Associate Architect/Lab Planner

Jacobs; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 75,000 - 132,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

401(k) plan

Stock purchase plan

Paid time off

Job summary

Jacobs is seeking an Associate Architect/Lab Planner to lead laboratory project planning for complex technology facilities. You will communicate requirements with clients and design teams, develop program concepts, and help shape budgets and schedules.

The role requires a Bachelor's degree in architecture/engineering/science, 5+ years of lab design experience, and proficiency in Revit/AutoCAD. This position offers a hybrid work model with travel to sites.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in architecture, engineering or science; lab design certification preferred.
• At least 5 years of architectural design experience with focus on technical and/or laboratory facilities.
• Experience in design documentation, client coordination, consultant coordination, and construction.
• Experience with laboratory types such as cleanroom, vivarium, bio-containment, and manufacturing facilities.

Responsibilities

• Provides technical planning leadership for laboratory facilities and programming.
• Develops program requirements and standards for project completion.
• Translates planning concepts into clear terms for clients and project teams.
• Develops project scopes, budgets and milestone schedules.
• Communicates planning concepts through reports and drawings.

Skills

Teamwork

Communication

Creativity

Deadline management

Education

Bachelor's degree in architecture, engineering or science

Tools

Revit

AutoCAD

Architectural Desktop

MS Office

Photoshop

Illustrator

SketchUp

InDesign

Job description

At Jacobs, we're challenging today to reinvent tomorrow by solving the world's most critical problems for thriving cities, resilient environments, mission‑critical outcomes, operational advancement, scientific discovery and cutting‑edge manufacturing, turning abstract ideas into realities that transform the world for good.

Your impact

Our Advisory Solutions Planning services span a wide spectrum of expertise — it is the thoughtful integration of multiple practices across Jacobs Advisory Solutions. We are a premier provider of facility planning/programming and consulting services to a variety of government, institutional, military, and corporate clients. These services include Strategic Planning, Facilitation & Stakeholder Engagement, Programming & Portfolio Optimization, and Master Planning & Design meant to enhance our clients’ business efficiencies. Our team includes planners, facility programmers, architects, landscape architects, interior designers, civil/environmental engineers, economists/business analysts, GIS analysts, graphic designers, and other related disciplines.

Role

Jacobs is seeking an Associate Architect/Lab Planner to be responsible for laboratory project planning efforts toward the successful completion of complex technology facilities providing overall programming and lab design planning. This individual will communicate with clients and other user groups to understand project requirements and represent the firm.

Essential Duties/Responsibilities

• Provides technical knowledge in the laboratory planning and programming of academic research or other technical facilities.
• Provides technical planning expertise and leadership for laboratory facilities in the areas of programming, design, fit-out planning, equipment planning, MEP systems integration planning and casework specification.
• Participates in meetings to collect program needs for laboratory specifications in technical facilities.
• Develops a comprehensive understanding of clients' program requirements and standards and policies for completion.
• Assists in the design development, modification and/or review of laboratory planning concepts and solutions.
• Assists in developing project scope, plan, and services and during the contract process. Translates planning concepts into comprehensible terms for clients, designers and project team members.
• Assists in establishing overall project budgets and milestone schedules in coordination with project managers, architect and project engineers.
• Communicates planning concepts to project teams, both verbally and through graphic and written reports.
• Develops architectural drawings to communicate planning concepts for project documentation and construction.
• Prepares and modifies architectural documents, elevations, sections, details, etc.
• Anticipates and develops solutions to technical and design problems following established standards.
• Applies appropriate quality assurance and quality control methods throughout project.
• Develops and maintains strong and collaborative relationships with existing and potential clients.
• Actively seeks new knowledge in the design and planning of laboratories.

Your most impactful mission in this role is to support our clients and to do so while living inclusion every day. For us, this means creating a culture of belonging where we all thrive by embracing all perspectives. An inclusive culture with many perspectives through diverse backgrounds allows us to leverage knowledge, leadership, and connection to bring forth opportunity, creativity and growth.

We value collaboration and believe that in-person interactions are crucial for both our culture and client delivery. We empower employees with our hybrid working policy, allowing them to split their work week between Jacobs’s offices/projects and remote locations, enabling them to deliver their best work.

Here’s what you’ll need

• Bachelor's degree in architecture, engineering or science, laboratory design certification preferred.
• At least 5 years of experience in architectural design with a focus on technical and/or laboratory facilities preferred.
• Should have experience in all facets of architectural practice, such as design documentation, client relationship building, consultant coordination and construction.
• Experience working in laboratory types such as cleanroom, vivarium, bio‑containment, research, science teaching, pharmaceutical, public health, clinical, process and manufacturing facilities.
• US Citizenship preferred.

Desired Abilities

• Demonstrates creativity, passion and interest in design and planning and design of laboratories and technical facilities.
• Strong interest in technical facility and laboratory operations.
• Knowledge of technical and regulatory requirements for laboratory design preferred.
• Knowledge of laboratory planning, design, construction documents, construction administration and project construction cost control for lab facilities preferred.
• Proficiency in Revit or other BIM platform preferred.
• Proficiency in AutoCAD/Architectural Desktop preferred.
• Proficiency in MS Office, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Access.
• Proficiency in Photoshop, Illustrator, Sketchup, and InDesign graphic software preferred.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing; ability to convey laboratory planning needs to designers and other team members.
• Ability to work in team environment.
• Ability to effectively meet deadlines.
• Candidate expected to work in a virtual hybrid environment, with approximately two days per week at the Atlanta office for team meetings and other collaboration.
• Candidate will be expected to travel to fulfill this position.
• Travel is usually a couple of days up to one week at a time, with some instances of two weeks at a time for international destinations.

Our health and welfare benefits are designed to invest in you, and in the things you care about. Your health. Your well‑being. Your security. Your future. Employees have access to medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance, a 401(k) plan, and the ability to purchase company stock at a discount. Eligible employees may also enroll in a deferred compensation plan or the Executive Deferral Plan. Jacobs has an unlimited U.S. Personalized Paid Time Off (PPTO) policy for full‑time salaried/exempt employees, seven paid holidays, and caregiver leave. And certain roles may be eligible for additional rewards, including merit increases, performance discretionary bonus, and stock.

The base salary range for this position is $75,300.00 to $131,700.00. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.

Job posted on September 21, 2026. This position will be open for at least 3 days.

We value collaboration and believe that in-person interactions are crucial for both our culture and client delivery. We empower employees with our hybrid working policy, allowing them to split their work week between Jacobs offices/projects and remote locations enabling them to deliver their best work.

Your application experience is important to us, and we’re keen to adapt to make every interaction even better. If you require further support or reasonable adjustments with regards to the recruitment process (for example, you require the application form in a different format), please contact the team via Careers Support.