At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead design technology strategy and AI adoption to enhance architectural practices.
- Company: Globally respected design studio focused on innovation and sustainability.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, benefits package, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with a focus on long-term performance and change.
- Why this job: Shape the future of architecture with cutting-edge technology and meaningful impact.
- Qualifications: Experience in architectural project delivery and leadership in design technology.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 ÂŁ per year.
About Us
Join a globally fluent studio where diverse perspectives, rigorous thinking and partner-led collaboration shape work that responds to a changing world. Our approach is context-driven and focused on long-term performance and meaningful change, supported by our in-house research and strategy consultancy, PLP Labs. We believe architecture should connect people, place and purpose, guided by a clear understanding of climate, culture and patterns of use. From our headquarters in London, and studios in Singapore and Tokyo, we shape outcomes through informed decisions grounded in behaviour and lasting value.
Position
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, practiceâshaping 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 â not as isolated innovation, but as standard practice. This role is based in our London studio and will play a key part in shaping PLPâs 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
- Lead sustainability and environmental software adoption
- Generate and manage the IT budget
You will not be a support role or technical specialist working in isolation â this role is about leadership, scaling, and adoption. Integration of business systems may be less pertinent for this role.
Key Responsibilities
- Design Technology Leadership & 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 designârelated technology decisions
- Ensure consistency and quality across projects and studios
- AI & 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 & CloudâFirst Systems
- Work closely with IT to align design needs with PLPâs cloudâfirst 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 & Adoption
- Embed design technologists and hybrid architectâtechnologists into project teams
- Reduce dependence on individual âexpertsâ 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 & 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 & Value
- Define KPIs to measure the impact of technology on:
- Design quality
- Speed and efficiency
- Risk reduction
- Business performance
- Help leadership understand where technology investment creates real value
- Develop and manage the DT annual budget (software, external resources, training, conferences, etc.)
Attitude & Culture Fit
You are likely an architectâtechnologist 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
- Experience scaling technology adoption across teams â not just developing tools
- The ability to speak credibly with Partners, architects, and IT professionals
- 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 PLPâs future practice
Is Not
- A pure AI research role
- A BIM coordinator position
- An IT support function
Details
- Shape the digital future of a globally respected design practice
- Work directly with senior leadership on practiceâwide 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
Director of Design Technology London, UK Digital Technology employer: Plp Architecture Ltd
Contact Detail:
Plp Architecture Ltd Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice đ¤Ť
We think this is how you could land Director of Design Technology London, UK Digital Technology
â¨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Attend industry events, workshops, and meetups to connect with people in the design technology field. You never know who might be looking for someone just like you!
â¨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio that highlights your experience with design technology, AI, and digital workflows. Make it visually appealing and easy to navigate, so potential employers can see what you bring to the table.
â¨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by researching the companyâs projects and values. Be ready to discuss how your vision aligns with their goals, especially around sustainability and technology integration.
â¨Tip Number 4
Donât forget to apply through our website! Itâs the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to engage directly with us.
We think you need these skills to ace Director of Design Technology London, UK Digital Technology
Some tips for your application đŤĄ
Show Your Passion for Design Technology: When writing your application, let your enthusiasm for design technology shine through! We want to see how your experience and vision align with our mission to integrate architecture and technology seamlessly.
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight relevant experiences that match the job description. We love seeing candidates who take the time to connect their skills with what weâre looking for in a Director of Design Technology.
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application straightforward and to the point. We appreciate clarity, so make sure your key achievements and ideas are easy to spot. This will help us understand your potential impact on our team right away!
Apply Through Our Website: Donât forget to submit your application through our website! Itâs the best way for us to receive your details and ensures youâre considered for this exciting opportunity at PLP.
How to prepare for a job interview at Plp Architecture Ltd
â¨Know Your Tech Inside Out
Make sure youâre well-versed in the latest design technology tools like Revit, Rhino, and Grasshopper. Be ready to discuss how you've used these tools in past projects and how they can be integrated into a broader strategy for AI adoption and digital workflows.
â¨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
This role is all about leadership, so prepare examples that demonstrate your ability to lead teams and drive technology adoption. Think of specific instances where youâve successfully implemented new processes or tools and how you managed the change within your team.
â¨Understand the Bigger Picture
Familiarise yourself with PLPâs approach to architecture and design technology. Be prepared to discuss how your vision aligns with their goals of sustainability and meaningful change, and how you can contribute to shaping their global digital strategy.
â¨Prepare for Strategic Conversations
Youâll need to communicate effectively with both creative teams and technical professionals. Brush up on your strategic mindset and be ready to discuss how you can bridge the gap between architecture, technology, and business to ensure measurable value from technology investments.