Project Architect

Actalent; Kalamazoo (MI); On-site; USD 50,000 - 56,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental & vision

401(k) Retirement Plan

Time Off / Vacation

Job summary

Actalent is seeking a Project Architect to work onsite in Kalamazoo, MI, focusing on front-end design, client collaboration, and translating concepts into architectural solutions. The role emphasizes early-stage programming, space planning, and communicating with clients to guide the project direction.

The ideal candidate will produce hand sketches, conceptual layouts, and work closely with internal teams to refine ideas into feasible designs.

Qualifications

• Meet with clients to understand goals, challenges, and vision.

Responsibilities

• Meet directly with clients to understand their vision and project requirements.
• Lead early-stage conversations around programming, space planning, project feasibility, and conceptual design.
• Translate client needs into preliminary architectural concepts and potential solutions.
• Develop hand sketches, diagrams, conceptual floor plans, and space layouts to communicate ideas quickly and effectively.
• Evaluate how spaces should be organized based on functionality, circulation, adjacencies, site/building constraints, and client objectives.
• Identify potential feasibility issues early and help clients understand practical options and trade-offs.
• Collaborate with the internal architecture, engineering, and production teams to communicate the client's goals and conceptual direction.
• Help establish a clear design vision before projects move deeper into design development and documentation.
• Participate in client presentations, project meetings, and design discussions throughout the project lifecycle.
• Maintain strong client relationships and serve as a trusted architectural resource.

Skills

Revit

AutoCAD

Architectural design

Construction documents

Owner interaction

Programming

Space planning

Conceptual design

Feasibility studies

Education

Bachelor's in Architecture

Master's in Architecture

Architectural licensure preferred

Tools

Revit

AutoCAD

Job description

We are looking for an architect who thrives on the front end of the design process and enjoys working directly with clients to understand their goals, challenges, and vision. This individual will serve as an important bridge between the client and the internal design team. Instead of focusing on producing construction documents, the role involves meeting with clients, asking the right questions, evaluating project requirements, developing conceptual layouts and hand sketches, and determining how a clients ideas can realistically translate into a functional architectural solution. The ideal candidate will be comfortable sitting across the table from a client with a sketch pad, working through ideas in real-time, then bringing that direction back to the design and technical teams to develop further.

Job Title: Project Architect

We are looking for an architect who thrives on the front end of the design process and enjoys working directly with clients to understand their goals, challenges, and vision. This individual will serve as an important bridge between the client and the internal design team. Instead of focusing on producing construction documents, the role involves meeting with clients, asking the right questions, evaluating project requirements, developing conceptual layouts and hand sketches, and determining how a clients ideas can realistically translate into a functional architectural solution. The ideal candidate will be comfortable sitting across the table from a client with a sketch pad, working through ideas in real-time, then bringing that direction back to the design and technical teams to develop further.

Responsibilities

• Meet directly with clients to understand their vision, operational needs, priorities, and project requirements.
• Lead early-stage conversations around programming, space planning, project feasibility, and conceptual design.
• Translate client needs into preliminary architectural concepts and potential solutions.
• Develop hand sketches, diagrams, conceptual floor plans, and space layouts to communicate ideas quickly and effectively.
• Evaluate how spaces should be organized based on functionality, circulation, adjacencies, site/building constraints, and client objectives.
• Identify potential feasibility issues early and help clients understand practical options and trade-offs.
• Collaborate with the internal architecture, engineering, and production teams to communicate the client's goals and conceptual direction.
• Help establish a clear design vision before projects move deeper into design development and documentation.
• Participate in client presentations, project meetings, and design discussions throughout the project lifecycle.
• Maintain strong client relationships and serve as a trusted architectural resource.

Essential Skills

• Proficiency in Revit and AutoCAD.
• Experience in architectural design and construction administration.
• Ability to create construction documents.
• Bachelors or Masters degree in Architecture.
• Architectural licensure is preferred.
• Experience working directly with owners and other project stakeholders.
• Skills in architectural programming, space planning, conceptual design, and project feasibility.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Architectural licensure is preferred for someone expected to operate independently with clients.

Work Environment

The work environment is fun, energetic, and collaborative. The team works well together and engages in projects primarily in the healthcare sector across the country. The schedule is flexible with remote work on Mondays and Fridays and in-office work from Tuesday to Thursday.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Kalamazoo, MI.

Pay And Benefits

The pay range for this position is $36.06 - $40.87/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:

• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan
• Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long-term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Nov 6, 2026.

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Kalamazoo,MI.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email [e-mail] for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance:

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector:

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI):

We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.