Discipline Leader – Computational Design

Discipline Leader – Computational Design

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.

 About Us:

 Founded in 1975, Salas O’Brien is an employee-owned engineering and professional services firm focused on achieving impact for our clients, our team, and the world. We know that tomorrow’s requirements are today’s opportunities, and we are here to design lasting solutions for pressing challenges.

 We work across a variety of industries providing integrated engineering and consulting services. Our specialized experience includes design for data centers, healthcare, science and technology, high-rise buildings, clean energy, education, and other building types as well as structural and building sciences, infrastructure asset management, advanced robotics, and more.

 Our technical expertise is paired with an exceptional team of business development, human resources, finance and accounting, information technology, and marketing professionals, all of whom play a key role in bringing our commitments to life every day.

 Job Summary: 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.

This role sits at the intersection of urban design, ecological systems, and integrated energy infrastructure, driving technical innovation that enables world-class design of both ecological and engineered systems for the benefit of humanity and the environment.

The Discipline Leader will work across multiple disciplines to develop the computational tools, digital workflows, and analytical capabilities that enable adaptive, resilient, and future-ready environments. This leader will champion the use of computational design, artificial intelligence, advanced simulation, and digital twins to transform how projects are imagined, designed, and delivered.

This position requires both visionary thinking and practical execution, partnering with technical leaders throughout the organization to advance innovation while supporting business growth and exceptional client outcomes.

Responsibilities:

Computational Design Leadership

• 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.

Digital Innovation

• 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.

Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration

• 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.

Technical Excellence

• 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.

Business Development

• 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.

Research & Industry Leadership

• 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.

Why This Role Stands Out:

This is an opportunity to define the future of computational design within one of the nation's leading integrated engineering and consulting firms. You will shape how artificial intelligence, computational modeling, digital twins, and advanced analytics transform the planning and design of cities, campuses, ecological systems, and infrastructure.

Rather than leading a single discipline or office, you will influence technical excellence across the organization, helping create adaptive, resilient, and technology-enabled environments that improve outcomes for our clients and communities. 

Location: Remote – New York

Travel: Up to 25%

Compensation & Benefits:

Salas O’Brien health and welfare benefits are designed to invest in you, and in the things you care about. Your health. Your well-being. Your security. Your future. Team members have access to medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance, a 401(k) plan, and the ability to purchase company stock at a discount.  Salas O’Brien has both U.S. and Canadian (PTO) plans for full-time salaried, exempt and non-team members, 10 paid holidays, and paid leave programs for military service and new parents. And certain roles may be eligible for additional rewards, including merit increases, performance discretionary bonus, and stock.

The base salary range for this position is $180 – $190k. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.

 Equal Opportunity Employment Statement

Salas O’Brien provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, colour, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state/provincial, or local laws. Salas O’Brien will accommodate the disability-related needs of applicants as required by law.