers, fulfillment centers, sortation centers, logistics hubs, transportation facilities, and material handling and operational facilities.
• Establish and manage building standards and design templates to drive design consistency across multiple facilities and programs.
• Provide design program governance and ensure alignment with overall design strategies and operational objectives across a broad portfolio of projects.
• Conduct design reviews and QA/QC activities to verify design compliance with standards, identify risks, and assess operational impacts.
• Manage multidisciplinary design teams and consultant deliverables, ensuring quality, timeliness, and alignment with project requirements.
• Perform site planning and test-fit analyses, including concept evaluation, space planning, and throughput optimization.
• Conduct GSE circulation studies, material flow analyses, and operational simulations to validate and improve facility layouts and operational efficiency.
• Support aviation and airport planning initiatives by integrating aircraft operational requirements, apron geometry, ramp planning, vehicle circulation, GSE operations, safety clearances, and airport operational constraints into design solutions.
• Use CAD/BIM-based design tools to develop, review, and refine building designs in collaboration with engineers, architects, and designers.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of design standards and processes, helping to enhance design quality, maintainability, safety, cost-effectiveness, and long-term scalability.
• Collaborate in a fast-paced environment, quickly evaluate design options, and present recommendations that balance operational requirements with practical, high-quality design solutions.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor"s or Master"s degree in Architecture, Planning, Civil Engineering, Aviation Planning, or a related discipline.
• 5-7+ years of design, planning, or design management experience.
• Experience managing multidisciplinary design teams and consultant deliverables.
• Experience planning, designing, or reviewing airport, air cargo, aviation support, airside, or transportation infrastructure facilities.
• Understanding of aircraft maneuvering areas, apron and ramp operations, GSE circulation, aircraft clearances, safety zones, jet blast considerations, FOD prevention, and airside operational requirements.
• Experience evaluating aircraft and vehicle circulation conflicts, operational workflows, site utilization, and safety impacts.
• Ability to develop and review air cargo facility layouts, apron configurations, operational support spaces, and airport infrastructure improvements.
• Experience with industrial and logistics facility design, including distribution centers, fulfillment centers, sortation centers, logistics hubs, transportation facilities, and material handling and operational facilities.
• Experience with building standards, template development, and design program governance.
• Experience with design review, QA/QC, design compliance reviews, risk identification, and operational impact assessment.
• Experience with site planning, concept evaluation, space planning, throughput optimization, GSE circulation studies, material flow analysis, and operational simulations.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite.
• Proficiency with Bluebeam Revu.
• Proficiency with Autodesk Revit.
• Proficiency with Autodesk BIM 360/ACC.
• Proficiency with AutoCAD and other CAD/BIM-based design tools.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Airport, aviation, air cargo, cargo hub, transportation infrastructure, or airside planning experience.
• Experience supporting projects at commercial airports, cargo airports, airline operations facilities, aviation support campuses, or transportation facilities.
• Strong understanding of aircraft operational requirements, apron geometry, ramp planning, vehicle circulation, GSE operations, safety clearances, and airport operational constraints.
• Experience conducting operational simulations and layout studies involving aircraft movements, GSE routing, service zones, and site utilization.
• Ability to thrive in fast-paced environments and manage multiple concurrent design programs.
• Strong stakeholder collaboration skills, with the ability to align diverse perspectives and drive consensus.
• A problem-solving mindset with a focus on improving standards, processes, and design quality.
• Interest in high-impact, program-level design initiatives involving industrial, logistics, air cargo, and operational infrastructure.
• Ability to balance operational requirements with practical, high-quality, and scalable design solutions.

Work Environment

The role involves close collaboration with engineers, architects, and designers to develop and refine building designs for large-scale logistics, industrial, and aviation-related operations facilities. The Design Manager works on highly visible, program-level design initiatives that span industrial, logistics, air cargo, and operational infrastructure across multiple markets. The environment is fast-paced and multidisciplinary, with frequent coordination among internal stakeholders and external design consultants. Daily work relies on modern design technologies and tools, including Microsoft Office Suite, Bluebeam Revu, Autodesk Revit, Autodesk BIM 360/ACC, AutoCAD, and other CAD/BIM-based platforms. The position emphasizes a collaborative, solutions-focused culture where professionals work together to enhance operational efficiency, cost-effectiveness, safety, maintainability, and long-term scalability of complex facilities.

Job Type & Location

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

Pay and Benefits

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

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 Aug 12, 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.