Merrick & Company is seeking for a Senior Architect to coordinate and oversee the work of a highly qualified team of architects and engineers providing Advisory and Assistance Services (A&AS) to the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) of the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD). The A&AS Engineering Team is an integral part of the Program Integration (PI) group within the larger A&AS team. The Engineering Team supports international projects for the DoD in a multi-disciplinary environment that includes project managers, scientists, biosafety, and biosecurity experts, among others.

The A&AS Engineering Team Lead is a subject matter expert (SME) acting as owner’s representative ensuring that design and construction projects are planned and executed with the highest level of quality and in line with international industry standards. In this position, the team lead conducts design reviews and technical evaluations of construction documents and assists DTRA project managers in acquisition activities including source selection, evaluation of proposals, and project schedules.

Additionally, the successful candidate will be the main point of contact (PoC) for other groups within the A&AS larger team. This position is responsible for balancing the workload of the Engineering Team, assigning resources for engineering tasks, and conducting quality assurance reviews of all deliverables.

Client projects for this position requires U.S. Citizenship, an active US DOD Secret Clearance, or the ability and willingness to obtain a Secret clearance.

DUTIES

• Successful candidate will be a subject matter expert (SME) acting as owner’s representative for an Agency of the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD)
• Employ solid architectural skills in supporting diverse DoD’s missions through design and construction projects abroad (OCONUS)
• Conduct site and facility assessments to define functional requirements for new construction and renovation projects
• Provide technical assistance to project managers in developing the scope of work (SOW) for new construction and renovation projects
• Perform technical evaluations of proposals from third-party A/E firms focusing on completeness, overall adherence to SOW and schedule realism
• Conduct thorough technical review of construction documents developed by third-party A/E firms
• Mentor and coordinate the work of younger staff
• Attend meetings with DoD personnel and international project stakeholders
• Some international travel will be required to meet project stakeholders and/or assess existing conditions of existing structures
• Preparation of technical trip reports containing detailed narratives and illustrations of findings
• Participate in national/international design charrettes acting as owner’s representative
• Develop and manage schedule and budgets for projects

REQUIRED SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS:

• Education/Experience: Masters plus 20 years’ experience, or Bachelors plus 25 years of experience.
• DoD SECRET clearance or higher, or ability to obtain a U.S. clearance.
• Capable of working independently with minimal oversight as the team’s A/E expert.
• Demonstrated expertise in architectural design document review and markup.
• Demonstrated use of state-of-the-art architectural tools, techniques, and approaches in executing A/E support.

DESIRED SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS:

• Experience working internationally and/or in resource-constrained countries.
• Experience working with the U.S. government on areas concerning national security.
• Familiarity with State-level and regional WMD threats.
• Familiarity with nonproliferation obligations, approaches, and objectives.
• Excellent communication, written, and organizational skills.
• Ability to work on multiple projects which includes prioritizing, tracking, attention to detail, follow-up, and follow-through to project completion.
• Flexibility/adaptability to work in a fast-paced environment.
• A registered Architect (R.A.) in state of employment, or ability to get reciprocity, is preferred.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to sit for extended periods at a computer workstation.
• Be able to work in an environment with open discussions and visitors without getting distracted.
• May be required to lift up to 20 lbs.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• Meets expectations for attendance and punctuality.
• Travel (CONUS or OCONUS) of about 20% is required.
• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

Additional information

• Apply online only. No email, hard copy or third-party resumes accepted.
• Merrick & Company offers a competitive compensation and benefits package which includes health insurance, dental and vision coverage, employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) opportunity, 401(k) options, and paid time off (PTO). This position is also eligible for annual performance and spot bonuses.
• We recognize the importance of developing top talent from within, our employees have access to a wide range of internal and external training as well as coaching and peer mentoring programs.
• An Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability/vets.
• We maintain a drug-free workplace and perform pre-employment substance abuse testing.