Senior Computational Designer

Stantec

Stantec

Design

Los Angeles, CA, USA

Posted on Apr 15, 2026

Stantec’s Buildings team is on a mission to become the world’s leading integrated design practice. Our architects, engineers, interior designers, consultants, sustainability specialists, and technologists are passionate about the power of design. Our collaborative culture and our innovative, sustainable approach to projects help us create buildings that matter to our world.

Together, we are enhancing the quality of life globally through design.

Join us and design your place with Stantec.

Your Opportunity

We are seeking a Senior Computational Designer to help define and advance a technology‑forward methodology for Stantec’s integrated design practice. This role focuses on using computation and automation to bridge disciplines, scale best practices, and measurably improve how design is delivered across Buildings and adjacent business lines.

The successful candidate will operate at the intersection of design, technology, and operations—translating project‑based computational innovation into repeatable, firm‑wide capability. This is a senior role for a practitioner who can lead complex design efforts, build and manage a high‑performing computational design team, and clearly articulate the business value and ROI of design computing to firm leadership.

This role is critical to moving computational design from project‑specific expertise to firm‑wide capability. The Senior Computational Designer will help Stantec:

  • Work more seamlessly across disciplines

  • Make design automation operational, not experimental

  • Build a sustainable, billable design computing team

  • Clearly demonstrate the value of computation to leadership and clients

This position is ideal for a design technologist who wants to shape how an integrated practice works, not just how individual tools are built.

Your Responsibilities

Design Integration & Automation

  • Lead the application of computational design and automation on complex architectural projects across multiple scales and sectors.

  • Develop parametric and data‑driven workflows that connect architecture, engineering, sustainability, digital delivery, and visualization.

  • Use automation to reduce friction between disciplines, improve design coordination, and increase speed, clarity, and design quality.

  • Support early‑stage design exploration, option analysis, and decision‑making through computational methods.

  • Partner with project teams to embed computational thinking into everyday design workflows rather than isolated specialist tasks.

Operationalizing Computational Design

  • Collaborate closely with Digital Practice and Digital Delivery teams to transition bespoke scripts and prototypes into robust, supported automations.

  • Help define standards, libraries, and platforms that allow computational tools to be reused and scaled across the firm.

  • Balance innovation with reliability—ensuring tools are maintainable, documented, and aligned with enterprise systems.

  • Contribute to firm‑wide initiatives around automation, interoperability, and data‑driven design.

Team Building & Practice Growth

  • Build, mentor, and manage a team of computational designers aligned to project needs and strategic priorities.

  • Actively advocate for computational design across the firm—educating project leaders on when and how to deploy the team effectively.

  • Ensure the computational design team remains consistently engaged, billable, and delivering visible value.

  • Support recruitment, onboarding, and professional development of design computing talent.

  • Establish clear role definitions and engagement models between computational designers and project teams.

Value, Metrics & Leadership Communication

  • Define and track ROI metrics for computational design, including efficiency gains, risk reduction, design quality, and competitive advantage.

  • Translate technical outcomes into clear business narratives for studio, regional, and discipline leadership.

  • Support business development by articulating the value of design computing in pursuits and client conversations.

  • Provide regular reporting and insight on how computational design contributes to project performance and firm strategy.

Required

  • Advanced expertise in Rhino + Grasshopper for computational and parametric design.

  • Strong experience with Revit and computational workflows that integrate with BIM and digital delivery.

  • Proficiency in scripting or programming (e.g., Python, C#, JavaScript) with an emphasis on reliability and scalability.

  • Demonstrated ability to work across disciplines and translate design intent into actionable computational frameworks.

  • Experience mentoring or leading other designers or technologists.

  • Strong communication skills, particularly the ability to explain technical work in strategic and business terms.

Preferred

  • Experience partnering with enterprise digital, IT, or platform teams.

  • Familiarity with developing internal tools, plug‑ins, or lightweight applications for design teams.

  • Background in systems thinking, process design, or organizational change related to technology adoption.

  • Teaching, lecturing, or thought leadership experience in design technology or computation.

Education & Experience

  • Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Architecture, Engineering, Design Computing, or a related field.

  • 8+ years of professional experience applying computational design within an architectural or integrated design practice.

  • Proven track record of scaling design technology beyond individual projects.

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.

About Stantec

Stantec is a global leader in sustainable engineering, architecture, and environmental consulting. The diverse perspectives of our partners and interested parties drive us to think beyond what’s previously been done on critical issues like climate change, digital transformation, and future-proofing our cities and infrastructure. We innovate at the intersection of community, creativity, and client relationships to advance communities everywhere, so that together we can redefine what’s possible.

Pay Range:

• Locations in WA, DC & Various CA, MA areas-$101,100.00 - $146,700.00 Annually

Pay Transparency: In compliance with pay transparency laws, pay ranges are provided for positions in locations where required. Please note, the final agreed upon compensation is based on individual education, qualifications, experience, and work location. At Stantec certain roles are bonus eligible. Actual compensation for part-time roles will be pro-rated based on the agreed number of working hours per week.

Benefits Summary: Regular full-time and part-time employees (working at least 20 hours per week) have access to medical, dental, and vision plans, a wellness program, health saving accounts, flexible spending accounts, 401(k) plan, employee stock purchase program, life and accidental death & dismemberment (AD&D) insurance, short-term/long-term disability plans, emergency travel benefits, tuition reimbursement, professional membership fee coverage and paid family leave. Regular full-time and part-time employees will receive ten paid holidays in each calendar year. In addition, employees will be eligible to accrue vacation between 10 and 20 days per year and eligible for paid sick leave (and if more generous, in accordance with state and local law).

Temporary/casual employees have access to 401(k) plans, employee stock purchase program, and paid leave, in accordance with state and local law.

The benefits information listed above may not apply to union positions because benefits for such positions are governed by applicable collective bargaining agreements

Primary Location: United States | CA | Los Angeles
Organization: BC-2014 Buildings-US California AID
Employee Status: Regular
Business Justification: New Position
Travel: No
Schedule: Full time
Job Posting: 13/04/2026 07:04:20
Req ID: 1005351

Stantec provides equal employment opportunities to all qualified employees and applicants for future and current employment and prohibit discrimination on the grounds of race, colour, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, genetic information, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. We prohibit discrimination in decisions concerning recruitment, hiring, referral, promotion, compensation, fringe benefits, job training, terminations or any other condition of employment. Stantec is in compliance with laws and regulations and ensures equitable opportunities in all aspects of employment. At Stantec we are committed to ensuring our recruitment process is accessible to all. If you require reasonable adjustments to be made during the recruitment process then please inform a member of our Talent Acquisition team.