Director of Design, Engineering & Architecture

Director of Design, Engineering & Architecture

Permanent role, on-site

Location: Vancouver, BC

Important: Due to the immediate needs of the business, applicants must possess the mandatory qualifications and experience outlined in this posting. The successful candidate will bring a demonstrated track record in comparable roles and experience that closely aligns with the scope, technical requirements, and leadership responsibilities of the position. Only candidates who meet the required qualifications will be considered for the selection process.

About the Company

Our client is a building science and technology company headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia. They are pioneers of building systems innovation, redefining constructability to dramatically accelerate the time it takes to bring buildings to life.

At the heart of their approach lie the principles of Industrialized Construction, integrating product-process-production across design, development and engineering. The organization is passionately driven by its mission to transform the construction industry and deliver innovative building solutions through advanced manufacturing and configurable building products. They bring together creative ideas with acknowledged thought leadership to offer practical solutions that accelerate housing supply, enhance livability, and reduce environmental footprint in the industry.

As a company, they pride themselves on values and core attributes of creativity, collaboration and integrity, acting with a “force-multiplier” effect to drive every endeavor. They seek to engage individuals who share a common interest and appetite to build, scale, operate and grow a company that is a leader, not a follower.

The company is seeking to appoint a Director of Design, Engineering & Architecture to provide leadership of the design, coordination, and technical delivery of building projects, along with the strategic direction and execution of future product portfolios, product IP, and IP technology development.

This role combines strong architectural expertise with a passion and flair for industrial design and product development, modular engineering, and an inquisitive mindset focused on addressing the shortcomings of today’s construction industry through the introduction of new technologies and product innovations.

Why This Role Matters

A leader in this role is not just a designer or architect. They are a strategic contributor who ensures that every product and project is functional, manufacturable, buildable, compliant, beautiful, and aligned with business goals.

In the environments of Industrialized Construction and modularization, this role becomes crucial, bridging the gap between design intent, manufacturing, and architectural achievement.

The Director of Design, Engineering & Architecture is expected to demonstrate strong leadership, rigorous attention to quality and detail, and the ability to collaborate across multidisciplinary teams including manufacturing, site construction, and third-party vendors critical to business execution.

The position carries responsibility for developing and executing joint business strategies that optimize the company’s ability to achieve results, make meaningful advancements in manufacturing and productivity, and deliver upon economic goals.

Core Responsibilities

Design, Product & Project Engineering

• Lead the development of design, engineering and architectural solutions for projects and products.
• Establish and maintain the design and architectural roadmap, providing a medium- to long-term vision for clients, industry stakeholders and the company.
• Manage architectural deliverables, schedules, and resource planning, including the creation of construction drawings, specifications and technical details.
• Ensure compliance with building codes, zoning regulations and industry standards.
• Coordinate with internal teams (engineering, manufacturing and procurement) and external consultants on materials and technology developments, integrating innovations into products and projects to showcase the company’s vision, thought leadership and market focus.
• Provide stewardship, oversight and guidance during project construction, including site reviews and issue resolution.
• Conduct technical reviews and resolve design challenges.
• Maintain rigor in quality control across all architectural and product outputs.
• Lead internal design audits and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Promote a culture of design creativity, engineering excellence and innovative thinking.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely across key internal groups and personnel to jointly achieve company goals and targets.
• Provide support and guidance to manufacturing and production teams through design-for-buildability concepts and manufactured solutions.
• Mentor junior architects and designers, providing technical guidance and professional development.

Leadership & Business Performance

• Lead by example while mentoring and developing a high-performing team.
• Foster a culture of design excellence, creativity and passion for engineering innovation.
• Champion collaboration, teamwork and knowledge sharing.
• Partner with leadership team members to develop company strategy, product and project plans, budgets, and long-term growth capabilities.
• Support organizational initiatives related to growth, continuous improvement and business transformation.

Qualifications & Preferred Experience

• Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Architecture.
• Licensed Architect (RAIC, AIBC, or equivalent).
• Additional certifications in sustainability (LEED, Passive House, etc.) are considered assets.
• 10-15+ years of architectural experience with progressively increasing responsibility.
• Proven track record delivering mid-scale building and construction projects.
• Experience in modular design, CLT construction and prefabrication is highly valued.
• Proficiency in Revit, AutoCAD, BIM workflows and 3D visualization tools.
• Strong understanding of building systems, materials and construction methodologies.
• Experience managing budgets, project proformas and project performance metrics.
• Strong presentation and communication skills, with the ability to engage effectively with clients, partners and internal stakeholders.
• Strong decision-making and problem-solving capabilities.

Success Factors

• Hands-on leader, self-starter and strong collaborator who works effectively with peers across the leadership team.
• Subject matter expert in their discipline.
• Creative and confident in their abilities.
• Comfortable starting from a zero-position environment, establishing a new internal function, owning the journey and developing the future of the department.
• Proven ability to lead, grow and develop a high-performing functional team.