Lab Planner - Tech Research & Development

Your Role

Gensler’s San Jose office is seeking a Senior Tech R&D Lab Planner to join our Advanced Tech team. This interior architecture role is suited for a lab planning specialist with a minimum of 10 years of experience, working in complex R&D and technical environments.  An architectural license is preferred but not required for this role.

The role focuses on supporting our Silicon Valley partners in designing the hardware fueling the Artificial Intelligence movement. Project work centers on dry lab environments, including bench labs, clean rooms, chamber rooms, data hall labs, and SCIFs. The position will support facilities for semiconductor testing, advanced manufacturing, GPU rack testing, and robotics development, amongst other disciplines.  The candidate may not be experienced in all of these lab types, but has a willingness to learn and help grow within our team. 

The Lab Planner will bring strong programming and planning skills, with the ability to guide clients toward optimal lab layouts while balancing technical, operational, and spatial constraints. Experience integrating workplace environments with lab spaces is essential, along with the ability to collaborate closely with stakeholders to deliver highly functional, flexible interior solutions. 

The candidate functions well within a team structure, leveraging expertise across Gensler and collaborating with our partner consultants and contractors.  As our Silicon Valley clients tend to have global reach, we will also work with Gensler team members in our offices around the globe.  Lastly, the candidate will have a willingness to nurture and grow our junior designers interested in R&D lab design work.

What You Will Do

• Work directly with clients, internal teams, researchers and related end-users to develop laboratory planning strategies at all levels of detail including new construction and renovations.
• Offer and support creative, sustainability-focused laboratory planning, technical design and detailing decisions that are in line with project goals, yet pushing the envelope beyond traditional approaches to lab design, particularly in private industry
• Provide technical lab, documentation oversight and quality control (QC) reviews. Provide or follow verbal and written instructions to revise, develop and produce plans, elevations and details appropriately.
• Direct document production in accordance with identified project specific checklists, Gensler standards and QA/QC standard program.
• Day-to-day project and client management of laboratory projects from initial planning through construction
• Assist in the development of standard materials that describe the portfolio, systems, processes of Gensler’s Advanced Tech and Mission Critical Facilities.
• Work closely with office and studio leaders to identify and recruit best-in-class talent.
• Lead the relationships with the client, contractor, agencies, as well as engineering and specialty consultants.
• Manage mid-size to large project teams, mentor junior staff. 

Your Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Architecture from an accredited school with at least 10+ years of architectural or related experience.
• Licensure is preferred but not required**
• Proficiency in Revit is preferred.
• Knowledge of laboratory programming delivery and how design impacts those systems –including space, operational, and equipment programming, as well as MEP systems and casework.
• Substantial experience working directly senior management representatives, scientists, laboratory managers and technicians, facilities and project managers, and other project stakeholders in determining and documenting programmatic requirements.
• LEED accredited preferred. Committed to the principles of sustainable design and resilient communities, able to demonstrate this commitment in a portfolio of work.
• Demonstrable working technical knowledge and skill set to guide discussions for laboratory (including vivarium) room/space development in conjunction with equipment and other technical attributes.
• Ability to work with end users to develop process flows, planning process and critical adjacencies of research and laboratory rooms for optimum efficiency and flexibility.
• Leadership experience, including managing client expectations, multi-disciplinary team, and meeting scope/schedule/budget.
• Advanced knowledge of the architectural planning and design process, construction documentation, construction administration and code requirements.
• Possess strong presentation skills with the ability to articulate ideas in interviews and other presentations.
• Skilled at developing and motivating teams of people both internally and externally, along with a desire to mentor team members.

For consideration, please submit your cover letter, resume, and portfolio in PDF format.

*The base salary will be estimated between $110,000 - $170,000 plus bonuses and benefits and contingent on relevant experience 

This position requires you to be in the San Jose Office 5 days per week. If you’re open to relocating to Silicon Valley, please apply! 

Learn about our San Jose, CA team: https://www.gensler.com/offices/san-jose 

**Notice: At Gensler an unlicensed Lab Planner will have the job title of Lab Designer and operate in this capacity for alignment with internal programs, doing business with clients and compliance with industry and government regulations. If you have questions regarding this notice, please ask our Talent Acquisition team during the application process. 

Life at Gensler 

At Gensler, we are as committed to enjoying life as we are to delivering best-in-class design. From curated art exhibits to internal design competitions to “Well-being Week,” our offices reflect our people’s diverse interests. 

We encourage every person at Gensler to lead a healthy and balanced life. Our comprehensive benefits include medical, dental, vision, disability, wellness programs, flex spending, paid holidays, and paid time off. We also offer a 401k, profit sharing, employee stock ownership, and twice annual bonus opportunities. Our annual base salary range has been established based on local markets. 

As part of the firm’s commitment to licensure and professional development, Gensler offers reimbursement for certain professional licenses and associated renewals and exam fees. In addition, we reimburse tuition for certain eligible programs or classes. We view our professional development programs as strategic investments in our future. ​ 

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