Senior architect/project architect (stage 4–5 lead)

Critical Playground LLC; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Friendly studio

Professional development

Social housing focus

Sustainability research

Job summary

East Architecture, Landscape, Urban Design in London seeks a senior architect/lead project architect to join a small team for a restarting residential scheme. The role focuses on design leadership, technical coordination and collaboration with contractors and consultants.

You bring UK Part 3 qualification and at least four years post-Part 3 experience, with proven delivery of multi-unit housing to RIBA Stage 5 under JCT contracts, in a collaborative, design-led practice in London.

Qualifications

• UK Part 3 qualified with at least four years’ post-Part 3 experience in the UK.
• Demonstrated experience delivering at least two housing projects of 20+ units through RIBA Stage 5 under JCT Design and Build contracts, working as part of the architect’s team novated to the contractor.

Responsibilities

• Lead senior architect/lead on residential projects within a small team.
• Coordinate design delivery and technical detailing across stages 4–5.
• Collaborate with contractors and multidisciplinary teams to resolve construction issues.

Skills

Revit

Vectorworks

Adobe Suite

SketchUp

Rhino

Education

UK Part 3 qualified

Tools

JCT Design and Build

PCSAs

Job description

East Architecture, Landscape, Urban Design is looking for a senior architect/project architect (stage 4–5 lead) to join its team in London.

East Architecture, Landscape, Urban Design is an award-winning, design-led architecture, landscape and urban design practice. We are currently a team of 15 in a studio based in London Fields.

East is an equal opportunities employer. We would like our practice to reflect the diversity of London closely and especially encourage applications from underrepresented and disadvantaged groups in architecture. Let us know if you think you fit this description if you are comfortable doing so.

We are recruiting in response to a larger residential scheme re-starting its next stage.

We offer:

• a friendly and collaborative studio, working in small teams
• experience and support in growing your skills
• socially and publicly oriented work, with a focus on social housing and the public realm
• opportunities to support sustainability, urban and landscape research within the practice

Candidate requirements

Skills and experience

Qualification and experience: UK Part 3 qualified with at least four years’ post-Part 3 experience in the UK.

Project delivery: Demonstrated experience delivering at least two housing projects of 20 or more units through RIBA Stage 5 under JCT Design and Build contracts, working as part of the architect’s team novated to the contractor.

Software proficiency: Confident working in Revit, with experience developing and coordinating value engineering (VE) packages while maintaining design quality and regulatory compliance. (We also use Vectorworks, Adobe Suite, SketchUp and Rhino).

Technical and coordination: Strong technical detailing, specification writing, consultant coordination and construction-stage problem-solving skills.

Building safety and regulations: Deep, up-to‑date knowledge and understanding of UK Building Regulations, building safety risks and the Principal Designer (BR) role and duties under the Building Safety Act.

Procurement: Strong understanding of procurement routes, including Design and Build and PCSAs.

Design and leadership: Good design judgement, an interest in working as part of a small team, ability to lead teams and a passionate, wide‑range knowledge of architecture.

Communication: Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, particularly when working with contractors and multi-disciplinary teams.

Competencies and behaviours (in line with the Building Safety Act)

Skills: Proven ability to produce and coordinate compliant technical design, assess changes and resolve construction issues.

Knowledge: Comprehensive understanding of relevant Building Regulations, building safety risks and designer duties.

Experience: Evidence of carrying out comparable responsibilities successfully on similar residential projects.

Behaviours: Strong sense of professional responsibility, cooperative approach, proactive in raising concerns and clear recognition of when specialist advice is required.

Essential criteria:

• fluency in both written and spoken English
• proof of eligibility to work in the UK
• availability to start November 2026

These skills and competencies should be evidenced within your CV and portfolio.