Architectural Designer

Thornton Tomasetti; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 78,000 - 92,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, AD&D,  

Disability insurance

401k with company match

Commuter Transit

Tuition Reimbursement

Fitness Reimbursement

Job summary

Thornton Tomasetti, a leading engineering design firm, is seeking an Architectural Designer in its Protective Design & Security practice in California. You will contribute to risk-based security planning, integrating site planning, architecture, and security systems to deliver resilient facilities.

You will work with multidisciplinary teams, learn exposure to physical and electronic security, and grow your technical and professional skills while aligning with Thornton Tomasetti’s collaborative

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in architecture, urban design, planning, civil engineering, or related field; master’s degree preferred.
• Interest in risk-informed security strategy and design in the built environment.
• Strong graphic, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Familiarity with design/visualization tools (Revit, AutoCAD, Rhino/Grasshopper, Adobe CC, Bluebeam).
• Ability to obtain a U.S. security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Support security planning, site planning, and secure design studies for new and existing facilities.
• Assist CPTED reviews, site perimeter and lobby design concepts, access control planning, and circulation studies.
• Help prepare diagrams, technical narratives, presentations, and design documentation that communicate security measures clearly.
• Coordinate with architects, engineers, planners, and security specialists in a multidisciplinary team environment.
• Participate in on-site assessments, field surveys, and construction-phase activities.
• Learn the relationship between architectural design, physical security, electronic security, life safety, and building operations.

Skills

Security planning

Communication skills

Team collaboration

Design documentation

Education

Bachelor’s degree in architecture, urban design, planning, civil engineering, or related field

Master’s degree preferred

Tools

Revit

AutoCAD

Rhino/Grasshopper

Adobe Creative Suite

Bluebeam

ARC GIS

Unreal Engine

Job description

Thornton Tomasetti applies engineering and scientific principles to solve the world’s challenges. An independent organization of creative thinkers and innovative doers collaborating from offices worldwide, our mission is to bring our clients' ideas to life and, in the process, lay the groundwork for a better, more resilient future. We provide support and opportunities to our employees to achieve their full potential and cultivate a rewarding career.

Our Protective Design & Security (PD&S) practice prioritizes the protection of life and assets by mitigating consequences of security risks in the built environment. With more than 75 years of experience, our risk-led and strategic solutions safeguard people, property, and operations from intentional harm, evolving and emerging threats. Whether safeguarding a cultural landmark, securing a healthcare facility, or planning for crowd safety at a major event, our approach is grounded in intelligence, simulation, and human-centered design to deliver resilient solutions with demonstrable performance and lasting impact.

Within our practice, you’ll develop knowledge on how risk-based design brings together security planning, physical security, and electronic security to develop layered protection strategies. You’ll support the development of performance-based solutions—from secure site planning to physical hardening, access control, surveillance, and detection—and how these measures integrate with security operations.

Your Role

As an Architectural Designer in our Protective Design & Security practice, you will support risk-based security planning and design that mitigates vulnerabilities, safeguards people and operations, and balances safety, security, usability, and design intent. You will contribute to layered security strategies connecting site planning, architecture, structural systems, electronic security, and operations across buildings, campuses, and mixed-use environments. With support from your team, you will work in a collaborative, multidisciplinary environment while developing technical, design, and project coordination skills.

What You'll Do

• Support security planning, site planning, and secure design studies for new and existing facilities.
• Assist with Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) reviews, site perimeter and lobby design concepts, access control planning, and circulation studies.
• Help prepare diagrams, technical narratives, presentations, and design documentation that communicate security measures clearly.
• Coordinate with architects, engineers, planners, and security specialists in a multidisciplinary team environment.
• Participate in on-site assessments, field surveys, and construction-phase activities.
• Learn the relationship between architectural design, physical security, electronic security, life safety, and building operations.
• Build familiarity with Thornton Tomasetti’s culture, services, and collaborative working style while growing your technical and professional skills.

What You'll Bring

• Bachelor’s degree in architecture, urban design, planning, civil engineering, or a related field; master's degree preferred.
• Interest in risk-informed security strategy and design in the built environment.
• Strong graphic, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Familiarity with design, visualization, and documentation tools such as Revit, AutoCAD, Rhino/Grasshopper, Adobe Creative Suite, Bluebeam, ARC GIS, Unreal Engine or similar platforms is preferred.
• Ability to obtain a U.S. security clearance.

Compensation

The rate for this position generally is $78,000 - $92,000 annually. This range is a good faith estimate provided pursuant to the California Pay Transparency Law. It is based on what a successful California applicant might be paid and assumes that the successful candidate will be in California or perform the position from California. Similar positions located outside of California will not necessarily receive the same compensation. Actual pay rates may vary from the range, as permitted by California Equal Pay Transparency Law. Compensation offers will be based on various factors, including operational needs, individual education, qualifications and experience, work location and comparison to employee already in the role, as well as other considerations permitted by law. A potential new employee’s pay history will not be used in compensation decisions.

Benefits

Depending on your employment status, benefits may include:

• Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, AD&D, Disability and other voluntary benefits
• Flexible Spending Accounts for Medical and Childcare
• Paid Time Off, Family Leave for New Parents, Volunteer Time
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Commuter Transit (where available)
• 401k retirement savings with Company matching on employee contributions and/or qualified student loan repayments
• Fitness Reimbursement
• And other various wellness, diversity/inclusion and employee resource programs and initiatives

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Thornton Tomasetti is proud to be an equal employment workplace. Individuals seeking employment at Thornton Tomasetti are considered without regards to age, ancestry, color, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, mental or physical disability, national origin, protected family care or medical leave status, race, religion (including beliefs and practices or the absence thereof), sexual orientation, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

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