Senior Architect

Designlab Experience; Dubai; On-site; AED 120,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

Designlab Experience is seeking a Senior Architect to lead transformative projects that blend architecture and art. This role demands creativity and leadership, focusing on delivering designs that not only meet structural standards but also engage clients and tell impactful stories. Candidates should have substantial experience in architectural design, preferably in event-related contexts, and possess strong skills in Rhino 3D and AutoCAD.

Qualifications

• 5–10 years of architecture experience, ideally in event-related design.
• Exceptional skills in Rhino 3D and AutoCAD.
• Strong conceptual thinking and design translation abilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead projects from concept to execution, ensuring design quality.
• Mentor junior architects and assist in project documentation.
• Coordinate with various consultants for project delivery.

Skills

Creative and Architectural Design

3D and 2D Modelling

Project Management

Client Engagement

Leadership

Fluent in English

Education

Bachelor's or Master's Degree in Architecture

Tools

Rhino 3D

AutoCAD

Job description

About Us
Designlab Experience creates transformative experiences through bespoke architectural design and art.
We are a global team of architects, designers, strategists, producers, engineers, and artists who believe in challenging and transforming the familiar to create new ways for people to engage with environments, each other, and new ideas.
Founded in 2006, with offices in Dubai, Riyadh, and Beirut, we lead the GCC and global market in experiential design.

About the Role
As Senior Architect, you will shape and deliver architecture that goes beyond structure. You will craft spaces that tell stories, hold cultural relevance, and leave a lasting impact. You will lead projects from concept to execution, working with internal and external teams to ensure each detail aligns with DLE’s high standards. Your role will balance design guardianship with hands-on delivery, ensuring ideas remain as powerful in reality as they are in concept.

What You Will Do

Creative and Architectural Design

• Lead winning pitches with ideas-led concepts.
• Deconstruct briefs and translate them into advanced 3D and 2D models.
• Oversee designs from conceptualisation to execution, ensuring buildability and detailing.
• Apply contextual research and storytelling to all design outputs.
• Collaborate with producers, creatives, designers, and visualisers to deliver exceptional client presentations.
• Act as a design guardian during project delivery.

Project and Team Leadership

• Liaise with project management for timelines and deliverables.
• Coach and mentor junior architects and designers.
• Manage project documentation and ensure clarity across all communications.
• Coordinate with structural, MEP, and lighting consultants.
• Maintain high standards in design quality while ensuring timely delivery.

Business Development

• Engage confidently with clients to understand their brands, visions, and ambitions.
• Promote DLE’s capabilities with authority.
• Guide the development of integrated solutions that align client goals with DLE’s creative vision.

What You Bring

• 5–10 years of architecture experience, ideally in event-related or temporary design.
• Exceptional Rhino 3D modelling and AutoCAD 2D drafting skills.
• Strong conceptual thinking with the ability to translate ideas into compelling designs.
• Strong knowledge of materiality, detailing, and feasibility.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and lead design teams.
• Comfort in mentoring junior team members while maintaining design quality.
• Agile, proactive, and accountable from start to finish.
• Strong leadership and a collaborative team spirit
• Fluent in English (Arabic is a plus).

Who You Are

• A practitioner who does, not just directs.
• Passionate about architecture, art, and culture, particularly in the Middle East.
• Calm under pressure, organised, and precise.
• Open to feedback, iteration, and rapid design evolution
• Excellent in presenting, collaborating, and building client relationships.
• Self-motivated and driven to deliver work that sets the benchmark.
• Contributing positively to team culture and DLE’s evolution as an Experience Brand.

Ready to lead with taste and ambition?
Join us in shaping spaces that captivate and transform.