Senior Project Manager - Federal A/E

SMMA is seeking a Senior Project Manager - Federal A/E to help lead and grow our work in the federal government market. This is a strategic role for a licensed architect or engineer who brings strong project management discipline, client trust, and experience leading complex, multidisciplinary design projects.

SMMA has a long history of designing secure, technically advanced, and mission-driven environments for government clients, including military training centers, workplaces, laboratories, and specialized facilities supporting research, education, innovation, and public service. As we continue to invest in this market, we are seeking a project leader who can strengthen delivery while contributing to the thoughtful growth of our federal practice.

This role is ideal for a project leader who wants to continue delivering complex work while having greater influence over how projects are executed and how a growing federal practice takes shape.

About the Role

This role is part of SMMA’s continued investment in federal and public-sector work. The successful candidate will help strengthen how we pursue, plan, and deliver this work across an integrated firm of architects, engineers, planners, designers, and technical specialists.

This is an opportunity to take on meaningful responsibility while helping shape a growing area of the firm within a collaborative, multidisciplinary environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead multidisciplinary A/E teams through planning, design, documentation, construction administration, and project closeout


• Serve as a primary client-facing leader for federal, government, and public-sector projects


• Manage project scope, fee, schedule, staffing, budget, deliverables, and financial performance


• Coordinate internal teams and external consultants to ensure alignment and successful delivery


• Develop project work plans, staffing strategies, and execution approaches


• Anticipate and manage project risks related to scope, schedule, budget, quality, and client expectations


• Guide teams through agency reviews, comment resolution, and milestone deliverables


• Support quality management and coordination of technical reviews


• Present project updates and design solutions to clients, agencies, and stakeholders


• Contribute to client relationships, pursuits, proposals, interviews, and teaming discussions


• Mentor architects, engineers, and emerging professionals


• Support the continued development of SMMA’s federal delivery knowledge and best practices

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in architecture, engineering, construction management, or a related field


• Active professional licensure as a Registered Architect (RA) or Professional Engineer (PE)


• Approximately 10+ years of experience in the A/E industry


• Demonstrated experience managing complex, multidisciplinary design projects


• Experience leading teams and coordinating across disciplines and stakeholders


• Strong understanding of project management fundamentals: scope, fee, schedule, staffing, budget, risk, and quality


• Experience with federal, public-sector, institutional, infrastructure, or similarly complex projects


• Strong written, verbal, and client-facing communication skills


• Ability to travel to project sites and client locations as needed

Preferred Experience

• Experience with federal agencies such as USACE, NAVFAC, AFCEC, GSA, VA, National Guard, etc.


• Familiarity with Unified Facilities Criteria (UFC) and federal design standards


• Experience with IDIQ, MATOC, SATOC, or design-build delivery


• Experience supporting proposals, interviews, and pursuit strategy


• Familiarity with secure or clearance-sensitive project environments


• PMP, DBIA, LEED, CQM-C, or similar credentials

About SMMA

SMMA is one of New England’s most unique design firms due to our composition, reputation, and focus. Cambridge-based since our incorporation in 1955, we offer an integrated, multidisciplinary environment driven by collaboration between architects, engineers, technologists, researchers, and industry experts.

We focus on building lasting relationships with strategic partners across public and private sectors, with work spanning K-12, higher education, corporate, commercial, life science, federal government, and advanced technology projects.

As an employee-owned firm, we believe that good ideas are welcome from anywhere. Our work reflects a shared commitment to design excellence, sustainability, and social responsibility.

Company Perks

• Employee-owned firm (ESOP)


• Hybrid work-from-home policy


• Competitive benefits package


• Company-funded MA Paid Family and Medical Leave


• 401(k) with company match


• Employee Assistance Program


• Mentor/protégé program


• Educational and licensure reimbursement


• Professional development opportunities

Additional Information

Please note: SMMA does not offer H-1B visa sponsorship for this position.

The approximate pay range for this position is $110,000 - $130,000.

Please note that the pay range provided is a good faith estimate for the position at the time of posting. Actual compensation will be dependent on factors, including but not limited to, the individual’s qualifications.