Architect/Designer

Wight & Company; Darien (IL); On-site; USD 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental & Vision

401(k)

Paid holidays

Paid time off

Job summary

Wight & Company is seeking an experienced Architect/Designer to join our team in the United States. The role supports and leads design development, technical documentation, coordination, and construction administration for small to mid-sized projects, collaborating with interdisciplinary teams to deliver high-quality projects from concept through completion.

Qualified candidates bring 5–10 years of professional architecture experience, strong design sensitivity, and technical judgment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in architecture from an accredited program.
• 5-10 years of professional experience in an architectural firm with focus on design development, documentation, coordination, and construction administration.
• Proficient in Revit, Enscape, Bluebeam, Procore, Adobe Creative Suite, and MS Office; BIM model coordination preferred.
• Strong design sensibility, technical knowledge, communication, and organizational ability.
• Licensure with current registration preferred.

Responsibilities

• Design Development: Contribute to and help advance design concepts that align with client goals and high-quality design.
• Project Execution: Support and lead portions of architectural projects through design, documentation, coordination, and construction administration.
• Technical Documentation: Plan, develop, and produce comprehensive technical design and construction documents.
• Interdisciplinary Coordination & Collaboration: Coordinate with engineering, construction, consulting, and design team members.
• Project Planning & Management: Work with PMs to support work planning, milestones, and deliverables.
• Mentorship: Provide guidance to emerging professionals and design staff.

Skills

Design development

Interdisciplinary coordination

Construction administration

Leadership

Communication skills

Mentorship

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in architecture

Licensure preferred

Tools

Revit

Enscape

Bluebeam

Procore

Adobe Creative Suite

Microsoft Office

Job description

Are you looking for an opportunity to do challenging, creative work that makes a real impact? Would you like to be part of a company that respects individual contributions and thrives on collaboration? Do you love to win? Then consider joining Wight & Company. We’re a nationally recognized, award-winning architecture, engineering, and construction firm known for a dynamic company culture that fosters innovation and challenges the status quo, and we’re looking for a talented professional to join our team.

We seek an experienced and highly skilled Architect/Designer with 5-10 years of professional experience to join our team. In this role, you will support and lead the development of design, technical documentation, coordination, and construction administration for small to mid-sized projects. You will collaborate closely with interdisciplinary teams, support client and consultant coordination, and contribute to high-quality project delivery from concept through completion. This position requires strong professional drive, technical judgment, design sensitivity, and self-direction. Potential candidates should demonstrate a thorough understanding of architectural design and documentation, analytical problem-solving skills, and a passion for high-quality design, integrated delivery, and collaborative processes.

Responsibilities:

• Design Development: Contribute to and help advance design concepts that align with client goals, project requirements, technical feasibility, and Wight & Company’s commitment to high-quality design.
• Project Execution: Support and lead portions of architectural projects through design, documentation, coordination, and construction administration while maintaining alignment with scope, schedule, budget, and quality expectations.
• Technical Documentation: Plan, develop, and produce comprehensive technical design and construction documents, ensuring accuracy, code awareness, graphic consistency, and alignment with project objectives.
• Technical Knowledge: Demonstrate a strong understanding of building materials, systems, specifications, codes, details, and construction techniques, and apply appropriate tools to design and document projects across all phases.
• Interdisciplinary Coordination & Collaboration: Coordinate with engineering, construction, consulting, and design team members through schematic design, design development, construction documents, and construction administration to support integrated, well-coordinated project delivery.
• Project Planning & Management: Work closely with the Project Manager, Project Architect, and Lead Project Designer to support work planning, task delegation, milestone tracking, and document delivery aligned with project schedule, budget, and Owner’s project requirements.
• Sustainability: Incorporate sustainable design principles and responsible material, systems, and performance strategies into project work in alignment with Wight & Company’s values.
• Quality Assurance: Review design and construction documents for accuracy, coordination, constructability, code compliance, and consistency with project goals. Identify potential design and construction issues and support timely resolution to reduce errors and rework. Adhere to the Wight Quality Assurance Program.
• Construction Administration: Support project-related construction administration activities, including submittal and RFI review, field observation documentation, OAC meeting participation, and issue resolution, with appropriate oversight by the Project Architect, Senior Architect, or Project Manager.
• Client and Consultant Coordination: Support client, consultant, and internal team communication by preparing materials, documenting decisions, presenting technical solutions, and helping maintain clear project alignment throughout the project lifecycle.
• Mentorship: Provide guidance and support to emerging professionals and design staff, contributing to a culture of collaboration, learning, accountability, and professional growth.
• Versatility: Adapt to various roles within a project, whether in leadership or support, while consistently performing at a high level. Proactively handle tasks beyond the primary scope and adjust to changing priorities to support project success, team collaboration, and firm excellence.

Qualifications:

• Education: Bachelor’s or master’s degree in architecture from an accredited program.
• Experience: 5-10 years of professional experience in an architectural firm, with strong experience in design development, technical documentation, interdisciplinary coordination, and construction administration.
• Software Proficiency: Proficient in design and documentation software such as Revit, Enscape, Bluebeam, Procore, Adobe Creative Suite, and Microsoft Office. Experience coordinating BIM models and supporting model-based coordination workflows is preferred.
• Skills: Strong design sensibility, technical knowledge, communication skills, organizational ability, and sound professional judgment, with the ability to manage assignments independently and collaborate effectively within a team.
• Knowledge: Solid understanding of building codes, construction methods, materials, detailing, specifications, and sustainable design principles.
• Leadership: Demonstrated ability to take ownership of assigned project responsibilities, coordinate with team members, support project delivery, and mentor emerging professional.
• Collaboration: Demonstrated experience working in a collaborative, interdisciplinary environment with a focus on integrated design and delivery.
• Creativity: Demonstrated ability to contribute thoughtful design and technical solutions that balance aesthetics, functionality, constructability, and sustainability.
• Licensure: Licensure with current registration, preferred.

Salary Range: $80,000 - $120,000. Individual pay will be based on several factors including experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities of the applicant.

Wight & Company offers excellent benefits and a wonderful work environment. Our comprehensive benefits include medical, dental, vision, disability, life insurance, flexible spending, paid holidays, paid time off, and a 401(k). Our flexible work schedule allows for a healthy work-life balance. For more information about our company, visit our website at www.wightco.com .

Wight & Company is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetics, protected veteran status, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

Wight & Company values diversity in our workforce. We are committed to recruiting, hiring, and promoting people with disabilities and veterans. If you need an accommodation to assist with completing the electronic application, please call us at 630.969.7000 and ask to speak with a Human Resources representative.

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey.Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiringprocess or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in aconfidential file.

As set forth in Wight & Company’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy,we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection.As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measurethe effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categoriesis as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran’s discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.