Senior Technical Coordinator - Science & Technology

Perkins&Will•San Francisco, CA

2d•Onsite

About The Position

Our San Francisco studio, which is part of a 3,000-person global firm, is expanding its life sciences, biotech, and advanced research sector. We are seeking a Senior Technical Coordinator who views lab planning and MEP coordination as integral design tasks, not secondary considerations. This is not a project management position. The role involves safeguarding the research function by ensuring building systems precisely meet scientific requirements while maintaining design integrity through permitting and value engineering. The Senior Technical Coordinator will lead the design process across all phases for state-of-the-art lab facilities, upholding firm standards, project objectives, and living design principles in a building type with a minimal margin for error. This includes technical coordination across architecture, interior design, landscape, and a comprehensive list of specialty consultants (MEP, structural, lab planning, fume hood, vivarium, cleanroom classification). The role requires responsiveness to technical implications, design decisions, and project financial goals throughout development. Responsibilities also include navigating regulatory reviews and codes specific to lab environments (life safety, hazardous materials, exhaust and ventilation, accessibility), preparing submissions to authorities, conducting quality control reviews at every phase, providing input on constructibility and materials for high-performance systems, and directing quality assurance to ensure adherence to Perkins&Will standards. The position entails end-to-end construction contract administration, including submittal review, RFI response, field observation, and project closeout. Awareness of evolving building technology and lab-specific engineering systems is crucial, as is leadership in design reviews, charettes, and pin-ups to maintain team alignment on intent amidst increasing technical complexity. Client-facing technical discussions require precision, and mentorship of junior staff in lab-specific detailing is expected.

Requirements

10-15+ years in project architecture or technical coordination, with direct lab or other high-compliance building type experience preferred
Deep fluency in construction techniques, system assemblies, and materials selection, lab environments punish generalists
Working knowledge of building, energy, and zoning codes, plus the added layer of lab-specific regulatory requirements (biosafety, chemical hazard, ventilation)
Judgment to lead Quality Control and Quality Assurance efforts across every phase, with the discipline to hold the line on firm standards under project pressure
A track record of leading design reviews, charettes, and pin-ups, and keeping a team aligned on design intent as technical complexity increases
Advanced Revit and conceptual/computational modeling (Rhino, Grasshopper scripting a plus)
Comfort in Enscape, VRay, and physical modeling tools (3D printing, laser cutting) for client-facing presentation
Environmental analysis software experience (Pollination Ladybug, Climate Studio)
LEED GA within 6 months of hire, plus one Living Design accreditation of your choosing (LEED AP, WELL AP, Passive House, ILFI, etc.)
Bachelor's degree in architecture or related discipline
Active progress toward licensure: ARE exams underway, engaged in AXP
A track record of leading construction contract administration directly, not just supervising it, and mentoring others through it

Nice To Haves

Rhino, Grasshopper scripting
LEED AP, WELL AP, Passive House, ILFI accreditation

Responsibilities

Design process leadership across all phases for a state-of-the-art lab facility, holding the line on firm standards, project goals, and living design principles in a building type where the margin for error is thinner than usual
Technical coordination across architecture, interior design, landscape, and a dense specialty-consultant list (MEP, structural, lab planning, fume hood, vivarium, cleanroom classification)
Responsiveness to technical implications, design decisions, and project financial goals as the project moves through development
Regulatory review and code navigation specific to lab environments (life safety, hazardous materials, exhaust and ventilation requirements, accessibility), plus prep of submissions to authorities having jurisdiction
Quality Control review at every phase, and input on constructibility and materials for high-performance systems, from casework and fume hoods to specialized MEP assemblies, in coordination with the project architect
Quality Assurance direction, ensuring the work adheres to Perkins&Will standards start to finish
Construction contract administration end to end: submittal review, RFI response, field observation, and project closeout
Awareness of evolving building technology and lab-specific engineering systems, and what that means for how the project gets built
Leadership of design reviews, charettes, and pin-ups, keeping the team aligned on intent as the technical complexity stacks up
Client-facing technical conversations where "close enough" isn't good enough
Mentorship of junior staff working lab-specific detailing for the first time