Manufacturing, Engineering Services

Senior Manager, Space Planning

El Segundo, CAOnsiteFull TimeManager / Head$150,000–$200,000 /yrPosted 24 days agoVisa sponsorship available

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Required skills

Space Planning
Headcount Forecasts
Capacity Plans
Test Fits
Stacking Plans
Layouts
Space Standards
Utilization Data
Moves, Adds, and Changes
Occupancy Limits

Nice to have

Manufacturing
Lab
R&D
Industrial Environments
Equipment Layouts
Process Flow

Role summary

CHAOS Industries is seeking a Sr. Space Planning Manager to oversee space planning, allocation, and utilization across its rapidly scaling, multi-site portfolio of offices, labs, and manufacturing areas. This role involves translating headcount forecasts and program needs into clear space plans, test fits, and standards. The manager will partner closely with Real Estate, Facilities, Workplace, EHS, Security, and IT to ensure efficient and compliant space utilization. Responsibilities include maintaining floor plans, forecasting space needs, developing layouts, defining space standards, analyzing utilization data, planning moves, and reporting metrics to leadership. The ideal candidate will have 8+ years of experience in space planning or related fields, proficiency in planning tools like AutoCAD or Revit, strong analytical skills, and knowledge of building codes. Experience in manufacturing, lab, or secure environments is preferred.

CHAOS Industries is redefining modern defense with a multi-product portfolio that gives the ultimate advantage—domain dominance. The company's products are powered by Coherent Distributed Networks (CDN™), empowering warfighters, commercial air operators, and border protection teams to act faster, adapt rapidly, and stay ahead of evolving threats.

CHAOS Industries was founded in 2022 and has raised a total of $1 billion in funding from leading investors, including 8VC, Accel, and Valor Equity Partners. The company is headquartered in Los Angeles, with offices in Washington, D.C., San Francisco, San Diego, and London. For more information, please visit www.chaosinc.com.

Role Overview:

We're looking for a Sr. Space Planning Manager to own how CHAOS plans, allocates, and uses space across a rapidly scaling, multi-site footprint of offices, labs, and manufacturing areas. You'll turn headcount forecasts, program needs, and utilization data into clear space plans, test fits, and standards, and give Real Estate, Facilities, and Workplace the numbers they need to decide when to add, reconfigure, or release space. This is a highly cross-functional role: you'll partner closely with Real Estate on capacity and site decisions, Facilities and Construction on layouts and buildouts, Workplace on employee experience, and EHS, Life Safety, Security, and IT on code, safety, and access requirements. You'll build the space planning standards, tools, and data that let us grow quickly without guesswork.

Responsibilities:

Own space planning across the global portfolio: maintain accurate floor plans and occupancy data, and manage space allocation by team, program, and site.

Forecast space needs against headcount, program, and manufacturing growth plans, and translate them into capacity plans that inform Real Estate's site and lease decisions.

Develop test fits, stacking plans, and layouts for new and existing sites, including office, lab, light-manufacturing, and shared spaces, working with architects, engineers, and Construction.

Define and maintain space standards, including workstation and neighborhood types, meeting-room ratios, seating and occupancy standards, and lab and manufacturing layout guidelines.

Collect and analyze utilization data from badge, booking, and sensor systems and surveys, and recommend changes to improve efficiency and reduce cost per seat.

Plan and coordinate moves, adds, and changes with Facilities and Workplace, including sequencing, communications, and scheduling to minimize disruption to teams.

Partner with EHS, Life Safety & Fire, and Security early in layout planning to confirm code compliance, egress, occupancy limits, and access and segregation requirements for controlled areas.

Work with Real Estate, Construction, and Facilities to scope, budget, and phase buildouts and reconfigurations, and hand off approved plans for design and construction.

Own the space and occupancy database and planning tools as a single source of truth, and report utilization, capacity, and cost metrics to leadership.

Evaluate and recommend space planning tools and integrated workplace management systems (IWMS) and drive their adoption across the company.

Present space plans, tradeoffs, and recommendations to executive leadership and site leaders, and build consensus across teams with competing needs.

Mentor and, as the team grows, lead space planners and analysts.

Minimum Requirements:

8+ years of experience in space planning, corporate real estate, workplace strategy, interior architecture, or facilities planning, including ownership of space plans for multi-site portfolios.

Proficiency in space planning and drawing tools such as AutoCAD, Revit, or similar, and the ability to read and mark up architectural and engineering drawings.

Experience creating test fits, stacking plans, and capacity forecasts, and translating headcount and program growth into space requirements.

Strong analytical skills, including working with utilization and occupancy data, and building models and dashboards in Excel or similar tools.

Working knowledge of building codes, occupancy and egress requirements, and accessibility standards, and experience working with architects, engineers, and code consultants.

Experience planning and executing moves, adds, and changes for large groups.

Ability to influence and align stakeholders across Real Estate, Facilities, Construction, EHS, Security, IT, and business teams.

Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including comfort presenting to executive leadership.

Willingness to travel domestically and internationally as the portfolio requires.

Preferred Requirements:

Experience planning space in manufacturing, lab, R&D, or other industrial environments, including equipment layouts and process flow.

Experience in defense, government, or other secure-facility environments, including planning for controlled or segregated areas.

Experience with an IWMS or space management system such as Archibus, Planon, or Tririga, and with occupancy sensors or desk and room booking data.

Experience planning space for international sites and adapting standards to local codes and norms.

Experience supporting rapid growth or M&A integration, including planning for sites with limited existing data.

Professional credentials such as NCIDQ, LEED, or a degree in architecture, interior design, or a related field.

Eligibility for a U.S. government security clearance.

Why CHAOS?

Health Benefits: Medical, dental, and vision benefits 100% paid for by the company

Additional benefits: 401k (+ 50% company match up to 6% of pay), FSA, HSA, life insurance, and more

Our Perks: Free daily lunch while you're working onsite, fully-stocked kitchen, unlimited PTO, casual dress code

Compensation Components: Competitive base salaries, generous pre-IPO stock option grants, relocation assistance, and (coming soon!) annual bonuses

Team Growth: 500+ employees and counting across 5 global offices

Salary Range: $150,000 - $200,000

The stated compensation range reflects only the targeted base compensation range and excludes additional earnings such as bonus, equity, and benefits. If your compensation requirements fall outside of the range, we still encourage you to apply. The salary range for this role is an estimate based on a range of compensation factors, inclusive of base salary only. Actual salary offer may vary based on (but not limited to) work experience, education and/or training, critical skills, and/or business considerations.

Recruiting Agencies: CHAOS Industries does not accept unsolicited resumes or outreach. Unsolicited submissions will not be reviewed or compensated.

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