Facilities Interface Engineer

SUMMARY

DI exists to relieve the world of mediocre experiences and to create remarkable ones. Our people make the remarkable possible through an unwavering display of uncommon commitment each day.

Reporting to the Engineering Manager and VP Director of Engineering, the Facilities Interface Engineer is an integral part of DI’s Engineering department. The Facilities Interface Engineer (FID) is the point of accountability for how a project’s exhibit design interfaces with the host building. The FID sits between DI’s design teams (SketchUp, Rhino, Adobe Illustrator) and engineering team (SolidWorks), and the outside parties who own the building — the Architect of Record, the Structural Engineer of Record (SEOR), the General Contractor, and the local Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ). Today, design and engineering coordinate on the exhibit itself but do not typically own direct facility-interface coordination with the architect or GC; this role closes that gap, supporting assigned lead engineers and project managers and, on heavily integrated projects, taking on direct communication with the AOR, GC, and SEOR.

The FID builds and maintains a shared coordination model (CAD/BIM/Speckle) that becomes the common reference point for early design coordination with the architect and, later, for construction coordination with the general contractor. The role starts as a pilot within the Cultural Practice, with the intent to expand to other practices if it proves out.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES/FUNCTIONS may include but are not limited to:

Facility Interface & Coordination

• Serve as the primary point of contact for facility-interface questions on assigned projects, supporting the assigned Lead Engineer and Project Manager in coordination rather than replacing their ownership of the project.
• Direct communication with the Architect of Record, General Contractor, and SEOR is determined case by case; the FID can take on this role directly on heavily integrated projects.
• Translate design intent from SketchUp/Rhino concept and schematic work, and from SolidWorks production drawings, into a format usable for cross-party facility coordination.

Clash Detection

• Create and manage the Speckle interface connecting design, engineering, and the architect’s model.
• Review the shared model to identify overlaps or conflicts between exhibit elements and the building’s structural, electrical, mechanical, and plumbing systems before fabrication or installation begins.
• Resolve identified conflicts in the model rather than in the field, reducing rework, change orders, and contractor claims tied to late-discovered conflicts.
• Create drawings of facility interface requirements such as blocking, footings, and overhead anchoring.
• Coordinate power and data needs with design, engineering, and the tech team, and communicate those needs to the facility.

Structural Scope Triage

• Review design elements against DI’s structural triage criteria to flag which items are likely exempt from engineering and which likely require a stamped PE/SE calculation package (gravity/live loads, seismic bracing, or wind loads, depending on the venue and jurisdiction).
• Scope and initiate the engineering package for items that require it and route those items to DI’s engineering team or an outside PE/SE as appropriate.
• Transmit load information to the facility’s Structural Engineer of Record (SEOR) to confirm the host building can accept the added loads.
• This role does not replace a licensed PE/SE. It determines what needs a stamp and manages that process; it does not stamp calculations itself.
• Review attached methods to the facility (anchors, fasteners, mounting details) to ensure they are properly specified for the required use case.

Permitting & RFI Management

• Prepare concise, accurate permit drawing packages for building department submittal, aiming to avoid over-submission of unnecessary detail.
• Respond to plan check comments and work to resolve overly conservative or off-scope plan check requests.
• Support the Project Manager and Lead Engineer in the RFI process – RFI tracking is owned by the PM, and the FID assists with drafting RFIs to the architect and GC and with preparing responses to project RFIs.

Estimating & Preliminary Engineering Support (Cross-Practice)

• When large fabrication packages come through estimating from an outside design firm, review the package to identify which elements will require structural engineering and what permitting is likely required in the relevant jurisdiction.
• Produce an initial, top-level ‘how to’ assessment for engineering approach to support pricing, before detailed engineering begins.
• Within DI Engineering, assist the team with structural assessment and review before scope goes to estimating, or before early interface conversations with the architect or GC on base-building coordination.

KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS/ABILITIES

• Working knowledge of building structural code concepts (gravity/live loads, seismic, wind) sufficient to triage scope – not to perform stamped engineering.
• Proficiency working across design software such as SketchUp and Rhino and engineering/production software such as SolidWorks.
• Ability to build and maintain coordination models using CAD/BIM collaboration platforms such as Speckle or similar tools
• Knowledge of RFI workflows and construction-phase plan review and permitting processes.
• Understanding of the full project lifecycle, from design and engineering through fabrication and installation.
• Ability to coordinate effectively with architects, general contractors, structural engineers of record, and internal project teams.

EDUCATION/CERTIFICATION/EXPERIENCE

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in architecture, structural engineering, construction management, or a related field
• Experience coordinating directly with architects, general contractors, and/or structural engineers of record on a construction or fabrication project.
• Experience supporting the RFI process and construction-phase plan review or permitting activites.

Preferred

• Experience in exhibit fabrication, museum/cultural institution construction, themed entertainment, or a related built-environment field.

Not Required

• AIA licensure or PE/SE certification are not required for this role.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

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.

• The employee is occasionally required to reach with hands and arms and stoop, kneel, climb, crouch, or crawl
• The employee must be able to occasionally lift and/or move up to 50/75 pounds
• Specific vision abilities required for this job include close vision, distant vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus
• Employee must be able to talk and hear

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Due to our onsite Fabrication process, the work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee may encounter while performing the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, employee may be exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, moving mechanical parts, fumes or airborne particles and outside weather conditions.

INTERESTED IN JOINING OUR TEAM?

Permission to play at DI starts with the ability to be a team player, possess a positive attitude while under a tight deadline and demonstrate an uncommon commitment to your work. Please visit our website (www.dimin.com) to see some of the amazing work we do!

This is a salary (exempt) position. DI offers a full benefit package including Medical, Dental and Vision insurance along with Short and Long Term Disability, Life Insurance and Supplemental Accident, Critical Illness and Hospital Indemnity. Additionally, we offer a 401(k) with a match, Health Savings Account match, Paid Time Off (PTO), 7 paid holidays plus an employee chosen Floating Holiday annually, and paid Parental Leave.

In 2018, DI incorporated the Great Game of Business principles into the way we do things. The program is designed to create a business of business people, provide transparency into company performance and directly tie daily behavior to impact DIs performance. GGOB allows for the potential of quarterly bonuses as company goals are achieved.

Please submit a cover letter, resume and salary requirements. No phone calls please. For more information about working at DI and a full list of available opportunities, please visit https://dimin.com/about/careers.