Year One - Junior Designer - Architecture

Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP (SOM); Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 26,000 - 34,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Hybrid/flexible schedules

Professional development

Job summary

Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) invites applicants to join the Year One Program as a Junior Designer in our London studios. This program blends hands-on project work with structured learning, encouraging bold design ideas and collaboration across interdisciplinary teams.

You will contribute to architectural projects under supervision, develop skills in Revit, AutoCAD, Rhino, and related tools, and engage in graphic presentation and documentation tasks.

Qualifications

• Recent completion of a professional degree in Architecture or a related field.
• Strong collaborative ability.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Proficiency in Google Workspace.

Responsibilities

• Contributes to the development of an aspect of a project under the direct supervision of project leadership.
• Exhibits initiative, process innovation, problem solving, and decision quality with a high attention to precision and accuracy at a task-specific level.
• Produces presentation and contract deliverables such as diagrams, 3D models, drawings, renderings, physical models and animations.
• Effectively communicates internally through timely and appropriate written, oral, and visual means.
• Creates and innovates with a strong conceptual design ability.
• Integrates interdisciplinary criteria to effectively move forward the design of a project component.
• Actively collaborates at a project team level by critically and constructively evaluating ideas.
• Demonstrates a basic understanding of building materials, systems, specifications, codes, details and construction techniques.
• Effectively uses appropriate tools to design and document at all project phases.
• Manages time and workload to meet project task deadlines and commitments with frequent interaction and direction from Project Leadership.

Skills

Collaborative ability

Verbal and written communication

Education

Professional degree in Architecture or related field

Tools

Revit

AutoCAD

Rhino

Parametric software

Rendering software

Adobe Suite

Job description

Join SOM's Year One Program as a Junior Designer - Architecture

Our Year One program picks up where your formal education leaves off, with a suite of events and creative initiatives to help you get the most out of your first year at SOM. Alongside your day-to-day project responsibilities, we'll encourage you to expand your learning and to propose bold ideas for the future of design. SOM offers the best of both worlds: the hands-on experience of small, dynamic studios, and the resources and diversity of a global organization. Our interdisciplinary firm affords a wealth of opportunities for emerging designers; our collaborative approach means that your ideas and creativity will be valued and recognized from day one. In keeping with SOM's reputation for innovation, our Year One program invites you to shape the future of the practice with us. Start here to dive into the profession, chart your path forward, and make your mark. At SOM, we are a collective committed to shaping a better future for our clients, communities and planet. We aspire to create the most sustainable, impactful work through creative, interdisciplinary teams with all the resources and diversity of a global firm. We value those who are passionate about excellence, innovation, integrity, inclusivity, and collaboration. Together we can achieve great things.

Success at SOM Means Ideas

We believe in a meritocracy of ideas. We look to everyone to actively contribute to the discourse in the firm. Knowledge: We believe that expertise is the result of lifelong learning. We are not expected to know everything, but rather to passionately pursue answers, develop new skills and deepen our knowledge. Product: We strive for excellence in the concept, quality, and delivery of our work. Individual: We value individuals who bring the highest standards of professionalism and personal integrity in the way they work. Each person can develop and contribute their wealth of attributes, skills and knowledge to support the overall health of the firm. Team: We value the power of interdisciplinary integration. A positive team culture in which everyone collaborates openly towards common goals is essential. Firm: We have a history of making transformative contributions to the profession and our communities. We are constantly innovating and attempting to bring new approaches, solutions and processes to our work.

Position Responsibilities

Contributes to the development of an aspect of a project under the direct supervision of project leadership.

Exhibits initiative, process innovation, problem solving, and decision quality with a high attention to precision and accuracy at a task-specific level.

Produces presentation and contract deliverables such as diagrams, 3D models, drawings, renderings, physical models and animations.

Effectively communicates internally through timely and appropriate written, oral, and visual means.

Creates and innovates with a strong conceptual design ability.

Integrates interdisciplinary criteria to effectively move forward the design of a project component.

Actively collaborates at a project team level by critically and constructively evaluating ideas.

Demonstrates a basic understanding of building materials, systems, specifications, codes, details and construction techniques.

Effectively uses appropriate tools to design and document at all project phases.

Manages time and workload to meet project task deadlines and commitments with frequent interaction and direction from Project Leadership.

Minimum Qualifications

Recent completion of a professional degree in Architecture or a related field.

Strong collaborative ability.

Strong verbal and written communication skills.

Demonstrates proficiency in Revit, AutoCAD, Rhino, parametric and rendering software, and Adobe Suite.

Proficiency in Google Workspace.

Our Benefits

Health and Wellness: Medical, dental, vision, disability, and life & accident insurance.

Work/Life Balance: Hybrid/Flexible schedules, paid family leave, paid vacation, backup child and elder care, and an employee assistance program.

Professional Development: Reimbursement for professional licenses, associated renewals, and exam fees as well as specialized in-house career development.

Our Culture

Our creative, interdisciplinary teams work like small, dynamic studios, with all the resources and diversity of a global firm. Here, you'll collaborate with industry experts on some of the most exciting and transformative architecture, engineering, and planning projects in the world. We believe an inclusive environment improves our teams, our firm, and our communities and are passionate about Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Our DEI Action Plan was created to bring meaningful change to our profession, starting with our own culture and practices. We are proud to be an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer.

Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) is a global practice of architects, engineers, and planners renowned for designing buildings, interiors, and public spaces that push the boundaries of technical and environmental innovation. Our interdisciplinary teams collaborate across an international network of studios to deliver projects of lasting impact. Through our built work, research, and advocacy, we are advancing strategies to decarbonize the built environment. Learn more about our commitment to climate action. Working at SOM Our practice was built to champion inclusivity of expertise, people, and ideas. Together, we cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset that equips our teams to face new challenges. Our studio culture offers opportunities for mentorship, growth, and leadership across project teams, offices, and employee resource groups. SOM is proud to be an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer, and we have been recognized with the highest ranking awarded on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s Corporate Equality Index. We publish an annual Impact Report as part of our ongoing commitment to advancing equity in our practice and the profession. Our Benefits Our comprehensive benefits package is built to support many facets of your well-being - your health, your financial future, and your continued professional growth. We offer medical, dental, vision, disability, life, and accident insurance. We also offer retirement support, free access to employee assistance programs for employees and family members, workplace flexibility, paid holidays, family leave, and paid time off. We reimburse costs for professional licenses, certifications, and exams, and offer specialized, in-house career development and mentorship programs designed to help you advance your knowledge and expertise.