Design Automation Manager
Grow with the best. Join a smart, creative, and inspired team that works to support operational excellence. The Stantec community unites more than 31,000 employees working in over 450 locations across 6 continents. Our Functional Services Teams (FSTs) include Corporate Development, Finance, HR, HSSE, IT, Legal, Marketing/Communications, Practice Services and Real Estate and Procurement. Bringing together individuals with diverse backgrounds, talents, and expertise, our FSTs are vital to making our Company stronger.
Your Opportunity
Stantec’s Digital Center of Excellence is seeking an experienced professional to drive our design automation initiative forward. As part of the Design Automation team, you'll play a key role in implementing the firm's digital transformation, focusing on advancing and developing design automation solutions across Stantec’s five business lines (Buildings, Energy & Resources, Environmental Services, Infrastructure, and Water). You'll provide expert guidance, contribute to our technological vision, and develop innovative solutions that enhance our design practices, shaping the future of digital design at Stantec. As a member of the team, you’ll also engage in new product research & testing, lead the discovery and incubation of design automation ideas, and help identify and apply applications for generative and AI adjacent technologies that can augment existing solutions within our enterprise.
The Design Automation team employs traditional and visual programming, along with computational methodologies, to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of design and delivery processes across our architecture, engineering, and science disciplines. As such, we're seeking candidates with a strong architecture or engineering background who have cultivated substantial programming skills, particularly in C# and Python. The ideal candidate will have developed these technical abilities specifically to address and automate design challenges they’ve encountered on architecture and engineering projects. We're looking for individuals who can effectively bridge the gap between design thinking and software development, applying their programming expertise to enhance and streamline architectural and engineering processes.
This role requires a unique mindset: one that understands the complexities of design challenges in architecture and engineering, while also possessing the technical acumen to craft innovative automation solutions.
Your Key Responsibilities
- Leading the implementation of design automation solutions across the enterprise, leveraging computational, parametric, and generative design methodologies
- Developing a wide range of solutions, including visual programming graphs, desktop add-ins, and web-based applications
- Gathering functional requirements and understanding pain points in current workflows through stakeholder discussions
- Spearheading conversations to uncover potential design automation opportunities, demonstrating a keen ability to identify root issues and innovative solutions
- Representing the design automation team on multi-team projects, adeptly navigating diverse perspectives to foster collaboration and drive outcomes within complex squads
- Collaborating with cross-functional teams to better understand design challenges and develop tailored automation solutions
- Collaborating closely with the Design Automation leader to shape and implement strategic initiatives, contributing insights to drive the team's evolution and align with broader organizational goals
- Mentoring a team of design automation specialists, fostering a culture of innovation and continuous learning
- Staying abreast of emerging technologies and methodologies in design automation and computational design
- Contributing to the development of best practices and standards for design automation within the organization
- Liaising with project and digital practice teams to ensure seamless integration of automation solutions into existing workflows developed in the CoE
Your Capabilities and Credentials
- Expert knowledge in either Revit or Civil 3D, with a strong preference for individuals who have at least an intermediate to expert knowledge in both.
- Expert proficiency in either Dynamo or Grasshopper, with a strong preference for intermediate to expert knowledge in both; familiarity with generative design tools like Generative Design for Revit or Galapagos is a valuable asset
- Proficiency in C# and Python programming.
- Proficiency in one or more Autodesk APIs (Revit, Civil 3D, AutoCAD).
- Working knowledge of Python computing, data analysis, and visualization libraries (e.g., Pandas, SciPy, NumPy, Streamlit, Shiny) is highly valued.
- Working knowledge of Visual Studio, Azure DevOps, and Jira is considered an asset.
- Working knowledge on REST API and Autodesk Platform Services (APS) is considered an asset.
- Experience in leading the development of digital assets as a product project lead is highly valued.
- Passion for driving success in architecture, engineering, and science business lines through design/delivery technology and automation.
- Strong analytical thinking and problem-solving skills, with the ability to develop innovative solutions.
- Solid understanding of design principles and practices in architecture and engineering.
- Excellent communication and documentation skills, able to convey complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences.
- Ability to navigate complex, multi-team environments while maintaining focus on objectives.
- Excellent project management skills, including effective organization, planning, prioritization, and time management
- Balanced decision-making skills, knowing when to seek guidance and when to take initiative.
- Inquisitive nature with a desire to gain a deeper understanding of issues and challenge perceptions diplomatically
- Strong interpersonal skills for various interactions with coworkers, clients, and supervisors.
Education and Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in architecture, engineering, computational design, or a related field with a focus on BIM, CAD, and computational design technologies.
- Minimum of 10 years of experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job such as those listed above.
- Master’s Degree would be considered an asset
This description is not a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that may be required of the employee and other duties, responsibilities and activities may be assigned or may be changed at any time with or without notice.
Stantec is a place where the best and brightest come to build on each other’s talents, do exciting work, and make an impact on the world around us. Join us and redefine your personal best