Computational Design Lead AAM - Allies and Morrison

Cdfam Computational Design Symposium; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading architectural practice in the United Kingdom is seeking an experienced Computational Design Lead to head their Design Technology team. The role involves integrating computational design tools into large-scale projects, managing and mentoring a team, and enhancing automated workflows. Candidates should have at least 5 years of experience in an architectural setting, excellent knowledge of Rhino, and proficiency in programming languages like C# and Python. This position offers a great opportunity to advance technology in architecture.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of professional experience in computational design within an architectural practice.
• Excellent knowledge of Rhino for large-scale projects.
• Strong proficiency in C# and/or Python.

Responsibilities

• Lead the integration of computational design tools on complex architectural projects.
• Manage and mentor a team of computational designers.
• Drive optimization of design workflows and automate tasks.

Skills

Computational design

Team leadership

Communication

Programming in C# and Python

Rhino expertise

Tools

Revit

Grasshopper

Environmental analysis tools

GitHub

Job description

We are seeking an experienced Computational Design Lead to join our central Design Technology team. In this key role, you will be instrumental in leading the use of technology on our architectural project teams and driving automation across the practice.

Reporting to the Head of Design Technology, you will be instrumental in future‑proofing our practice, ensuring our architectural software portfolio is robustly supported and continually evolving at the cutting‑edge of design technology.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the integration of computational design and analysis tools across large‑scale masterplanning and complex architectural projects.
• Engage with our clients and collaborators to develop innovative design approaches on our projects.
• Manage and mentor a team of computational designers to identify automation opportunities and develop project‑specific computational strategies.
• Drive thought leadership within the Design Technology team and manage the implementation of computational design strategies on complex projects.
• Lead the optimisation of design workflows, automate repetitive tasks and embed environmental analysis in the design process.
• Provide front‑line software support for architectural teams and establish and maintain practice‑wide modelling standards for Rhino and other computational platforms.
• Develop and maintain in‑house tools and script libraries to meet project team requirements and maintain Rhino content and templates, including family and Grasshopper libraries.
• Support technology interoperability, including the integration of in‑house and third‑party applications like Revit, Enscape, Speckle and environmental analysis tools.
• Lead the development of internal training materials and skill‑development workshops on Rhino modelling.
• Lead and contribute to R&D initiatives exploring new tools and workflows.

Essential Skills & Experience

• A minimum of 5 years of professional experience in a computational design role within an architectural practice. Experience leading a team of computational designers would be highly desirable.
• Excellent knowledge of Rhino, particularly its application on large‑scale building and masterplan projects, including project setup and template development.
• Strong proficiency with programming languages such as C# and/or Python, and visual scripting with Grasshopper.
• Excellent communication skills and experience engaging with client teams.
• Ability to prioritise tasks in a fast‑paced environment.
• Experience working with environmental analysis packages such as Ladybug, Honeybee and Radiance.
• Experience working collaboratively with programming languages and using platforms like GitHub.
• Experience working with Rhino API documentation and the integration of AI Large Language Models (LLMs) would be highly desirable.
• Experience with BIM tools such as Revit, including Revit‑Rhino interoperability workflows.
• Strong desire to explore emerging technologies and a dedication to self‑learning and research.