Chief Design Technology Officer

at  Skidmore Owings Merrill

At SOM, we are a collective committed to shaping a better future for our clients, communities and planet. We aspire to create the most sustainable, impactful work through creative, interdisciplinary teams with all the resources and diversity of a global firm. We value those who are passionate about excellence, innovation, integrity, inclusivity, and collaboration. Together we can achieve great things.

Success at SOM Means

• Ideas: We believe in a meritocracy of ideas. We look to everyone to actively contribute to the discourse in the firm.
• Knowledge: We believe that expertise is the result of lifelong learning. We are not expected to know everything, but rather to passionately pursue answers, develop new skills and deepen our knowledge.
• Product: We strive for excellence in the concept, quality, and delivery of our work.
• Individual: We value individuals who bring the highest standards of professionalism and personal integrity in the way they work. Each person can develop and contribute their wealth of attributes, skills and knowledge to support the overall health of the firm.
• Team: We value the power of interdisciplinary integration. A positive team culture in which everyone collaborates openly towards common goals is essential.
• Firm: We have a history of making transformative contributions to the profession and our communities. We are constantly innovating and attempting to bring new approaches, solutions and processes to our work.

Office of Technology Vision: Elevating SOM with cutting-edge technology that empowers our people and advances the industry.
Office of Technology Mission: Enhance design and innovation with powerful, user-first technology for frictionless creativity and industry-leading global impact.
Position Overview
We are seeking a Chief Design Technology Officer (CDTO) to expand our architects’ and engineers’ design capabilities and increase connectivity with project partners such as specialist or builders through design technology tools and workflows. The CDTO will provide a design-thinking strategy to sharpen SOM’s approach to design technology disruption by optimizing design processes through automation of quantitative and qualitative design feedback, data management and by democratizing knowledge. Disseminating user-centric practices and design tools, and by representing the design and the user, this transformational position will empower a thriving community of designers who are well-supported, trained for excellence, and able to collaborate with peers in multiple functions. The CDTO will partner closely with our CIO in a peer-based relationship to deliver a comprehensive set of technology services to the firm that will enable our business to thrive.
Key Objectives
Technology Vision: Define the firm’s design technological direction, focusing on adopting innovative technologies to achieve competitive edges. Stay updated with emerging trends & align these to the firm’s objectives.
Technical Leadership: Provide leadership to design technology teams, offering guidance on complex tech issues and making key decisions regarding architectural standards and platforms used in product development. Collaborate with Design Technology Directors to align data strategies in design workflows and solutions to respond to AI opportunities and the emergence of new tools.
Data Leadership: Lead development of data strategies that cover collection, storage, analysis, integration and utilization to inform design and business insights. Collaborate with Design Technology Directors to align data strategies in design workflows and solutions to respond to AI opportunities and the emergence of new tools.
Infrastructure Definition: Understand the tools, systems, and infrastructure needed to support design technology initiatives and solutions, and work with the CIO to define and build solutions that are sustainable, scalable, and cost effective for our long-term business needs.
Product Development: Spearhead new design focused product development to address user needs that prioritizes market-available solutions. Collaborate closely with product teams to embed technological considerations into product design and development processes.
R&D and Innovation: Lead research and development (R&D) activities to drive innovation within the domain software and tools utilized by our design and engineering disciplines. Explore new technologies, prototyping, and managing patent applications for innovations in collaboration with SOM Research and Innovation (R+I).

Position Responsibilities

• Through a deep understanding of the impact of design technology on the AEC industry, connect core business activities with best-fit technology solutions and support. Bring forward the most up-to-date insights into users’ reactions to new concepts and prototypes relative to those of competitors to help predict shifting market behavior.
• Establish strategy for design technology focused on enhancing and optimizing services and delivery and supporting ideation in day to day workflows.
• Oversee talent management of SOM’s Design Technology practice through direct supervision, talent development and recruitment.
• Collaborate with design leaders and their teams to align desired workflows and the digital tools to effectively introduce new technological solutions through a strong approach to change management.
• Establish priorities for investment in Design Technology resources (hardware, software and expertise) and monitor the ROI of implemented strategies as well as successfully manage Design Technology resource development, software development and platform testing.
• Establish and manage Design Technology budgets, develop an approach to defining project based costs and general overhead to support Design Technology efforts.
• Lead the delivery of complex design technology projects while evaluating available software to address our needs by balancing the effort associated with testing, debugging, training and alignment with existing tool ecologies already in use.
• Organize in-house advisory council/communities to assess how well the software offers the required solution. Explore new service types and delivery methods for long term resiliency.
• Monitor trends in the AEC industry and their relevance to the Firm to provide industry leading project delivery solutions. Knowledge of tools currently available and where these tools fit in the desired processes and the spectrum of software applications used across the firm. Knowledge of how to expand these features within a given tool via scripting and programming.
• Ensures strong commitment to strategy by effectively communicating, to both technical and non-technical stakeholders, the relevant tactics and priorities to all levels of the Office of Technology, leadership and departments as applicable.
• Manages all aspects of design technology operations including architecture, infrastructure, applications and production support, including establishing and maintaining annual Design Technology budgets.
• Increase creativity and agency in our processes by eliminating the repetitive and laborious aspects of our work.

• Oversee the management of established libraries and databases.

  Leadership Responsibilities

• Acts as a co-leader of the Office of Technology with Technology Officer(s) to provide user-first domain solutions that are aligned to enterprise level solutions.

• Actively leads multiple projects, initiatives and teams within the Design Technology Group.
• Serves as a firm-wide resource in an area of expertise for market, discipline, or department.
• Engages in talent strategy to find specialists, leaders, and future professionals for the firm through resume review, interviews, and leveraging personal network. Directly supervises, trains, and mentors team members.
• Creates and drives new ways of working through contributing to the development of services, standards, procedures based in an understanding of the business principles that protect SOM from financial and legal risk.

Minimum Qualifications

• Minimum of 15 yrs experience with architectural and/or engineering design, development, documentation, and detailing or equivalent knowledge, skills and abilities.
• Knowledge of tools currently available and where these tools fit in the desired processes and the spectrum of software applications used across the firm. Knowledge of how to expand these features within a given tool via scripting and programming.
• Proven ability to develop financial models of ROI for proposed technology to guide decision making.
• Bachelor’s degree in relevant field required.
• Professional licensure preferred.
• Demonstrated advanced knowledge of architectural and/or engineering practices.
• Demonstrated advanced knowledge of software programming and scripting.
• Demonstrated ability to modernize technology, establish successful integration patterns and use emerging technologies to address opportunities to grow the business.
• Demonstrated experience and leadership in managing a team of professionals to meet end user support services for geographically dispersed organizations.
• Excellent interpersonal, technology management, problem-solving, customer service, and oral and written communications skills.
• Exceptional knowledge of enterprise technology systems.
• Demonstrated experience operating within a complex and fast paced environment.
• Expert-level proficiency in Revit, Rhino, Grasshopper, AutoCAD, Rendering software, Coding (Python, C#, Javascript) MS Office, Google Workspace and web-based tools.

Are you ready to join a team of creative professionals working on transformational projects around the world? Take advantage of this exciting opportunity to build a better future with SOM.
Our Benefits:
Health and Wellness: Medical, dental, vision, disability, and life & accident insurance
Savings: 401K matching, pre-tax spending accounts, and employee discount programs
Work/Life Balance: Inquire about our hybrid/flexible schedules, paid family leave, paid vacation, backup child and elder care, and an employee assistance program
Professional Development: Reimbursement for professional licenses, associated renewals, and exam fees as well as specialized in-house career development
Compensation for this role is based upon experience, qualifications, location, and education and typically ranges from $220,000 to $270,000.
Our Culture:
Our creative, interdisciplinary teams work like small, dynamic studios, with all the resources and diversity of a global firm. Here, you’ll collaborate with industry experts on some of the most exciting and transformative architecture, engineering, and planning projects in the world.
We believe an inclusive environment improves our teams, our firm, and our communities and are passionate about Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Our
DEI Action Plan
was created to bring meaningful change to our profession, starting with our own culture and practices.
We are proud to be an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer.
Visit this page
to learn more about SOM’s employment policy as well as additional information such as a privacy notice for California residents and how to apply offline.
For more about SOM:
www.som.co

Position Responsibilities

• Through a deep understanding of the impact of design technology on the AEC industry, connect core business activities with best-fit technology solutions and support. Bring forward the most up-to-date insights into users’ reactions to new concepts and prototypes relative to those of competitors to help predict shifting market behavior.
• Establish strategy for design technology focused on enhancing and optimizing services and delivery and supporting ideation in day to day workflows.
• Oversee talent management of SOM’s Design Technology practice through direct supervision, talent development and recruitment.
• Collaborate with design leaders and their teams to align desired workflows and the digital tools to effectively introduce new technological solutions through a strong approach to change management.
• Establish priorities for investment in Design Technology resources (hardware, software and expertise) and monitor the ROI of implemented strategies as well as successfully manage Design Technology resource development, software development and platform testing.
• Establish and manage Design Technology budgets, develop an approach to defining project based costs and general overhead to support Design Technology efforts.
• Lead the delivery of complex design technology projects while evaluating available software to address our needs by balancing the effort associated with testing, debugging, training and alignment with existing tool ecologies already in use.
• Organize in-house advisory council/communities to assess how well the software offers the required solution. Explore new service types and delivery methods for long term resiliency.
• Monitor trends in the AEC industry and their relevance to the Firm to provide industry leading project delivery solutions. Knowledge of tools currently available and where these tools fit in the desired processes and the spectrum of software applications used across the firm. Knowledge of how to expand these features within a given tool via scripting and programming.
• Ensures strong commitment to strategy by effectively communicating, to both technical and non-technical stakeholders, the relevant tactics and priorities to all levels of the Office of Technology, leadership and departments as applicable.
• Manages all aspects of design technology operations including architecture, infrastructure, applications and production support, including establishing and maintaining annual Design Technology budgets.
• Increase creativity and agency in our processes by eliminating the repetitive and laborious aspects of our work.
• Oversee the management of established libraries and databases

Leadership Responsibilities

• Acts as a co-leader of the Office of Technology with Technology Officer(s) to provide user-first domain solutions that are aligned to enterprise level solutions.
• Actively leads multiple projects, initiatives and teams within the Design Technology Group.
• Serves as a firm-wide resource in an area of expertise for market, discipline, or department.
• Engages in talent strategy to find specialists, leaders, and future professionals for the firm through resume review, interviews, and leveraging personal network. Directly supervises, trains, and mentors team members.
• Creates and drives new ways of working through contributing to the development of services, standards, procedures based in an understanding of the business principles that protect SOM from financial and legal risk