Project Manager / Senior Project Manager - ADU Express Location: Gardena, CA and Los Angeles, CA (office + field) 19210 S Vermont Ave, Building E, Gardena, CA 90248
Job Type: Full-Time, Salaried
Pay: $100,000-$120,000/year + performance bonuses tied to project efficiency and scale
Schedule: Full-time; flexibility expected during active project phases
Reports To: Owner / Principal
About the Role ADU Express is a high-speed design-build firm delivering multifamily ADUs at scale across Southern California. We've replaced the traditional, slow-moving construction model with a factory-style production approach - and we're hiring at two levels to build out our project leadership team.
Project Manager - You own the full lifecycle of multiple ADU builds, from groundbreaking through final sign-off. You're the primary point of command for field superintendents, subcontractors, and trade partners, and you're accountable for every project hitting its milestones on time and on budget.
Senior Project Manager - You sit a level above, bridging our design teams and field operations. Your mandate is to move the company away from one-off "custom" headaches and toward a standardized, value-engineered product that deploys at scale without sacrificing quality. You oversee the full project portfolio while mentoring the PMs, designers, superintendents, and crews who execute the work.
A Note on the Work Style This isn't a desk job that occasionally visits a site. You'll split time between our Gardena office and active job sites across Los Angeles. The pace is production-line fast, the standards are high, and we build like a factory - not like a custom home builder. The people who thrive here are systems thinkers who take ownership and move with urgency.
What You'll Do Both Levels:- Lead multiple ADU builds simultaneously, ensuring every project hits key milestones on time and on budget
- Serve as a primary point of command for field superintendents and subcontractors, maintaining a high-performance culture on every site
- Maintain a centralized project hub - use digital tools and software to keep all real-time data, schedules, budgets, and documentation in one place
- Set clear expectations for trade partners, ensuring "factory-speed" standards are met without compromising safety or code compliance
- Proactively identify project bottlenecks and implement immediate solutions to keep the construction pipeline moving
- Own project budgets end-to-end - track costs, flag overruns early, and find ways to build smarter without sacrificing quality
Senior Project Manager additionally:- Lead and coordinate the design team to create standardized plans that prioritize repeatable construction systems - moving the company away from one-off designs and toward scalable production
- Continuously audit designs to reduce costs, simplify assembly, and eliminate field bottlenecks through disciplined value engineering
- Mentor and hold accountable a team of designers, project managers, superintendents, in-house crews, and subcontractors
- Report directly to leadership on schedule adherence, budget performance, and strategic opportunities to increase efficiency at scale
- Drive standardization across the entire build process - from plan sets to material specs to field procedures - so every project benefits from the last one
Required Project Manager:- 5-8+ years of construction project management experience with a proven track record of delivering projects on time and on budget
- Strong communication and leadership skills - you can mentor junior staff, manage vendor performance, and command a job site
- Strong working knowledge of California building codes, permitting processes, and inspection workflows
- Proficiency with project management and construction software (scheduling tools, budget tracking, digital plan management)
- Valid driver's license and reliable transportation for regular travel between office and job sites across LA
Senior Project Manager:- 10+ years of construction project management experience, with a strong track record in multifamily or high-volume residential
- Proven experience managing both design teams and field operations - you've been the bridge between the office and the job site
- Deep expertise in value engineering with an obsession for finding the most efficient way to build a high-quality product
- Strong working knowledge of California building codes, complex project budgets, and multi-trade coordination
- Demonstrated ability to lead, mentor, and hold diverse teams accountable - from designers to field superintendents to subcontractors
- Valid driver's license and reliable transportation for regular travel between office and job sites across LA
Preferred- Experience with multifamily, ADU, or production-style residential construction
- Background in design-build environments where speed and standardization matter more than custom finishes
- Familiarity with value engineering principles - finding ways to reduce costs and simplify assembly without cutting corners
- Existing network of subcontractors, suppliers, and trade partners in the Southern California market
Compensation & Growth- $100,000-$120,000 base salary, scaled to experience and level, plus performance bonuses rewarding project efficiency and scale
- Free Welcome+ membership for up to 12 months while actively employed - includes $0 cost telemedicine with unlimited 24/7 access, counseling support, prescription discounts, dental (Aetna Dental Access), and vision. Covers you and your family (spouse + children under 26)
- Work inside a high-growth design-build firm that also invests in real estate - exposure to both construction operations and investment strategy
- Future partnership and investment programs for employees who grow with the company
- A culture that promotes from within based on results, not tenure
About ADU Express ADU Express is a Los Angeles-based design-build company specializing in accessory dwelling units at scale. We combine a systems-driven construction model with real estate investment, and we're growing fast. If you want to build something - not just show up - this is the place.