At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead design technology strategy and AI adoption to enhance architectural practices.
- Company: Join PLP Architecture, a globally recognised firm shaping the future of design.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, benefits package, and the chance to influence design innovation.
- Other info: Work in a dynamic London studio with opportunities for professional growth.
- Why this job: Be at the forefront of integrating technology in architecture and make a real impact.
- Qualifications: Experience in design technology leadership and strong knowledge of tools like Revit and Rhino.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 ÂŁ per year.
PLP Architecture is hiring a director of design technology to join its team in London. PLP Architecture is an internationally recognised architectural and urban design practice with studios in London, Amsterdam, Tokyo, and Singapore. Our work spans commercial, residential, mixed‑use, and infrastructure projects across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. We are known externally as a technologically progressive practice — and we are now entering a deliberate next phase: scaling innovation into everyday delivery, modernising our digital backbone, and embedding technology as a strategic advantage across design, operations, and client engagement.
We are seeking a director of design technology to provide clear leadership, structure, and vision across design technology, AI adoption, and digital workflows. This is a senior, practice‑shaping role. The successful candidate will bridge architecture, technology, and business, working alongside Partners, Design Directors, IT, and Operations to ensure technology meaningfully improves how PLP designs, delivers, and operates — not as isolated innovation, but as standard practice. This role is based in our London studio and will play a key part in shaping PLP’s global digital strategy.
You will be accountable for:
- Design technology strategy across the practice
- Firmwide AI and automation adoption
- Integration between design teams, IT, and business systems
- Ensuring technology investment delivers measurable value
- Leading sustainability and environmental software adoption
- Generating and managing the IT budget
You will not be a support role or technical specialist working in isolation — this role is about leadership, scaling, and adoption. Integration of business systems may be less pertinent for this role.
Key responsibilities
- Design technology leadership and strategy
- Define and communicate a clear firmwide design technology strategy
- Establish standards, priorities, and roadmaps for BIM, computational design, AI, and digital workflows
- Act as the senior point of authority for design‑related technology decisions
- Ensure consistency and quality across projects and studios
- AI and automation (design and operations)
- Lead structured, responsible adoption of AI across concept and competition work
- Design development and documentation
- Visualisation and storytelling
- Business operations (bids, reporting, forecasting)
- Move AI from experimental silos to scalable capability
- Define AI usage policies, governance, and approved platforms
- Ensure security, ethics, and compliance are embedded from the outset
- Integration with IT and cloud‑first systems
- Work closely with IT to align design needs with PLP’s cloud‑first technology strategy
- Help shape how design tools, data, and workflows sit within modern cloud infrastructure
- Ensure technology decisions support
- Mobility and flexibility
- Security and resilience
- Integration with finance, HR and CRM systems
- Act as a bridge between creative teams and technical infrastructure
- Design delivery, skills and adoption
- Embed design technologists and hybrid architect‑technologists into project teams
- Reduce dependence on individual “experts” and hero knowledge
- Strengthen Revit, Rhino, Grasshopper and any new related software core delivery competency across the practice
- Support consistent onboarding, upskilling, and mentoring
- Build adoption plans that translate new tools and workflows into consistent project delivery
- Develop consistent training and upskilling strategies
- Knowledge sharing and communication
- Create mechanisms to capture and share successful workflows
- Lessons learned
- Reusable tools and approaches
- Ensure technology innovation is visible, understood, and accessible to the whole practice
- Support PLP Labs by connecting research, experimentation, and live project delivery
- Measurement and value
- Define KPIs to measure the impact of technology on design quality, speed and efficiency, risk reduction, and business performance
- Help leadership understand where technology investment creates real value
- Develop and manage the DT annual budget (software, external resources, training, conferences, etc.)
About you
You are likely an architect‑technologist or design technology leader with architectural project delivery experience, proven leadership in design technology or computational design, strong understanding of tools such as Revit, Rhino, Grasshopper, and emerging AI workflows, and experience scaling technology adoption across teams — not just developing tools. You have the ability to speak credibly with partners, architects, and IT professionals, and possess a strategic mindset paired with pragmatic delivery. You are comfortable operating at both board/partner level and project/studio level.
What this role is (and is not)
Is: a leadership role with authority and influence focused on scaling, adoption, and value central to PLP’s future practice.
Is not: a pure AI research role, a BIM coordinator position, or an IT support function.
Why join PLP
- Shape the digital future of a globally respected design practice
- Work directly with senior leadership on practice‑wide strategy
- Influence how architecture is designed and delivered in the AI era
- Combine design excellence, sustainability, and technology at scale
- Competitive salary and benefits package
To apply
Please submit a CV, a brief covering letter outlining your approach to design technology leadership, examples of relevant work, tools, or initiatives you have, and include director of design technology in the subject line. This is a full-time permanent position with benefits, based in our London office five days a week. All candidates should be eligible to work in the UK. PLP is an equal opportunity employer.
Director of design technology in London employer: Critical Playground LLC
Contact Detail:
Critical Playground LLC Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Director of design technology in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the architecture and tech scene. Attend events, join online forums, and don’t be shy about reaching out to folks on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio that highlights your best work, especially projects that showcase your design technology expertise. Make sure it’s easy to navigate and visually appealing. This is your chance to shine, so let your creativity flow!
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by researching PLP Architecture and their recent projects. Understand their approach to design technology and think about how you can contribute to their vision. Tailor your responses to show how your experience aligns with their goals.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t just apply through job boards; head over to our website and submit your application directly. It shows initiative and gives you a better chance of standing out. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take that extra step!
We think you need these skills to ace Director of design technology in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Craft a Compelling CV: Your CV is your first impression, so make it count! Highlight your experience in design technology and leadership roles, showcasing how you've successfully integrated tech into architectural practices. Tailor it to reflect the skills and tools mentioned in the job description.
Write a Personalised Cover Letter: Don't just send a generic cover letter! Use this opportunity to express your passion for design technology and how you envision leading PLP's digital strategy. Mention specific projects or experiences that align with their goals, showing you understand their vision.
Showcase Relevant Work Examples: Include examples of your work that demonstrate your expertise in design technology and AI adoption. Whether it's a project where you led tech integration or a tool you developed, make sure to highlight how these experiences can benefit PLP.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website for a smoother application process. It helps us keep track of your application and ensures you’re considered for this exciting role at PLP Architecture!
How to prepare for a job interview at Critical Playground LLC
✨Know Your Tech Inside Out
As a director of design technology, you need to be well-versed in tools like Revit, Rhino, and Grasshopper. Brush up on your knowledge of these platforms and be ready to discuss how you've used them in past projects. This will show that you can bridge the gap between architecture and technology effectively.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
This role is all about leadership and strategy. Prepare examples of how you've led teams in adopting new technologies or processes. Highlight your experience in scaling technology adoption across teams and how it has improved project delivery. Be ready to discuss your vision for integrating AI and automation into design workflows.
✨Understand PLP's Vision
Familiarise yourself with PLP Architecture's current projects and their approach to technology. Understand their goals for embedding technology as a strategic advantage. During the interview, align your answers with their vision and demonstrate how your experience can help them achieve their objectives.
✨Prepare for Strategic Discussions
Expect to engage in conversations about business systems integration and the impact of technology on design quality and efficiency. Be prepared to discuss KPIs and how you would measure the success of technology investments. This shows that you have a strategic mindset and can contribute to PLP’s future practice.