Computational Designer

Full Job Description

Company Introduction:

VU.CITY helps people create, refine, share and understand the story of a Property Development to make better planning decisions, faster.

VU.CITY is a pioneering software platform that is changing how planning across the UK and Ireland is conducted. With over 90% of the London Boroughs using the platform and a growing number of architects, developers, public sector bodies and planning consultants across 25 UK and Ireland cities, there has never been a more exciting time to join an accelerating start-up!

We’re currently an ever growing team, with ambitions and backing to grow into a global company.

Our core values are:

• Be open to inspiration
• Engage courageously
• Do what the situation calls for
• Consciously improve
• “Leave it with me”

The role:

We have an exciting opportunity in the Application Development team for a Computational Designer to join us and work on our generative modelling tool, SiteSolve. We are looking for an enthusiastic person who wants to join our adventure, to be part of a company that is disrupting the market with an innovative product. 

Your role will focus on advancing the software's technical capabilities, ensuring high-quality, innovative solutions in architectural and urban planning. You'll play a crucial role in algorithm development, software optimization, and feature implementation, working closely with a team of developers and designers.

This position demands technical proficiency, creative problem-solving, and a collaborative approach to contribute significantly to the project's success.

The product: SiteSolve is a generative design tool developed by Ramboll, aimed at reducing risks and increasing confidence in site and design feasibility from the start. Utilising a powerful algorithm based on a prescriptive ruleset, SiteSolve quickly generates and optimises massing options, quickly generates massing options based on user-defined criteria, streamlining the evaluation process for multiple sites. Designed to enhance decision-making and optimise designs, SiteSolve integrates with VU.CITY for immersive assessment, facilitating fast, informed, and collaborative site and design appraisals.

To know more visit :

Role & Responsibilities:

• Algorithmic Development and Automation: Design and implement algorithmic solutions to automate the generation, analysis, and optimization of building forms, leveraging design logic and computational methods to streamline the architectural and urban design process.
• Software Development and Integration: Develop and enhance SiteSolve’s generative design software, focusing on the generator, analysis modules, and optimization engine. Ensure seamless integration with Unity3D and other applications, incorporating new analytical features and enhancements in response to regulatory changes and user feedback.
• Performance Optimization and Quality Assurance : Guarantee optimal performance, quality, and responsiveness of SiteSolve applications, identifying and resolving bottlenecks, bugs, and vulnerabilities to maintain high standards of software reliability and integrity.
• Collaborative Design and Development : Work closely with technical specialists, the app development team, and sector-specific professionals to translate cutting-edge research and design experiences into efficient, accessible software solutions, and to integrate strategic enhancements based on evolving user and regulatory requirements.
• Documentation and Knowledge Sharing : Conduct thorough reviews and updates of software documentation to ensure clarity, enhance knowledge bases, and facilitate technical support handovers, contributing to the ongoing improvement and understanding of SiteSolve’s capabilities.
• Stakeholder Engagement and Strategic Planning : Engage with internal and external stakeholders to understand their design and analysis needs, translating these into strategic, actionable plans that leverage SiteSolve’s parametric, computational, and automation-focused tools for innovative design solutions.
• Innovation and R&D in AEC: Spearhead research and development initiatives to explore emerging technologies in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry, positioning SiteSolve as a leader in innovative design and analysis solutions.
• Code Quality and Automation: Perform code reviews and help maintain high standards of code quality, organisation, and automation, fostering technical excellence within the team and ensuring scalable, robust software development practices.
• Technical Excellence and Education: Lead efforts to promote technical excellence within the team, championing education on design automation tools, computational design, parametric design, and machine learning applications, to enhance the team’s capabilities and innovation potential within the AEC environment.
• Customer and Market Orientation: Stay attuned to the needs and trends of the market, ensuring SiteSolve’s features and capabilities directly address the challenges and opportunities faced by developers, planners, architects, and local authorities in achieving fast, reliable, and innovative design and site analysis outcomes.

What you’ll need to succeed:

• Comprehensive Software Proficiency: Excellent knowledge of C#, Visual Studio, .NET framework essential for developing and implementing sophisticated design automation tools.
• Proficiency with Unity Game Engine: Demonstrated expertise in utilising the Unity game engine for the development of interactive and immersive 3D applications, enhancing design visualisation and simulation capabilities in architectural and urban planning projects.
• Expertise in Computational Techniques: Experience in applying computational design techniques to deliver building projects and create custom design tools, with expert knowledge in generative design and computational optimization.
• Advanced Software Architecture Acumen: Strong understanding of software architecture and design principles, crucial for generative design and analysis applications in the AEC sector.
• 3D Graphics and Programming Skills : Good understanding of 3D Graphics concepts combined with a strong grasp of object-oriented programming, emphasising the ability to write clean, readable, and maintainable code.
• Testing and Code Maintenance: Experience with implementing automated testing platforms and unit tests, along with knowledge of code versioning tools, ensuring high-quality software development practices.
• Proprietary Process Application: Ability to work with proprietary processes and computational knowledge, especially in applying these to architectural or urban planning software solutions.
• Code Repository Management: Experience in managing and maintaining code repositories, focusing on documentation and knowledge transfer to support team collaboration and software integrity.
• Collaborative Skills: Demonstrated capability to collaborate effectively with both technical and non-technical team members, facilitating cross-disciplinary communication and project success.
• Problem-Solving and Adaptability: Excellent problem-solving skills with the capacity to adapt to changing project requirements and priorities, ensuring resilient and flexible design solutions.
• Communication and Leadership: Outstanding communication and presentation skills, able to act as an internal and external thought leader in computational design and automation.
• Continuous Learning Commitment: A willingness to engage in continuous learning and development, keeping abreast of the latest advancements in technology and methodologies within the AEC industry.
• Personal, adaptable and flexible with the ability to work successfully in a fast-paced changing environment.
• Demonstrates both strong teamwork skills and ability to work independently.
• Must be available in person to attend the office both, 1 day a week (Tuesday) at a minimum and for quarterly company meetings.
• Be human and ready to have fun. 

Nice to haves:

• Proficiency in programming languages such as Python, C++, or visual programming language like Grasshopper, enhancing the ability to automate design tasks through scripting and algorithms.

• Knowledge of Building Information Modelling (BIM) software and 3D modelling tools, including Revit, Rhino, or SketchUp, to support intricate design processes.

• Expertise in data analysis and management tools like Excel or SQL, facilitating the analysis and manipulation of complex design data.

• Familiarity with Nucleus or similar open-source computational design libraries, expanding the toolkit for innovative design solutions.

• Sector-specific knowledge in architecture, urban planning, or related fields, contributing to a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities in these areas.

• Experience in leading software handover projects, emphasising the importance of planning and executing knowledge transfer sessions to ensure seamless transitions.

What we offer:

In addition to a competitive salary, we offer a generous benefits package:

• 22 days holiday per year, increasing to 27 through length of service. Initially increased by 2 days after 2 years service and 1 day per year thereafter - based on fulltime prorated for part time. 
• In addition to the holiday allowance, the business closes between Christmas and New Year.
• Life insurance.
• EMI share option scheme.
• Salary sacrifice pension scheme.
• Season ticket loan.
• Private health care, after one year of service.
• Access to phone lines covering employee support, bereavement support and probate support. 
• Hybrid working with a central London based office.
• Employee referral fee and more!

We also run various events throughout the year including an Awards Night, Christmas party and various charity events. Come and share our adventure!