Interior designer

Critical Playground LLC; New York, Northern (NY, KY); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

CetraRuddy is seeking an interior designer to join its team in New York, United States. The award-winning firm is driven by design excellence and a belief that Architecture Is Home.

You will collaborate with senior designers, develop design concepts, drawings and presentations, mentor junior staff, and manage multiple project phases with ADA and code awareness. A bachelor’s degree and 5–7 years of experience are required, with a hybrid work option and comprehensive benefits.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in interior design or related field.
• Minimum of five to seven years of experience in an interior design firm, ideally supporting large-scale multifamily residential, adaptive reuse and hospitality projects.
• Demonstrates a strong understanding of design principles, aesthetics and industry-relevant technical knowledge.
• Ability to prioritize tasks, manage multiple projects and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Collaborative with a can-do attitude and willingness to ask for help and provide guidance when needed.
• Applies strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Commitment to active participation in the studio culture and collaborative teamwork.

Responsibilities

• Develop design layouts and frameworks for projects, including the preparation of drawings and specifications.
• Provide oversight and guidance to junior designers and interns, fostering their development while maintaining project integrity.
• Create efficient space layouts that maximise functionality while ensuring comfort and accessibility for residents.
• Produce compelling design concepts, mood boards and presentations to effectively convey ideas to clients.
• Develop and execute accurate drawings, renderings and images for presentations, coordination and construction phases.
• Collaborate with developers, architects and clients to understand project objectives, budgets and design preferences.
• Ensure all designs comply with local building codes, safety regulations and accessibility standards, including a working knowledge of ADA requirements.
• Select and specify materials, finishes, fixtures and furnishings that meet the aesthetic and functional goals of each project.
• Manage construction administration tasks such as reviewing submittals, responding to RFIs, tracking finish samples, participating on punch list walkthroughs and under the guidance of senior staff.
• Support the management of multiple projects by maintaining deadlines and fostering strong collaboration with team members and leadership.

Skills

Strong design principles

Project coordination

Communication skills

Team collaboration

Deadline-oriented

Mentorship mindset

Education

Bachelor's degree in interior design

Tools

Revit

SketchUp

Enscape

Rhino

AutoCAD

BIM

Adobe Creative Cloud

Enscape rendering

Microsoft 365

Miro

Job description

CetraRuddy is looking for an interior designer to join its team in New York, United States.

CetraRuddy is an award-winning global architecture, planning and interior design firm driven by design excellence and the belief that Architecture Is Home.

For three decades, the firm has led with a guiding principle that architecture and design must engage in context and enrich the human spirit, seeking opportunities to craft innovative solutions and lead clients on their journeys toward building a new legacy.

The firm’s portfolio of work is defined by crafted details, innovative use of materials and contextual sensitivity across various market sectors including residential, hospitality, educational, cultural and commercial.

You collaborate closely with senior designers and project teams to execute design concepts, contributing to a range of deliverables from precise drawings and renderings to client presentations and construction documentation.

Your growing confidence with design concepts, detailing, consultant coordination and FF&E selection allows you to support multiple project phases, from concept through installation.

You begin to take on a mentorship role with junior designers and interns, sharing your knowledge while upholding the firm’s design standards. With increased ownership of your work, you’re strengthening your ability to manage project components independently, communicate clearly with stakeholders and balance creative intent with technical execution.

This is a great opportunity for those committed to design excellence and eager to continue growth in a supportive and exciting environment. We offer a comprehensive benefits package, a hybrid optional working environment on Mondays and Fridays and opportunities for professional development within a collaborative team.

Responsibilities:

• support the team, lead designer and project managers by developing design layouts and frameworks for projects, including the preparation of drawings and specifications
• provide oversight and guidance to junior designers and interns, fostering their development while maintaining project integrity
• create efficient space layouts that maximise functionality while ensuring comfort and accessibility for residents
• produce compelling design concepts, mood boards and presentations to effectively convey ideas to clients
• develop and execute accurate drawings, renderings and images for presentations, coordination and construction phases
• collaborate with developers, architects and clients to understand project objectives, budgets and design preferences
• ensure all designs comply with local building codes, safety regulations and accessibility standards, including a working knowledge of ADA requirements
• select and specify materials, finishes, fixtures and furnishings that meet the aesthetic and functional goals of each project
• manage construction administration tasks such as reviewing submittals, responding to RFIs, tracking finish samples, participating on punch list walkthroughs and under the guidance of senior staff
• support the management of multiple projects by maintaining deadlines and fostering strong collaboration with team members and leadership

Skills and requirements:

• bachelor’s degree in interior design or related field
• minimum of five to seven years of experience in an interior design firm, ideally supporting large-scale multifamily residential, adaptive reuse and hospitality projects
• demonstrates a strong understanding of design principles, aesthetics and industry-relevant technical knowledge
• has the ability to prioritize tasks, manage multiple projects and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment
• collaborative with a can-do attitude and willingness to ask for help and provide guidance when needed
• applies strong written and verbal communication skills
• a commitment to active participation in the studio culture and collaborative teamwork

Programs and software:

• intermediate use of Revit, SketchUp, Enscape, Rhino, AutoCAD and in a BIM environment
• advanced in Adobe Creative Cloud (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop) for professional grade production in presentations and graphics
• graphic design skills with intermediate Enscape rendering experience
• Microsoft 365 environment (Excel, Word, Outlook, Microsoft Teams, SharePoint)
• experience with collaborative tools such as Miro and other online whiteboarding platforms

Pay range:

The base salary for this position is estimated to range between $70,000.00–$90,000.00 depending on experience, with opportunities for bonuses and a competitive benefits package.