Lead Lighting Designer

PAE; San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 91,200 - 122,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employer paid health insurance

401(k) profit sharing

Professional development reimbursements

Commuter stipend

Cell phone stipend

Life insurance and disability benefits

Employee Assistance Program

Paid time off for holidays and vacation

Job summary

A leading sustainable engineering firm in San Francisco seeks a visionary Lead Lighting Designer to drive design direction and oversee project lifecycles within their award-winning studio. This role requires mentoring a talented team while ensuring that lighting designs are aesthetically appealing and technically precise. Candidates should possess 4 years of lighting design experience and proficiency in tools such as REVIT and Adobe Creative Suite. The position offers a competitive salary between $91,200 and $122,000, with comprehensive health benefits and a hybrid work schedule.

Qualifications

• 4+ years of experience practicing lighting design.
• Deep understanding of light integration with architecture and human experience.
• Professionalism and constructive critique reception.

Responsibilities

• Lead lighting design direction and execution.
• Oversee project workplans and team assignments.
• Mentor junior staff and support project phases.

Skills

Lighting design expertise

Complex Building Information Modeling (REVIT)

Adobe Creative Suite proficiency

Time management

Graphic and oral communication

Education

College Degree in Architecture, Interior Design, or Lighting Design

Tools

REVIT

Adobe Photoshop

Adobe InDesign

Illumination calculation software (AGI)

Sketchup

3D Max

Bluebeam

Job description

Opportunity

PAE/LUMA is looking for a visionary and highly organized Lead Lighting Designer to join our award‑winning lighting studio in San Francisco. As a lead, you will be the driving force behind the design direction and technical execution of lighting systems that harmonize architecture with the human experience. This role is designed for a professional who is ready to move beyond design production into a leadership position, overseeing project lifecycles and mentoring a talented team of designers. In this role, you will represent the LUMA brand as a primary point of contact for internal MEP teams and external clients. You will be responsible for creating project workplans, leading cross‑trade coordination, and ensuring that lighting designs are not only beautiful but also code‑compliant, budget‑conscious, and perfectly detailed. From high‑level conceptual graphics in Adobe Creative Suite to complex Revit modeling and on‑site construction reviews, your leadership will be the thread that connects a project's initial spark to its final, illuminated reality.

Who We Are

PAE is an engineering and design firm that turns complex challenges into reality. By leveraging the latest technologies, we solve problems in unique ways, and our designs enable buildings and communities to be more resilient and efficient. PAE is trusted by our clients in every aspect of a project's lifespan, from idea to occupancy. We set ambitious goals backed by analysis to significantly conserve water and energy while balancing costs and long‑term operational needs. As a B Corp, we measure success by the benefits our projects provide to our clients, our communities, and our planet. We embrace innovation, transparency, sustainability, and lifelong curiosity.

What You’ll Do

• Lead the design direction and execution of the lighting design under the direction of the EOR/DOR
• Lead meetings with internal and external team members representing PAE under the LUMA brand
• Develop skills to create project workplans, tasks and assignments for the team
• Lead and support development and production of the lighting control design
• Mentor junior staff in design, production and calculations
• Perform lighting calculations, design communication graphics, REVIT production and mock‑ups
• Write lighting product specifications, create luminaire schedule, and demonstrate an understanding of advanced product research approaches
• Gain experience in technical detailing of lighting systems
• Facilitate project design and construction phases
• Support the project lighting cost control
• Lead cross‑trade coordination of lighting and lighting control systems
• Lead construction phase reviews of submittals and RFIs and attend site visits
• Participate in lighting industry organizations and events to build supporting relationships and knowledge
• Model accountability as an integral member of the design teams in which you are involved
• Perform other duties as assigned

What You Bring

• College Degree (or equivalent design related training) required, preferable in Architecture, Interior Design, Lighting Design or related field
• 4 years practicing lighting design or at least 2 years as a PAE Lighting Designer 2
• Deep understanding and practice of integration of light with architecture and people
• Consistent practice of professionalism
• Time management and organization of multiple roles on projects
• Proficient in time management and organizing teams and tasks on multiple projects
• Provide and is receptive to constructive critique
• Excellent graphic and oral communication of basic and advanced design concepts
• Complex Building Information Modeling (REVIT) expertise
• Proficient in Adobe Creative Suite (emphasis on Photoshop and InDesign), Illumination calculation software (AGI), digital design modeling software (Sketchup, 3D Max, Rhino, or similar), and Bluebeam
• Microsoft Office Suite

What We Offer

• Hiring Base Salary Range: $91,200–$122,000 annual
• This position is eligible for time and a half overtime pay

Benefits

• Employer paid health insurance (medical, dental, vision)
• Annual 401(k) profit sharing based on company profit for the year and account contribution
• Professional development reimbursements including state registration and professional association dues
• Employer paid commuter/parking stipend
• Cell phone stipend
• Life insurance and disability benefits
• Hybrid work schedule
• Employee Assistance Program
• 9 paid holidays including an additional employee‑selected day
• Paid time off for sick leave, family leave, community service, holidays and vacation

Our Commitment to Pay Equity

PAE is a JUST label certified company; we demonstrate JUST label requirements within pay equity. Pay scales should meet or exceed applicable legislated wage requirements and industry standards and compensate, on the same basis, all individuals performing the same or similar work and work of equal value. We are committed to the principle of pay equity – paying employees equitably for substantially similar work. To learn more about pay equity and our commitments to equitable business practices, you may view our JUST label certification here: Living Future: Just Label Certification.

What We’re Made Of

Founded in 1967, PAE is a leading sustainable engineering and consulting firm on a mission to deliver clean air, energy, and water for all. We specialize in mechanical, electrical, and plumbing engineering, building performance analysis, technology design, and lighting design (LUMA). PAE designs some of the nation’s highest‑performing and most regenerative built environments across the U.S., from Living Buildings to all‑electric buildings and beyond. Learn more at pae‑engineers.com. Our portfolio includes over 100 LEED Platinum projects as well as dozens of projects that have either achieved or are pursuing the Living Building Challenge, Passive House, Architecture 2030, Carbon Neutral, Net Zero Energy, and Net Zero Water.

Fine Print

Please note that resumes received from third party recruiters or agencies will not be accepted unless requested directly by PAE Talent Acquisition and with a prior signed fee agreement. If candidates without a previously signed recruiter fee agreement are submitted, PAE reserves the right to engage with and hire those candidate(s) without any obligation financial or otherwise to the recruiter or agency.

In order to provide equal employment and advancement opportunities to all individuals, employment decisions at PAE will be based on merit, qualifications and abilities. PAE does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, color, religion, gender (sex), national origin, age, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, physical characteristics historically associated with race, disability, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

PAE will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with known disabilities unless doing so would result in an undue hardship. This policy governs all aspects of employment including: selection, job assignment, compensation, discipline, termination and access to benefits and training.