Architectural Designer (ArchiCAD)

Spacial; Palo Alto (CA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 135,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Mentorship from seniors

Diverse projects

Health coverage

Startup culture

401(k)

Job summary

Spacial in Palo Alto seeks an Architectural Designer with advanced ArchiCAD skills to join our design team and drive permit-ready drawing sets for residential and light commercial projects.

With 150+ active projects on the San Francisco Peninsula, you will collaborate with project managers and senior architects from concept through permit, navigating zoning codes and jurisdictional requirements to secure approvals and maintain organized project files.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Architecture or related field, or equivalent experience.
• Advanced ArchiCAD proficiency for setup, layers, and construction docs.
• 3+ years of professional experience in an architectural office with local submissions.
• Solid knowledge of California zoning, planning approvals, and permitting.
• Strong drawing, detailing, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication.
• Ability to work independently and in a team.
• Detail-oriented and organized with multi-tasking ability.

Responsibilities

• Develop and produce design and construction drawings in ArchiCAD for residential and light commercial projects.
• Collaborate with project managers and senior architects on all design stages.
• Prepare complete permit submittal packages and ensure compliance with codes.
• Research zoning codes, planning regulations, and permitting procedures for multiple jurisdictions.
• Coordinate with consultants, engineers, and city planning to secure approvals.
• Assist in client presentations, design renderings, and documentation as required.
• Maintain accurate project files and support a clear workflow.

Skills

ArchiCAD proficiency

Permit submissions

Zoning & codes knowledge

Communication skills

Independent yet collaborative

Education

Bachelor's in Architecture

Tools

ArchiCAD

Twinmotion

Photoshop

SketchUp

Job description

We are seeking a talented and motivated Architectural Designer with advanced proficiency in ArchiCAD to join our design team. The ideal candidate will bring strong technical skills, creativity, and a solid understanding of the permitting process. This role is best suited for a designer who has experience preparing and submitting drawing sets for review by local jurisdictions and is eager to grow within a collaborative architectural practice.

With 150+ active projects—primarily custom single-family homes throughout the San Francisco Peninsula, you'll have the opportunity to work on a diverse portfolio of high-end residential projects in a fast-paced, collaborative environment. This is an excellent role for someone who enjoys seeing projects through from concept to permit and wants to grow their career alongside an innovative, rapidly expanding team.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and produce design and construction drawings in ArchiCAD for residential and light commercial projects.
• Collaborate with project managers and senior architects on concept design, schematic design, design development, and construction documentation.
• Prepare complete permit submittal packages, ensuring compliance with local zoning ordinances, building codes, and jurisdictional requirements.
• Research and apply zoning codes, planning regulations, and permitting procedures for multiple jurisdictions.
• Coordinate with consultants, engineers, and city planning/building departments to ensure timely approvals.
• Assist in client presentations, design renderings, and documentation as required.
• Maintain accurate project files and contribute to a clear, organized workflow.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Architecture or related field (preferred but not required with equivalent experience).
• Advanced proficiency in ArchiCAD (required) with the ability to set up projects, manage layers, and produce clean, detailed construction documents.
• 3+ years of professional experience in an architectural office, with direct experience submitting projects to local planning/building jurisdictions.
• Solid understanding of zoning codes, planning approvals, and permitting processes in California.
• Strong technical drawing, detailing, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Ability to work independently while contributing to a collaborative team environment.
• Detail-oriented, organized, and capable of managing multiple tasks simultaneously.

Preferred Skills

• Experience with residential design (single-family and ADUs).
• Familiarity with 3D visualization, rendering, or BIM coordination.
• Knowledge of additional software (e.g., Twinmotion, Photoshop, SketchUp) is a plus.

What We Offer (perks!)

• Thrive in a supportive and collaborative studio environment where your ideas are valued
• Grow and learn through mentorship from experienced senior architects
• Gain hands-on experience across diverse projects and all phases of design and permitting
• Stay healthy with comprehensive health, dental, and vision coverage
• Be part of a dynamic start-up culture that loves to build, innovate, and succeed as a team
• Plan for the future with our 401(k) benefits