Design Technology Manager

Overview:

Design Technology Manager needed to champion the evolution of our digital practice and push the boundaries of how technology shapes design and the built environments.

Locations: Minneapolis, MN;
Milwaukee, WI;
Boston, MA;
Washington, DC;
San Francisco, Sacramento or Santa Monica, CA

HGA is seeking a Design Technology Manager to guide firmwide strategy while working directly with project teams to elevate visualization, computation, AI‑driven workflows, GIS integration, and project delivery systems. The role blends innovation with execution—advancing new capabilities, optimizing operations, and strengthening collaboration across disciplines. This position balances strategy, innovation, operations, project delivery, team leadership, and hands‑on technical expertise. The Design Technology Manager leads initiatives that improve efficiency, interoperability, design quality, collaboration, and user experience across the firm while supporting both internal operations and billable project work.

The successful candidate will bring deep A/E/C technology expertise, a passion for emerging tools, and the leadership presence to drive complex initiatives that improve efficiency, design quality, and user experience.

• Strengthen collaboration between practice leadership and the Digital Practice group
• Drive the culture of digital practice and technology within the practices, setting the vision, goals, and strategies that guide the research, development, and integration of new tools, technologies, and workflows. Align with firm and practice goals.
• Evaluate emerging technologies, workflows, and digital tools to improve project delivery, collaboration, visualization, automation, and operational efficiency. Recommend solutions that support innovation, scalability, interoperability, and user adoption.
• Support advancement of computational design, Rhino, visualization technologies, GIS capabilities, and digital project delivery practices.
• Partner with leadership to establish priorities, implementation strategies, and long‑term digital practice goals.

• Manage integration of firmwide tools, software platforms, workflows, and digital systems across project teams and disciplines.
• Lead development and governance of standards, templates, libraries, workflows, and digital content resources.
• Ensure consistency and interoperability across digital practice tools and project delivery systems.
• Collaborate with IT and operational teams on software implementation, upgrades, testing, optimization, and resource planning.
• Develop and maintain best practices that support quality, efficiency, and scalable operations.

• Lead communication and engagement efforts that promote user adoption and effective implementation of digital initiatives.
• Structure and conduct training, and support learning initiatives for firmwide staff related to digital practice tools and workflows.
• Translate technical concepts into practical guidance for a broad range of users and stakeholders, including developing training collateral, user documentation, standards resources, and knowledge‑sharing materials.
• Foster a culture of continuous learning, collaboration, and innovation across the organization.

• Manage and support billable project work related to design technology.
• Advise project leadership and design staff on digital strategy, ensuring that the right technology approach and resources align with project goals and aspirations across the full project lifecycle.
• Lead departmental and internal initiatives, including project planning, scheduling, staffing coordination, budgeting input, and execution oversight.
• Develop project estimates, timelines, staffing plans, and go/no‑go recommendations for technology‑related initiatives and support efforts.
• Support project teams requiring advanced technical specialization, complex workflows, or creative problem solving.
• Operate with a high level of autonomy while aligning priorities with departmental workplans, operational goals, and leadership…