Design Manager - Industrial

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Design Manager - Industrial

Company: Babbage Consultants

Location: Geelong, Victoria, Australia

Job Type: Full Time

Category: Industrial Design Management / Project Delivery

Date Posted: 2026-02-23

Experience Level: 10+ Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead and coordinate multidisciplinary design teams (engineering and architectural) for complex industrial projects, primarily within the food and dairy sector.

• Develop and implement integrated design strategies that align with project objectives and ensure seamless integration of various engineering disciplines.

• Proactively identify and resolve interface and constructability risks throughout the design lifecycle to optimize operational success.

• Apply deep knowledge of industrial plant layouts, utilities, hygienic design principles, and process flow to ensure compliance and functionality.

• Manage design documentation to uphold professional and quality standards, ensuring practical, efficient, and constructible outcomes.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role focuses on the strategic and managerial aspects of industrial design within a project delivery context. The emphasis on "integrated industrial design solutions" and "multidisciplinary coordination" suggests a need for a candidate who can orchestrate complex design processes rather than solely execute technical design tasks. The mention of "food and dairy projects" and "hygienic design" indicates a specialized industry focus requiring specific domain knowledge.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate internal and external design teams, encompassing engineering disciplines (geotechnical, civil, structural, process, mechanical) and architectural specialists.

• Develop, refine, and maintain a comprehensive integrated design strategy that clearly supports overarching project goals and client objectives.

• Ensure cohesive integration and seamless interdependencies between geotechnical, civil, architectural, structural, process, mechanical, and other relevant engineering designs.

• Proactively identify, assess, and drive the resolution of interface challenges and constructability risks at the earliest stages of the design process to mitigate downstream issues.

• Apply extensive knowledge of industrial plant layouts, utility systems, stringent hygienic design requirements, and efficient process flow principles.

• Guarantee adherence to specific food and dairy industry regulations and standards, including precise hygiene zoning, ease of cleanability, and optimal operational functionality.

• Oversee the creation and management of all design documentation, ensuring it consistently meets professional standards, quality benchmarks, and client expectations.

• Cultivate and maintain robust, collaborative relationships with clients, stakeholders, and design team members to foster project alignment and trust.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of technical oversight and project management. The emphasis on "resolving interface and constructability risks early" and "ensuring cohesive integration" points to a proactive, risk-management-focused approach. The specific mention of "hygienic design" and "food and dairy industry requirements" is critical for candidates to address.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

Experience:

• A minimum of 10 years of progressive experience within industrial design environments.

• Proven track record of successfully delivering complex industrial facilities, with a strong preference for experience in food and dairy processing plants.

Required Skills:

• Design Management: Proven ability to lead, manage, and coordinate complex design projects and teams.

• Industrial Design Expertise: Deep understanding of industrial plant design, layouts, utilities, and operational workflows.

• Multidisciplinary Coordination: Skill in integrating diverse engineering and architectural disciplines (geotechnical, civil, structural, process,