Project Architect

CLIENT</strong> Our CLIENT is an award-winning boutique architecture studio based in San Francisco, CA. Founded 30 years ago on the belief that great architecture shapes how people feel, both now and for generations to come. The firm has built a strong reputation for civic, educational, and residential work rooted in sustainability, community engagement, and design integrity.

The studio's portfolio spans public open spaces, LEED-certified school facilities, community centers, civic buildings, and thoughtfully crafted homes all within California and predominantly in the San Francisco Bay Area. The firm is an active AIA San Francisco member, a SF Green Business, and a recent award honoree. They are a small, close-knit team with a highly collaborative design process and a commitment to meaningful work over volume.

POSITION SUMMARY We are seeking an experience and technically strong Project Architect to step into a primary leadership role across the firm's civic, educational, and residential projects. This is not a support or production role, it is a project ownership role with significant autonomy, a direct line to clients, and deep involvement in every phase of design and delivery. In this position, you will collaborate closely with the firm's Principal on design vision while independently managing the full project delivery process: running design development, producing and coordinating construction documents, managing consultants, and leading construction administration. You will also participate in client interviews and contribute to proposal efforts, making strong communication skills essential. The ideal candidate brings demonstrated experience on civic and public-sector projects and thrives in a small-firm environment where initiative and flexibility are rewarded.

• Serve as the primary project leader across civic, educational, and residential projects from schematic design through construction administration
• Manage the full design process across schedules, deliverables, design development, and consultant coordination
• Produce and coordinate complete construction document sets, independently when required
• Participate in client interviews and contribute to proposals and RFQ/RFP responses
• Serve as the firm's primary liaison to clients, contractors, and consultants during documentation and construction phases
• Lead construction administration: RFIs, submittals, site visits, field observations, and punch lists
• Navigate public agency permitting, plan check, and code compliance processes, including DSA for applicable projects
• Contribute to a collaborative, values-driven studio culture that takes design seriously

• Professional degree in Architecture (B.Arch or M.Arch) from an accredited institution
• 7+ years of professional experience in architecture, with demonstrated project leadership
• Licensed Architect in California (or actively pursuing ARE licensure)
• Experience on civic, educational, or public-sector projects
• Proficiency in Revit
• Demonstrated ability to produce a complete construction document set independently
• Strong command of building systems, construction methods, codes, and accessibility standards
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; comfortable presenting to clients and stakeholders
• Self-directed and confident, able to manage projects with significant autonomy
• Comfortable in a small, entrepreneurial studio environment and willing to wear multiple hats
• Experience with construction administration, field work, and contractor coordination

All applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship and must already possess long-term work authorization.