Discipline Leader – Computational Design

About the role

We are seeking a visionary Discipline Leader – Computational Design to lead the advancement of computational design, digital innovation, and AI-enabled workflows across our planning, design, engineering, and infrastructure practices.

Responsibilities

• Establish and lead the firm's computational design strategy across planning, urban design, engineering, landscape architecture, and infrastructure disciplines.
• Advance the integration of computational design into project delivery through scalable tools, workflows, and best practices.
• Identify emerging technologies that improve design quality, efficiency, and project outcomes.
• Lead the development and implementation of AI-enabled design workflows, digital twins, and computational modeling tools.
• Explore how advanced analytics and machine learning can improve planning, environmental performance, infrastructure resilience, and long-term operational outcomes.
• Drive innovation that enables adaptive, technology-enabled environments.
• Partner with planners, engineers, architects, landscape architects, ecologists, and technology specialists to develop integrated design solutions.
• Foster collaboration between technical disciplines while creating repeatable computational methodologies that can be applied across projects and markets.
• Provide technical leadership on complex planning and design initiatives requiring advanced computational analysis.
• Establish standards, tools, and quality processes supporting computational design across the firm.
• Mentor technical staff and help grow organizational capability in computational design methodologies.
• Support client development activities by presenting innovative computational solutions that differentiate the firm.
• Participate in strategic pursuits and help secure major planning, urban design, infrastructure, and technology-focused projects.
• Build relationships with clients, academic institutions, and technology partners.
• Represent the firm as an industry thought leader through presentations, publications, conferences, and professional organizations.
• Monitor emerging technologies and evaluate opportunities to incorporate new computational methods into practice.

Qualifications and Experience

• Minimum Bachelor's degree in Urban Design, Planning, Landscape Architecture, Architecture, Engineering, Computer Science, or a related discipline. Master's degree preferred.
• Minimum 5 years of experience leading planning and design of large-scale projects.
• Minimum 5 years of experience working on campus, municipal, district, or regional-scale projects across multiple geographic locations.
• Demonstrated experience managing cross-disciplinary technical teams.
• Successful business development experience, including securing approximately $5 million or more annually in professional services.
• Demonstrated expertise in computational design platforms (Grasshopper, Rhino, Dynamo, Python, GIS, or similar).
• Experience with digital twins, parametric design, simulation tools, AI applications, or advanced data analytics preferred.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and leadership skills.
• Proven ability to influence technical strategy and lead innovation across diverse disciplines.