Mid-Level Architectural Designer

Archinect; Los Angeles, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 73,000 - 114,000; Full time

Job summary

Journey Design Build in Los Angeles is seeking a mid-level architectural designer for a full-time freelance position. The role is remote, but applicants should be based in the Los Angeles area and available for occasional jobsite visits.

We are an integrated design-build practice, carrying projects from initial design through permitting and construction. Our team remains actively involved, offering meaningful responsibility and room to grow with the company.

Qualifications

• The candidate should independently advance a drawing set and understand building construction beyond drawings.
• Experience with construction administration, jobsite visits, shop drawings, and trades coordination is valuable.
• Ability to research unfamiliar problems and bring questions or proposed solutions to the team.
• AutoCAD is the primary project-delivery platform; proficient with Xrefs, annotation scales, and layer management.
• Rhino is used for 3D design and coordination; strong Bluebeam experience is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain coordinated 2D drawing sets and 3D models from design development through construction.
• Produce plans, elevations, sections, details, and schedules for permit and construction.
• Coordinate architectural drawings with clients, engineering consultants, and construction trades.
• Support projects through the permit process, including drawing preparation, submittals, plan-check responses, and revisions.
• Research materials, assemblies, code requirements, and construction conditions as needed.
• Stay involved during construction through occasional site visits, RFIs, submittals, shop drawings, field sketches, and drawing revisions.

Skills

Independent work

Construction knowledge

Problem solving

Communication

Tools

AutoCAD

Rhino

Bluebeam

Job description

Journey Design Build is a Los Angeles design-build firm looking for a mid-level architectural designer to join our team in a full-time freelance position. The position is remote, but applicants should be based in the Los Angeles area and available for occasional jobsite visits.

We are an integrated design-build practice, carrying projects from initial design through permitting and construction. Our architectural team remains actively involved throughout, bringing practical construction knowledge to the design process while protecting design intent and quality in the field. This position combines architectural production with direct involvement in construction coordination, offering meaningful responsibility and significant room to grow with the company.

The work

• Develop and maintain coordinated 2D drawing sets and 3D models from design development through construction.
• Produce plans, elevations, sections, details, and schedules for permit and construction.
• Coordinate architectural drawings with clients, engineering consultants, and construction trades.
• Support projects through the permit process, including drawing preparation, submittals, plan-check responses, and revisions.
• Research materials, assemblies, code requirements, and construction conditions as needed.
• Stay involved during construction through occasional site visits, RFIs, submittals, shop drawings, field sketches, and drawing revisions.

What we’re looking for

The right candidate should have enough experience to independently advance a drawing set, an understanding of how buildings are put together, and familiarity with construction beyond producing drawings. Experience with construction administration, jobsite visits, shop drawings, and trade coordination is valuable.

We don’t expect someone to know every assembly or construction condition. We do expect them to be able to research unfamiliar problems, understand how materials and trades come together, and bring questions or proposed solutions back to the team.

AutoCAD is our primary project-delivery platform. Candidates should be sophisticated AutoCAD users, including experience with Xrefs, annotation scales, and layer management, and be able to adapt to JDB's drawing and file standards.

Our CAD workflow is supported by Rhino for 3D design and coordination and Bluebeam for sketches, PDF markups, and communication with consultants and construction trades. Proficiency in Rhino and strong Bluebeam experience are preferred.

Position

• Full-time, 40 hours/week
• Long-term freelance / 1099
• Primarily remote, but must be based in the Los Angeles area for occasional jobsite visits
• Independent contractor provides their own computer and software
• $73,000-$114,000 annualized, depending on experience and level of independence