Design Lead

Archinect; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Meyer Davis seeks an intermediate Design Lead in New York to drive design integrity through collaboration with clients, consultants, and internal teams. This role emphasizes refined environments, craft, materiality, and elevated experience in hospitality and commercial settings.

You will guide design development across multiple project types, lead the team, and contribute to studio standards while working in a hybrid in-office schedule.

Qualifications

• Architecture or interior design degree with relevant background; LEED and NCIDQ are a plus.
• Minimum of 5–8 years of project experience across all project phases, through CA.
• Experience with hotels, condo developments, F&B, or high-end private residential projects.
• Extensive experience designing and specifying custom furniture for hospitality/commercial environments.
• Strong interior design concepts including space planning, furniture, fixtures, and product research.
• Proficiency in AutoCAD, Adobe Creative Suite, REVIT, SketchUp or other 3D visualization tools.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate with clients, consultants, brands and internal staff.
• Solid understanding of drawing sets, IF specifications/FFE specifications.
• Lead the design team in selection, specification and detailing of interior finishes and furniture for large or small projects.
• Develop in-house 3D renderings for presentation and for internal studies.
• Manage the design and documentation of custom furniture, including material selection, drafting of design intent drawings and specifications, coordination with vendors/manufacturers, and reviewing submittals through construction administration.

Education

Architecture/Interior Design degree

LEED certification

NCIDQ certification

Tools

AutoCAD

Adobe Creative Suite

REVIT

SketchUp

Job description

Meyer Davis is seeking intermediate designers who bring curiosity, strong design instincts, and a thoughtful approach to collaboration. The ideal candidate is a proactive problem-solver with a passion for creating refined environments, someone who can contribute meaningfully to the design process while working fluidly with clients, consultants, and internal teams. We are looking for an individual who values design integrity, approaches projects with both creativity and discipline, and contributes to shaping spaces that reflect Meyer Davis’s commitment to craft, materiality, and elevated experience.

Role: Design Lead

Location: New York

Reports To: Studio Directors

Job Type:Full-Time, Monday through Friday. Occasionally, late nights and weekends are required to meet deadlines.

In Office: Hybrid schedule with 2-3 days in office per week.

Qualifications & Desired Experience:

• Architecture OR Interior Design Degree and Background; LEED certification and NCIDQ a plus.
• Minimum of 5-8 years of project experience, working within all project phases, through CA
• Experience with at least two of the following project types: Hotels, Condo Developments, F&B, High end Private Residential
• High-level of experience in designing and specifying custom furniture for hospitality/commercial environments
• An advanced level of proficiency in interior design concepts such as space planning, furniture, fixtures, and product research
• Proficiency in AutoCAD, Adobe Creative Suite, REVIT, SketchUp or other 3D visualization tools

Project Responsibilities:

• Coordination and clear communication with clients, consultants and brands & internal staff
• Solid understanding of Drawing Sets, IF specifications/FFE specifications

Firm-Wide Role:

• Maintain and contribute to Studio Library
• Develop and maintain relationships with Vendors
• Great knowledge of products and industry sources
• Research new products

Design/Technical Skills:

• Knowledge and implementation of MD design standards and aesthetic
• Organized with clear written and verbal communication skills
• Possess understanding of all program standards: CAD/PSD/DesignSpec (BIM, Studio as needed)
• Attention to detail

Leadership/Business Management Skills:

• Develop base knowledge of project phases and project management
• Develop a base understanding of how to read and apply contract to project goals

Development Goals:

• Develop comfort in client interfacing interaction
• Gain knowledge in independently handling portions of a project

Training/Development Opportunities:

• Become familiar with business structure, company practices and beliefs
• Develop base understanding of how the firm works

Your responsibilities will include but not be limited to:

• Maintain a strong working knowledge of IF & FF&E specification minimum standards, including hospitality brand standards and contract-grade furniture manufacturing standards.
• Review samples, strike-offs, stone, tile, wood, etc. for compliance with specifications and overall design intent.
• Lead the design team in selection, specification and detailing of interior finishes and furniture for large or small projects.
• Coordinate with purchasing agent, communicate with vendors, and review shop drawings and sample approvals.
• Coordinate with various consultants (Lighting, MEP, Landscape, etc), communicate with vendors, and review shop drawings, submittals and RFIs.
• Understand contract-grade furniture manufacturing standards and document custom furniture specifications.
• Develop in-house 3D renderings for presentation and for internal studies.
• Manage the design and documentation of custom furniture, including material selection, drafting of design intent drawings and specifications, coordination with vendors/manufacturers, and reviewing submittals through construction administration.
• Develop presentations including collecting concept imagery, build presentation in InDesign, gather physical materials and present progress ideas to internal team.
• Work with design team to manage the design and documentation, including material selection, drafting and modeling, IF specifications, coordination with vendors/manufacturers, and reviewing submittals through construction administration.

We are an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering an inclusive workplace and do not discriminate on the basis of any status protected by applicable law.