Computational Design Lead

Our client is a fast-growing AEC tech startup building generative and computational design software for the energy sector—think data centres, transmission and distribution, and renewables. They have a strong technical team, a rapidly expanding client base, and a genuine need for someone to step in and lead the delivery side of the operation.

About the role

This is a 50/50 split between management and individual contribution. You’ll manage a team of computational designers and coordinate with backend engineers, while staying close enough to the work to meaningfully support technical delivery. As the company scales, management will become a larger share of your time.

Responsibilities

• Own delivery: assess project progress, identify blockers, and match the right team members to the right work
• Serve as the primary point of contact for clients post-sale—you’re the face of delivery from month two onwards
• Travel to client sites for key milestones, reviews, and contract progression (roughly 1-2x/month)
• Partner with the VP of Product and Customer Strategy to improve processes and build the operational foundation the team needs to scale
• Coordinate between computational designers and backend engineers across multiple time zones
• Jump in on pre-sales activities like demos when needed
• Help build the structure, playbooks, and habits a scaling team needs—this is a build-as-you-go environment

The Team

You'll work alongside a team of five computational designers (four full-time, one part-time) spread across time zones, and partner closely with junior and senior backend engineers. You'll report to the VP of Product and Customer Strategy. The company has 45 full-time employees plus roughly 12–15 contractors—lean, ambitious, and fast-moving.

Requirements

• Education in architecture, engineering, or product development
• Hands-on experience with computational design in the AEC or built environment space
• Working knowledge of Grasshopper and Rhino (a couple years of project experience is enough)
• Programming exposure in C#, Python, or VBA plus experience working with development or product teams
• Management or leadership experience
• 8–10+ years of professional experience
• Strong instincts for workload management, root cause analysis, and workflow optimisation
• Comfort with ambiguity—you can navigate a startup environment where not everything is figured out yet
• Entrepreneurial mindset: you’re hungry to take ownership and aren’t waiting to be told what to do
• Comfortable in front of clients and willing to travel roughly 1-2x per month

Nice-to-Haves

• Experience in energy, data centres, T&D, renewables, or solar—this is the highest-priority nice-to-have
• Background in consulting, software implementation, or product management
• Experience as an architect or mechanical engineer using computational design
• Track record transitioning from enterprise to startup environments

Pay

• Base salary: $185,000–$190,000 USD
• 10% annual bonus
• $40,000 in equity shares

Benefits

• Full medical, dental, and vision coverage (starting the first of the month after your hire date)
• HSA up to $2,000
• 401(k) plan
• Unlimited PTO in the US

Why This Role

• You’re walking into a foundational moment—the company expects orders-of-magnitude growth in clients over the next 3-4 months, and this role exists to make that possible
• Real ownership from day one: you’ll shape how the team operates, not inherit someone else’s playbook
• Cutting-edge work at the intersection of computational design and high-growth sectors (energy, data centres, renewables)
• Strong, talented technical team that needs leadership, not hand-holding
• Growth potential as the company scales—this could evolve into managing multiple teams
• Entrepreneurial environment where you can move fast and make decisions

What to Expect

• Rapid pace: the workload is growing quickly and timelines are tight
• A distributed team across time zones and cultures—you’ll need to be a thoughtful, adaptable manager
• Ambiguity is part of the job—you’ll be building structure while also using it
• Regular travel to client sites (roughly once or twice a month)
• A team with mixed experience levels—you’ll be coaching junior and senior people simultaneously