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DLR Group

National Mission Critical Design Leader

DLR Group, Los Angeles, California, United States, 90079

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National Mission Critical Design Leader

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DLR Group .

DLR Group is an integrated design firm dedicated to elevating the human experience through design. Our work worldwide inspires a mission to improve the lives of our clients, communities, and planet. If this sparks your interest, you’re in the right place.

DLR Group is seeking a

Mission Critical Design Leader

to help shape the future of resilient, high‑performance environments that power the world’s most data‑driven industries. This role offers influence over design culture, technical excellence, and the firm’s mission to deliver integrated, human‑centered, operationally critical facilities. We operate under a hybrid work model, supporting flexibility between in‑office and work‑from‑home time. Our network of 30+ studios across the United States welcomes exceptional applicants nationwide.

Position Summary As a Mission Critical Design Leader, you will manage all aspects of project document development, coordinating with project team members to maintain quality within schedule for large, complex, mission‑critical facilities—including hyperscale data centers, emergency operations centers, industrial environments, and advanced manufacturing projects.

In our integrated design team, you will partner directly with Market Sector leadership to ensure financial health, design quality, risk mitigation, team collaboration, and seamless communication. You will also lead cross‑functional design disciplines in developing innovative, technically rigorous solutions.

The Successful Candidate Will Lead & Inspire Design Excellence

Champion design quality and innovation across mission‑critical project types, setting vision from concept through completion

Elevate human‑centered, resilient, and high‑performance design principles tailored to secure and technology‑driven environments

Engage in internal and external thought leadership to advance design excellence in the mission‑critical market

Mentor & Grow Design Talent

Inspire and mentor multidisciplinary design teams, fostering curiosity, creativity, accountability, and technical confidence

Support and develop emerging design leaders across studios and regions

Model collaboration and knowledge‑sharing to strengthen practice‑wide design culture

Advance Technical Execution

Lead integrated design teams to deliver coordinated, high‑performance solutions

Balance design excellence with mission‑critical performance requirements, including redundancy, resilience, security, and uptime

Drive quality assurance, documentation excellence, and adherence to DLR Group standards

Engage Clients & Build Trusted Partnerships

Cultivate strong relationships with sophisticated clients and technical stakeholders

Translate complex operational, security, and reliability expectations into thoughtful, scalable solutions

Confidently communicate design strategy, vision, and technical rationale in both client‑facing and internal settings

Collaborate Strategically

Partner with Market Sector leadership to support practice growth, innovation, and strategic pursuits

Work closely with Project Managers to align design intent with scope, schedule, and performance goals

Strengthen and reinforce DLR Group’s integrated design culture through shared accountability and transparent communication

Required Qualifications

10+ years of experience as a Project Architect or Project Engineer on Data Center, Industrial, Warehouse Distribution, and Office projects, with 5+ years on 10+ MW Data Center buildings

Bachelor’s degree in architecture, engineering, or a related field

Proficiency in REvit and CAD computer modeling and rendering software

Ability to travel occasionally to support project tasks

Licensed Architect or Engineer

Must be eligible to work in the United States without needing a work visa or residency sponsorship

Submit current portfolio/work samples in PDF format

Benefits Our comprehensive benefits include medical, dental, vision, disability, wellness programs, flex spending, paid holidays, paid time off, a 401(k) plan, employee stock ownership, and bonus opportunities.

Compensation Hourly rate: $150,000 – $200,000 USD (based on location, experience, and skills).

DLR Group follows a four‑day in‑office work model, with flexibility to work elsewhere on Fridays.

We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/M/F/Veteran/Disabled employer.

DLR Group is an integrated design firm delivering architecture, engineering, interiors, planning, and building optimization for new builds, renovations, and adaptive reuse projects.

We are 100% employee‑owned: every employee is literally invested in our clients’ success. Our teams champion true collaboration, open information sharing, shared risk and reward, value‑based decision making, and proficient use of technology to deliver exceptional design.

We pursue the goals of the 2030 Challenge, the ME2040, and the SE2050, and are an initial signatory of the China Accord and the AIA 2030 Commitment. By embracing values—commitment, creativity, environmental stewardship, fun, integrity, ownership, sharing, teamwork—we elevate the human experience through design, together.

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