Existing shielding design optimization techniques usually rely on the experience of the designer, which is inefficient and has high uncertainty. Genetic algorithms can help shielding designers quickly search for feasible shielding solutions under given conditions to achieve simultaneous optimization of multiple objectives, such as dose rate, volume of shielding material, and weight of shielding material. In order to improve the efficiency of shielding design, this paper combines the multi-objective optimization algorithm and radiation shielding calculation to carry out shielding design, develops a transport-activation-optimization three-way coupling calculation program, and validates a shielding calculation model constructed based on this paper. The numerical results show that the shielding design optimization method based on the discrete ordinate method and genetic algorithm can achieve the simultaneous optimization of multiple objectives, such as shielding volume, weight, activation dose rate after reactor shutdown and normal operation dose rate.