Project Design Leader

Summary

We are seeking an experienced, creative, and collaborative Project Design Leader to lead the vision, planning, and design of complex projects across a diverse portfolio of markets including Aerospace, Manufacturing & Industrial, Commercial, Aviation, and Federal, with opportunities to contribute to Hospitality, Education, and Entertainment projects.

The Project Design Leader serves as the primary design lead throughout the project lifecycle, partnering directly with clients to define project goals, facilitate visioning and design thinking workshops, develop innovative planning solutions, and lead multidisciplinary teams from programming through construction.

This individual combines exceptional design talent with strong technical knowledge and outstanding communication skills to create environments that are inspiring, functional, and buildable. They are passionate about great design, thrive in collaborative settings, and enjoy leading clients and teams through complex design challenges.

As a Project Design Leader, you'll work alongside the Chief Design Leader to shape projects that influence how people work, manufacture, travel, learn, and experience the built environment. You'll have the opportunity to lead exciting projects across multiple markets while collaborating with talented architects, engineers, planners, and clients who value thoughtful, innovative design.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Design Leadership

• Lead the overall architectural design of projects from programming through construction.
• Partner with clients and stakeholders to establish project vision, design goals, and success metrics.
• Lead programming efforts to understand operational needs, user experience, workflow, and space requirements.
• Develop planning concepts including adjacency studies, block and stack diagrams, test fits, and conceptual floor plans that optimize operational performance and flexibility.
• Lead exterior building design, including site integration, massing studies, façade composition, material selection, and building identity.
• Create innovative architectural concepts that balance design excellence, functionality, constructability, sustainability, schedule, and budget.
• Champion design quality throughout the project while preserving design intent during documentation and construction.
• Guide projects through Programming, Concept Design, Schematic Design, Design Development, Construction Documents, and Construction Administration.

Client Leadership

• Build trusted relationships with clients as their primary design advisor.
• Lead visioning sessions, programming meetings, design thinking workshops, charrettes, and stakeholder engagement sessions.
• Present design concepts confidently to executive leadership, user groups, public agencies, and project stakeholders.
• Translate complex design ideas into compelling visual presentations and clear design narratives.
• Facilitate decision-making and maintain project momentum through effective communication and collaboration.

Collaborative Leadership

• Lead multidisciplinary design teams consisting of architects, interior designers, engineers, planners, and specialized subject matter experts.
• Collaborate closely with Project Managers to balance design excellence with project scope, budget, and schedule.
• Mentor designers and architects while fostering creativity, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Participate in internal design reviews and contribute to a culture of design excellence across the firm.

Provide technical leadership related to

• Building envelope systems
• Building codes and life safety
• Accessibility requirements
• Constructability
• Building systems integration
• Material selection and detailing
• Ensure planning and design solutions are technically sound and appropriate for the selected delivery method.
• Support construction administration activities to maintain design quality and resolve field conditions while preserving project intent.

Design Communication & Visualization

• Produce compelling renderings, diagrams, presentations, and visual storytelling materials.
• Develop graphics that effectively communicate programming, planning, and design solutions.
• Leverage technology to enhance client engagement and design decision-making.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Architecture from an accredited program.
• Licensed Architect preferred.
• 8+ years of progressively responsible architectural design experience.
• Demonstrated experience leading the design of complex commercial, industrial, institutional, or aviation projects from programming through construction.
• Proven experience conducting architectural programming and translating client objectives into innovative planning solutions.

Strong experience developing

• Programming documents
• Block and stack diagrams
• Adjacency studies
• Test fits.
• Space planning solutions
• Conceptual floor plans
• Exterior architectural design
• Building massing and façade development

Thorough understanding of

• Building envelope systems
• Building codes
• Accessibility requirements
• Construction methods
• Building detailing
• Constructability
• Exceptional presentation, facilitation, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to lead design workshops and build consensus among diverse stakeholder groups.
• Strong portfolio demonstrating outstanding architectural design, planning, visualization, and built work.
• Experience working within Aerospace, Manufacturing & Industrial, Commercial, Aviation, or Federal markets. Experience in Hospitality, Education, or Entertainment is a plus.

Required proficiency with

• Autodesk Revit
• Enscape or comparable real-time visualization software
• Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, Acrobat)
• Bluebeam Revu
• Microsoft Office Suite

Preferred experience with

• BIM workflows
• AI-assisted visualization and design tools
• Presentation and visualization software
• Sustainable design principles

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience delivering projects using the Design-Build delivery method.
• Experience facilitating design thinking workshops, visioning sessions, and collaborative charrettes
• LEED Accredited Professional (LEED AP), WELL AP, or similar credential.
• Experience presenting to executive leadership, public agencies, and large stakeholder groups.
• Must be a US Citizen or a Permanent Resident

The ideal candidate is

• An exceptional architectural designer with a passion for creating memorable places.
• A strategic thinker who understands how design supports business goals and user experience.
• An outstanding communicator who can inspire confidence with clients and project teams.
• A skilled facilitator capable of leading collaborative workshops and guiding complex decision-making.
• Equally comfortable sketching ideas, developing planning diagrams, reviewing technical details, and presenting to executive leadership.
• Technically grounded while remaining focused on design excellence.
• Curious, innovative, collaborative, and committed to continuous improvement.

Physical Requirements

• The work is semi-sedentary work and requires the ability to lift up to 20 pounds.
• Manual dexterity, hearing, mental acuity, typing, reaching, repetitive motion, speaking, talking, and visual acuity.
• Ability to navigate and move around the construction site, which may involve walking, climbing ladders, and standing for extended periods on uneven surfaces.
• Ability to operate a motor vehicle.
• Ability to stand and sit for periods longer than 30 minutes but not to exceed two hours consecutively.
• Ability to control behavior when encountering stressful situations or short deadlines and to maintain a high level of concentration.
• Ability to print and draw letters, numbers, words, characters, and symbols that are legible and understood by others.
• Ability to learn complex tasks and remember how to complete tasks without assistance once trained.

Additional information

This job description may be changed to include new responsibilities and tasks or change existing ones as management deems necessary.

Eoe/aa/mfdv

EOE, including Disability/Vets