Job Captain: Custom Residential Architecture

AIA Seattle; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision insurance

401k matching

Volunteer time off

4 weeks vacation

Holidays & discretionary time

ORCA pass

Wellness reimbursement

Great colleagues

Job summary

Board & Vellum in Seattle, WA seeks a job captain for custom residential architecture projects. Join Architects, interior designers, and landscape architects to deliver homes from concept through construction with strong design and documentation focus.

Requires 6–8 years of experience, architecture degree, and solid Revit skills. You will help lead projects, coordinate teams, and ensure high-quality drawings on schedule in a collaborative, storytelling environment.

Qualifications

• 6 to 8 years of professional architectural experience with a strong custom residential portfolio and a degree in architecture.
• Code & Jurisdiction: Residential building codes, zoning, land use, and WA energy code; experience with permitting in WA jurisdictions.
• Technical Proficiency: Strong skills in Revit; bonus for Enscape familiarity; SketchUp, AutoCAD helpful.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with multidisciplinary project teams to develop design concepts and documentation, ensuring alignment with homeowner goals and project narratives.
• Work closely with studio leadership throughout projects to ensure successful project delivery from start of design through completion of construction.
• Produce accurate, polished design documentation and technical drawings in Revit, coordinating the drawing set across disciplines and consultants.
• Take ownership of project deliverables from design through permitting, construction documents, and construction administration.
• Apply code, zoning, and jurisdictional expertise to guide design decisions and shepherd projects through permitting.
• Document existing conditions and address surprises during remodeling projects.
• Respond to contractor RFIs, review submittals, and visit sites to maintain design integrity.
• Collaborate with project managers, consultants, and team members to keep projects on track and on budget.
• Guide and support less experienced designers on projects.
• Create quick conceptual sketches for client communication.

Skills

Revit

AutoCAD

SketchUp

Adobe Creative Suite

InDesign

Microsoft Office

Communication skills

Graphic presentation

Team collaboration

Problem solving

Organizational skills

Multitasking

Education

Bachelor or Master of Architecture

Tools

Enscape

Adobe Creative Suite

Job description

Board & Vellum is an engaged group of design professionals, collaborating on single‑family, multifamily, commercial, and civic projects. Creating spaces and communities people love is why we get up in the morning. With architecture, interior design, and landscape architecture teams in‑house, we thrive on building integrated teams to design and deliver beautiful, thoughtfulprojects.

We believe inbuilding stories, not just spaces. Our work is deeply rooted in creating environments that connect with the people who experience them. At Board & Vellum, you’ll find a supportive team that values collaboration, humor, and the joy of great design. We offer competitive pay, benefits, and a flexible work environment. You’ll also have opportunities for professional growth and mentorship as part of a team that celebrates curiosity andlearning.

If this sounds like your next chapter, you just may be a great fit for our team. Open positions are listed below. For each, please consider the General Qualifications, as well as the role‑specific qualifications included in each open job listing. We can’t wait to meet you and see how your skills and passion will contribute to the Board & Vellumstory.

General Qualifications

• Bachelor or Master of Architecture, or commensurate working experience in the industry.
• Experience with Built Green, Passive House, or other sustainable practices earns bonus points.
• Proficiency in Revit, AutoCAD, SketchUp, Adobe Creative Suite (especially InDesign), and Microsoft Office, along with a general comfort with technology.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Well-honed graphic presentation and visual communication skills.
• Desire to be involved in every phase of projects.
• Proactive, engaged, and able to handle multiple projects and tasks.
• Passionate about asking questions and engaging in critique.
• Dedicated to a practice of constant learning and continuing education.
• Ability to thrive in a collaborative, cross-disciplinary, creative environment.
• Let’s get into thedetails.

We value flexible working hours, treating each other with respect, having fun, bad jokes, and speaking in a language our clients canunderstand.

We offer competitive salary and benefits including

• medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance
• paid professional memberships
• 401k matching
• paid time to volunteer in your community
• four weeks of vacation
• holiday and discretionary time
• free ORCA pass
• wellness reimbursement
• a bunch of damn great people to work with

Board & Vellum is a dog‑friendly office, and a non‑smokingenvironment.

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or protected veteran status. Compensation will be commensurate with professional work experience. Our opportunities do not offer visa support.

Board & Vellum is looking for an awesome person to work with us as a job captain on custom residential architecture projects. We’re seeking a designer who is passionate about creating homes that tell a story, thrives while navigating complex design challenges, and turns these challenges into beautifully executed realities. Your experience will combine strong technical and design skills with high emotional intelligence: the ability to “read the room,” build trust, and guide homeowners and teammates toward great solutions. Designing a home is deeply personal, and you understand that our clients are trusting us with one of the most meaningful investments of their lives. In our multidisciplinary firm, located in Seattle, Washington, you will work closely with other architects, interior designers, and landscape architects, bringing collaboration, creativity, and storytelling to new custom homes, additions, and remodels of homes from every era, including taking part in our open crit culture across other disciplines and sectors. Salary commensurate with experience, range:$85k‑$95k.

What You’ll Bring to theTeam

• Experience:6 to 8 years of professional architectural experience with a strong custom residential portfolio, and a degree in architecture.
• Code & Jurisdiction:Working knowledge of residential building codes, zoning, land use, and the Washington State Energy Code, with experience taking projects through permitting at SDCI and other Western Washington jurisdictions.
• Technical Proficiency:Strong skills in Revit. Bonus points for familiarity with Adobe Creative Suite or Enscape.
• Residential Construction Knowledge:A solid understanding of wood frame construction, building envelope, waterproofing, and detailing, and how those decisions come together on site.
• Project Experience:A solid background working on new custom homes, additions, and remodels, ideally in Seattle. Experience with historic homes, ADUs, or sustainable residential design is a plus.
• Documentation Skills:You know how to build and manage a complete, well coordinated drawing set from permit documents through construction documents, and you catch the details before they become problems.
• Problem Solving:Excellent at identifying issues and developing effective, creative solutions, especially when existing conditions throw a curveball.
• Ownership:Highly organized, attentive to detail, and adept at driving projects forward independently, meeting deadlines, and delivering excellent results.
• Communication:Clear, confident communicator with strong emotional intelligence, skilled at reading situations and guiding homeowners through decisions with warmth and clarity. You do what you say you’re going to do.
• Collaboration:Experience working alongside interior designers, landscape architects, structural engineers, and contractors to deliver cohesive, integrated homes.
• Sketching Ability:Capable of producing quick conceptual sketches for idea generation and client communication.
• Multitasking:You will work on several homes of varying scales at one time, so being able to handle the mix and stay organized is essential.

What You’llDo

• Collaborate with multidisciplinary project teams to develop design concepts and documentation, ensuring alignment with homeowner goals and project narratives.
• Work closely with studio leadership throughout projects to ensure successful project delivery from start of design through completion of construction.
• Produce accurate, polished design documentation and technical drawings in Revit, and coordinate the drawing set across disciplines and consultants.
• Take ownership of project deliverables, from early design through permitting, construction documentation, and construction administration.
• Apply code, zoning, and jurisdictional expertise to guide design decisions and shepherd projects through permitting.
• Document existing conditions and work through the surprises that come with remodeling older homes.
• Respond to contractor RFIs, review submittals, and visit sites during construction to keep quality high and design intent intact.
• Work closely with project managers, consultants, and other team members to keep projects on track and on budget.
• Guide and support less experienced designers on your project teams.
• Create quick conceptual sketches to help communicate and explore ideas with clients.
• Participate in our collaborative studio culture where your ideas and expertise are valued.
• We celebrate each person’s unique identity and understand the benefits of a diverse office. We strongly encourage all qualified individuals with the applicable skills and passion, regardless of background, identity, or lived experience, toapply.