Project Architect or Project Manager, Architecture

DesignForce; United States; Hybrid; USD 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

Retirement plan

Licensure reimbursement

Professional development

Hybrid work

Reasonable hours

Team culture

Job summary

DesignForce in Northern Virginia is seeking an experienced Project Architect or Project Manager to lead design teams on a diverse portfolio spanning commercial, workplace, healthcare, education, hospitality, and multifamily projects. This is a full-time, employee role with a design-driven culture.

This position emphasizes BIM leadership, schedule management, and cross-disciplinary collaboration, offering mentorship and career growth within the firm.

Qualifications

• 5+ years experience at an architecture or interior design firm.
• Architectural licensure preferred; strong design and documentation skills.
• Proven ability to deliver projects on time and within budget.
• Fluency with Revit; proficiency in SketchUp, Rhino, and related tools.
• Excellent communication, management, and collaboration abilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead conceptual, schematic, and technical design efforts with high quality standards.
• Manage projects from design through construction administration.
• Oversee construction documentation and code compliance.
• Lead BIM workflows, mentor staff, and ensure model accuracy.
• Coordinate with engineers, consultants, and interior design teams.
• Ensure QA/QC across all project phases and deliverables.
• Foster client relationships and represent the firm at meetings.

Skills

Design leadership

Project delivery

Technical expertise

Revit & BIM

Coordination

Quality assurance

Team mentorship

Client relationships

Industry engagement

Continuous learning

Education

Architectural degree

Architectural licensure

Tools

Autodesk Revit

SketchUp

Rhino

Lumion

Bluebeam

Adobe Creative Suite

Job description

Now Hiring: Project Architect or Project Manager – Northern Virginia

Shape meaningful projects, lead talented teams, and grow your career at a mid-sized, highly award-winning architecture and interior design studio.

About the Role:

Our client is looking for an experienced architecture professional to join a collaborative, design-driven studio at their beautiful office in Northern VA — and depending on your experience and strengths, this role can be scoped as a Project Architect or a Project Manager. This is not a contract position - you will be an employee of the firm day one.

You’ll help lead projects from concept through construction across a diverse portfolio spanning commercial, workplace, healthcare, education, hospitality, multifamily, senior living, and sports & recreation. If you lean more technical and hands‑on in the design and documentation, the Project Architect track is likely your fit. If you’re energized by owning schedules, budgets, and team performance, the Project Manager track may be the better match. Wherever you thrive - the role will be built around it.

Key Responsibilities:

• Design Leadership: Lead conceptual, schematic, and technical design efforts, ensuring projects reflect innovation and meet high-quality standards.
• Project Delivery: Manage and complete projects of varying scale — coordinating schedule, progress, and milestones from design through construction administration (RFIs, sketches, PCO review, site visits, punch lists, field reports, ASIs).
• Technical Expertise: Oversee construction documentation, code compliance, and sustainability requirements, ensuring accuracy and adherence to standards.
• Revit & BIM Excellence: Build and manage models in Revit, and mentor others in BIM workflows to improve efficiency and design precision.
• Coordination: Partner with senior project managers, engineers, consultants, and the interior design team to align budgets, timelines, and deliverables while keeping communication seamless.
• Quality Assurance: Own QA/QC of your work and your discipline's work throughout every project phase, in both electronic and printed form.
• Team Mentorship: Guide and train junior staff in quality design practices and firm standards, cultivating a positive, learning-focused team culture.
• Client Relationships: Build and maintain strong client connections by understanding their needs and delivering exceptional outcomes.
• Industry Engagement: Represent the firm at client meetings and industry events, nurturing relationships and staying attuned to market trends.
• Continuous Learning: Pursue professional development, certifications, and licensure to keep your skills at the forefront of the profession.

Project Manager track adds: day‑to‑day project leadership, oversight of team hours and engagement profitability, and a larger role in staff coordination and mentorship.

Why You’ll Thrive Here:

• Join a studio — not an office — built to encourage designers to interact, experiment, and collaborate in an open, high-design, light-filled space.
• Work on meaningful, award-winning projects across the DC region and beyond, with a client base that’s 80%+ repeat business.
• Learn continuously through in‑house technical seminars and targeted training on Revit, Enscape, Twinmotion, and other rendering platforms, led by a dedicated BIM Manager.
• Be part of a genuine people‑first culture — with large‑scale social events thrown throughout the year
• Grow with a firm with 40+ years of history, a second generation of leadership, and clear paths to advancement.

Preferred Qualifications:

• 5+ years of experience at an architecture or interior design firm.
• Professionally accredited degree in Architecture, or equivalent.
• Architectural licensure and accreditation strongly preferred
• LEED, WELL, and/or other sustainability accreditations are a plus.
• Proven ability to deliver projects on time and on budget.
• Expertise in architectural standards and practices and construction materials and methods.
• Able to work independently as well as in a team environment.
• Strong graphic, visualization, communication, and organizational skills.
• Fluency in Autodesk Revit.
• Fluency in other design tools such as SketchUp, Rhino, Lumion, Bluebeam, and/or Adobe Creative Suite a plus.

What They Offer:

Our client is committed to their people, and their benefits reflect it:

• Competitive Paid Time Off and paid company holidays
• Retirement plan with employer contributions
• Professional membership and licensure financial reimbursement
• Robust in‑house professional development, mentorship programs and continuous training
• A hybrid work policy - including shorter work day on Fridays (if hours have been hit beforehand)
• A commitment to reasonable working hours and realistic project timelines, without a culture of routine overtime
• A team that loves what it does — and has fun doing it

Pleaes note:

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Equal Opportunity Employer:

Our client is an equal opportunity employer committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce. All qualified applicants will be considered regardless of any protected characteristic under applicable law.