Rootlab is a multidisciplinary design and fabrication firm specializing in large-scale, custom projects for museums, cultural institutions, and immersive attractions. Our work involves a high degree of complexity, creative problem-solving, and cross-disciplinary coordination.
We are currently seeking a Design Manager to help manage our growing design team. This is a leadership role responsible for overseeing and guiding all phases of design. This role is responsible for the management of the Design Team, ensuring team members are supported, project workflows are maintained, and deliverables meet quality standards. They provide strategic and technical leadership, enforce quality and efficiency standards, and support business development efforts through informed planning and coordination. This position reports directly to the Director of Design.
Job Responsibilities
Project Workflow Oversight
- Conduct frequent check-ins with Project Teams weekly to identify and resolve bottlenecks and accelerate project timelines.
- Maintain active communication with the Director of Production regarding technical approaches on projects and Design Team needs
- Review and approve internal design deliverables for fabricability, installability, and technical integration.
- Coordinate with Project Teams on client facing design deliverables, as well as site conditions and design deliverables required for installation.
- Coordinate with Director of Design on design deliverables needed for fabrication output.
- Consult with Director of Design and Project Teams on approaches to maintain alignment with Scope of Work, Design capacity, and Production capacity.
- Coordinate Design output with Engineering team and Project Engineers on cross-departmental design integration.
- Contribute to Design output when needed to meet deadlines or support workflow.
- Identifies Design workflow inefficiencies and coordinates with Project Teams and Director of Production for mitigations.
Design Team Management
- Develop work orders in coordination with Project Teams and Director of Production to provide clear instructions for Design Team on design deliverables.
- Anticipate, identify, and request from Project Teams missing and needed information for Design Team to work effectively on assigned work orders.
- Review work order assignments in Design daily, adjust task delegation based on project timelines, capacity, and project needs
- Assign and prioritize work orders to Design Team members to align project needs, individual queues, and maximize Design Team members’ performance
- Coordinates with Director of Production on over-capacity demands to find resources external to Design Team.
- Reviews and QC’s Design Team output - models, drawings, and various exports for CAM operations
- Review, edit, and approve fabrication team timesheets; monitor for accuracy and completeness
- Provide weekly written reports to Project Teams, Project Sponsors, Director of Production, and Production Manager on anticipated active WOs in Design and anticipated milestones within those projects.
- Support PMs with projected labor hour estimates for effective planning.
- Generate documentation and tracking tools for in-progress fabrication as needed.
Team Development
- Serve as a daily point of contact and mentor for the design team
- Provide ongoing informal performance feedback to team members
- Participate alongside Director of Production in regular performance reviews for Design Team and support team members with development goals.
- Provide and develop training opportunities and growth plans for individual Design Team members.
- Coordinate wage adjustments, promotions, and staffing adjustments with company leadership.
- Participate in hiring decisions, conduct interviews, and approvals for new Design Team staff.
- Train Design Team members on best practices and standards, lead onboarding for new design hires
- Consults with Director of Production on needs for additional positions, staffing needs, workload distribution, and short-term capacity forecasting within Design Team
Business Development Support
- Consults with BizDev Team to produce high-level models to aid speculative project bids where capacity is available and as needed.
Job Requirements
- 4+ years of experience in fabrication, production or design management, or related fields
- In-depth knowledge and experience of varied processes within a CAD/CAM workflow
- Proven leadership experience managing cross-functional design teams
- Strong technical understanding of fabrication methods, materials, and project workflows
- Proficiency with digital fabrication tools, CAD modeling, and construction documentation
- Advanced Rhino 3D modeling skills
- Ability to manage multiple design resources on multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment
- Experience with project budgeting, scheduling, and labor planning preferred
- Ability to quickly learn new systems
- Excellent organizational, communication, and decision-making skills
- Strong creative problem-solving, and interpersonal skills
- The ability to maintain an even temperament under tight deadlines and stressful conditions
- The ability to work well with others to create and maintain a positive work environment
- May require overtime or modified schedules to meet project deadlines
Preferred Skills
- Familiarity with ERP or project tracking systems
- Hands-on experience with fabrication tools and digital production workflows
- Familiarity with digital fabrication softwares such as: SprutCam robot, RhinoCam, and Vetric Aspire CNC.
- Reliable, energetic and self-motivated.
- Cooperative and professional.
Benefits
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance available with 50% company contribution.
- Paid time off and 8 paid holidays.
- 401k Match after 1 year of employment.
- Yearly PPE allowance.
Pay: $70,000.00 - $95,000.00 per year
Benefits:
Application Question(s):
- Do you have advanced proficiency in Rhino 3D specifically for fabrication workflows (not just conceptual modeling)?
- Have you built Rhino models that were directly used for CNC, laser cutting, or other CAM processes?
- How many years have you used Rhino in a professional fabrication or production environment?
- Have you worked on physically large-scale or architectural installations (e.g., exhibits, public art, experiential environments)?
- Do you have hands-on experience designing with multiple interacting materials (e.g., wood, metal, acrylic) in a single project?
- Have you been responsible for ensuring designs are fabrication-ready (tolerances, joinery, install considerations)?
- Have you directly managed a design team of 5 or more people?
- Have you reviewed and approved design output for fabrication (models, drawings, or CAM exports)?
- Have you worked in a workflow where design output directly impacts fabrication timelines (i.e., delays in design delay production/install)?
- Have you prioritized and assigned design work across multiple concurrent projects based on deadlines and production needs?
- How many designers have you managed at one time?
Work Location: In person
