Technical Engineering Design Manager

At Salas O’Brien we tell our clients that we’re engineered for impact. This passion for making a difference applies just as much to our team as it does to our projects. That’s why we’re committed to living our values every day: inspiring, achieving, and connecting as shared owners of our success with a focus on a sustainable future.

Building for the long-term means that all of our team members can expect to work on amazing projects with a people-first approach to problem solving. It also means that each member of our team has truly limitless potential to build a unique, meaningful, and high-impact career—and they’ll receive great total rewards along the way.

We are seeking a Technical Engineering Design Manager who can lead a multidisciplinary team of engineers through the full lifecycle of complex, first-of-its-kind design-build programs. We are currently working on projects and have openings available to support the modernization of Department of Energy and National Nuclear Security Administration facilities contributing to the mission of defending the United States and supporting the nation's nuclear security enterprise.

Job Summary:

The Technical Engineering Design Manager serves as the technical and coordination lead for large, multidisciplinary design-build programs, with particular emphasis on secure, high-hazard, first-of-its-kind facilities where no directly comparable government template exists. The position's responsibilities primarily focus on directing the work of architectural, structural, mechanical, electrical, fire protection, civil, process, security, and environmental engineering leads from initial process/concept development through construction-ready design and into engineering support during construction.

This role requires providing technical leadership across progressive design milestones (concept, 35%, 65%, 95%, final), managing cross-disciplinary coordination and conflict resolution, and serving as the primary technical point of contact between the design team and the client's own engineering and program stakeholders. Qualified candidates will meet with clients, discipline leads, security/classification authorities, code officials, and construction teams to resolve complex, cross-disciplinary technical issues and develop effective working relationships across a program's full lifecycle.

The project clientele includes Federal Government (DOE/NNSA), Department of Defense, national laboratory-adjacent programs, and other complex institutional and industrial facilities.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Lead and coordinate a multidisciplinary team of architectural, structural, mechanical, electrical, fire protection, civil, process, environmental, and security engineering leads through all phases of design development.
• Direct the translation of client mission requirements, process information, and security/hazard classification criteria (e.g., ICD 705, IBC H-2) into a coordinated Basis of Design and progressive design packages.
• Manage design-phase value engineering, constructability review, material selection, and long-lead item identification processes across all disciplines.
• Resolve cross-disciplinary design conflicts (e.g., between security zoning and life-safety egress, or between structural and process utility routing) before they reach construction.
• Oversee design quality control and progressive design review/comment‑resolution cycles (15%, 35%, 65%, 95%, final).
• Serve as the primary technical point of contact with the client's process engineering, security, and program management stakeholders.
• Coordinate with construction management, ESDC, and commissioning teams to ensure design intent is carried through into field execution.
• Manage design schedule, staffing allocation,…