Architect

Nakupuna Services LLC; Maryland; On-site; USD 120,000 - 145,000; Full time

Job summary

Nakupuna Companies is seeking a full-time Architect to join our DoWEA Team. The candidate will conduct facility surveys, verify building codes, evaluate ADA accessibility, and review educational space planning across 45 school campuses on 21 U.S. military installations in the Pacific Region, including Japan, Okinawa, Korea, and Guam.

The role requires significant travel for on-site assessments. A NAAB-accredited architecture degree and 5+ years of experience are required; RA/NCARB is preferred.

Qualifications

• Experience evaluating architectural systems, codes and ADA compliance.
• Proficiency with USACE BUILDER methodology.
• Ability to estimate material quantities from drawings and field observations.
• Active Registered Architect (RA) license or NCARB certification preferred.

Responsibilities

• Conduct Facility Condition Assessments (FCAs) on institutional facilities.
• Enter collected data into the Enterprise Sustainment Management System (E-SMS) within 90 days of site visits.
• Perform space utilization assessments and ensure room labels align with DoWEA terminology.
• Analyze GSF variances and maintain a difference table for DoWEA reconciliation.
• Annotate changes on FUS documentation and provide explanations for demolition/construction transfers.
• Document defects and Amber/Red conditions with photos for the DAM system.

Job description

Architect

Job Locations

US-HI-Honolulu | US-SC-Charleston | US-MD-Patuxent River | US-VA-Arlington | US-TX-San Antonio

Job ID: 2026-7028

Type: Full-Time Salaried

Company: Nakupuna Services

Additional Locations: US-SC-Charleston | US-MD-Patuxent River | US-VA-Arlington | US-TX-San Antonio

Overview

Nakupuna Companies is seeking to hire a full-time Architect to join our DoWEA Team. The candidate will be responsible for conducting facility surveys, verifying building codes, evaluating Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility parameters, and reviewing educational space planning across Department of War Education Activity (DoWEA) educational facilities. This role requires significant travel to conduct on-site triennial assessments across 45 school campuses located on 21 U.S. military installations throughout the Pacific Region, including Japan, Okinawa, South Korea, and Guam.

Responsibilities

The following reflects management's definition of essential functions for this position, but management may assign additional duties and responsibilities at any time. Specific duties include:

• Facility Condition Assessments: Conduct comprehensive physical Facility Condition Assessments (FCAs) on institutional facilities, identifying architectural and interior construction deficiencies. Perform direct rating inspections of facility architectural components utilizing the USACE Sustainment Management System (SMS) BUILDER methodology, including exterior closures, roofing, interior construction, staircases, interior finishes, and specialized educational spaces.
• Data Collection & E-SMS Entry: Enter collected architectural component data, condition ratings, and material quantities into the Enterprise Sustainment Management System (E-SMS) within 90 days of completing each site visit.
• Space Utilization & FUS Markups: Perform space utilization assessments to verify facility floor plans for the Facility Utilization Survey (FUS). Ensure all room labels strictly adhere to DoWEA's standard list of intended use descriptions.
• GSF Discrepancy Reporting: Analyze and track gross square footage (GSF) variances (expecting variations up to 15% or +/- 50 GSF per facility) and maintain a table of differences including pertinent facility information for DoWEA reconciliation.
• Variance & Change Documentation: Clearly annotate verified changes (room number, room area, intended use, floor/ground finishes) on an electronic copy of the FUS. Provide written explanations for all changes resulting from demolition, construction, or transfer occurrences.
• Deficiency Documentation: Document architectural deficiencies and conditions rated as "Amber (-)" or "Red" by providing detailed supporting comments and capturing representative photographs for the Data Asset Management (DAM) system.

Qualifications

Skills/Qualifications: The ideal candidate is familiar and has experience with the following technical knowledge, skills, and abilities:

• Demonstrated expertise in evaluating architectural systems, interior finishes, building codes, and ADA compliance for institutional and commercial facilities.
• Proficiency in applying the USACE BUILDER Condition Assessment Guide methodology to architectural components.
• Ability to estimate material quantities from drawings and field observations to accurately componentize architectural structures in E-SMS.
• An active Registered Architect (RA) license or National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) certification is highly preferred.

Education & Experience: Candidate must possess:

• Education: A professional degree in Architecture (B.Arch or M.Arch) accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB).
• Experience: A minimum of five (5) years of documented architectural experience conducting facility surveys, verifying building codes, evaluating Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility parameters, and reviewing educational space planning

Physical Demands & Work Environment: Candidates are continually required to stand and walk, utilize their hands, and finger dexterity. Fieldwork requires walking large, geographically dispersed school campuses and visually inspecting building interiors, exterior closures, staircases, and specialized educational spaces.

Clearance Requirements: Must be a U.S. Citizen. Secret clearance preferred. Must be capable of passing necessary background investigations, including an FBI Fingerprint Check and Tier 1 childcare investigation, to permit unescorted access within active school facilities.

Work Location: Work is performed at DoWEA Pacific Region military installations, requiring regular deployment to school campuses located in Japan, Okinawa, South Korea, and Guam. The ideal candidate will reside in or near one of our strategic hubs: Arlington, VA; San Antonio, TX; Charleston, SC; or Honolulu, HI.

The Nakupuna Companies use a market-based compensation strategy to ensure that our employees are compensated within applicable market ranges commensurate with multiple factors, including but not limited to the individual's particular combination of education, knowledge, skills, competencies, and experience, as well as contract-specific affordability, organizational requirements, and position location. The projected compensation range for this position is $120,000.00 to $145,000.00 (annualized USD). The salary range displayed represents the typical salary range for this position and is just one component of Nakupuna Companies total compensation package for employees