Project Architect - Science & Technology

Perkins & Will Inc.; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 103,500 - 138,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k) retirement plan

Paid time off

Professional development stipend

Continuing education time

Performance-based bonuses

Affinity groups & leadership programs

Studio initiatives & events

Job summary

Perkins & Will Inc. is seeking a Project Architect for our San Francisco Life Sciences team. You will lead design and delivery of complex Science & Technology spaces, focusing on lab planning, MEP coordination, and regulatory alignment to preserve function and performance.

You will translate research requirements into practical design solutions, direct documentation, and mentor staff while coordinating across engineers and consultants to meet project goals.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in architecture or related discipline, required.
• LEED GA within 6 months of hire.
• One Living Design accreditation: LEED AP, WELL AP, SITES AP, or similar.

Responsibilities

• Lead all phases of design and delivery on Science & Tech projects.
• Translate lab requirements into design decisions and costs.
• Direct project documentation and QC reviews for accuracy and constructibility.
• Coordinate architecture, interior design, and lab planning with MEP engineers.
• Manage regulatory review and AHJ submissions for lab occupancies.
• Run construction contract administration for technically complex builds.
• Mentor staff and manage assignments to grow expertise.

Education

Bachelor's degree in Architecture

Tools

Revit

Rhino/Grasshopper

Adobe Creative Cloud

Enscape

Lumion

V-Ray

3D printing

Job description

Project Architect - Science & Technology

Job Category: Architecture

Requisition Number: PROJE005877

• Posted : July 28, 2026
• Full-Time
• On-site

Locations

Showing 1 location

San Francisco 2 Bryant Street Suite 300 San Francisco, CA 94105, USA

Our SF studio, 100 people inside a 3,000-person global firm, is growing our life sciences, biotech, and advanced research pipeline and needs a Project Architect who treats lab planning and MEP coordination as core design work, not a background constraint.

This is not a project management role. You protect the research function itself, making sure the building\'s systems deliver exactly what the science requires while the design survives permitting and value engineering.

What You'll Own

• Lead all phases of design and delivery on complex Science & Tech projects, holding the line on firm standards, contractual commitments, and design intent, especially where lab planning and building systems intersect.
• Translate technical implications of lab and research space requirements, including vibration, air change rates, containment, and chemical exhaust, into design decisions and real financial consequences for the project and the client.
• Direct project documentation and drawing production, and lead QC reviews at every phase for accuracy, constructibility, and completeness, with particular attention to MEP-intensive lab spaces.
• Own QA adherence to Perkins&Will standards across the project lifecycle.
• Coordinate architecture, interior design, and lab planning with mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and process engineering consultants into one functioning team.
• Serve as the technical voice to the client, particularly research and facilities stakeholders who need a translator between programmatic requirements and building systems.
• Manage regulatory review and AHJ submissions for building code, life safety, and hazardous materials, along with the specific permitting complexity of lab and research occupancies.
• Run construction contract administration effectively on technically complex builds where a missed detail has operational consequences for the client\'s science.
• Stay current on lab planning standards, containment strategies, and building technology relevant to Science & Tech work.
• Contribute to pursuits, proposals, and interviews when the work calls for it.
• Lead charettes, pin-ups, and design reviews that produce decisions, not just discussion.
• Mentor staff and manage assignments in a way that grows their judgment on technically demanding project types.

What You'll Bring

Technical range: Building, zoning, and energy code fluency, plus familiarity with lab planning standards and hazardous materials requirements. Site analysis. Preliminary design studies through contract documents and specifications. Construction contract administration on MEP-intensive projects. Consultant coordination across mechanical, electrical, and process engineering disciplines. Client communication that doesn\'t require a translator.

Software:

• Advanced Revit
• Rhino/Grasshopper for conceptual and computational modeling
• Microsoft 365 and Adobe Creative Cloud (InDesign, Photoshop)
• Enscape, Lumion, or V-Ray for visualization
• Physical modeling: 3D printing, laser cutting
• Environmental analysis tools such as Ladybug/Climate Studio a plus

Credentials:

• Bachelor\'s degree in architecture or a related discipline, required
• LEED GA within 6 months of hire
• One Living Design accreditation of your choosing: LEED AP with Specialty, BREEAM AP, WELL AP, SITES AP, CPHC/CPHD, or ILFI Living Future Accreditation

What You\'ll Get
Salary range: $103,500–$138,000, commensurate with experience, education and skillset.

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) retirement plan and paid time off
• Professional development stipend and dedicated continuing education time
• Performance-based bonuses
• Access to firmwide affinity groups and leadership development programs
• Studio initiatives and events; a team that actually likes each other

Our CommitmentOur culture is grounded in a firmwide commitment to Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) — not as a tagline, but as how we hire, promote, and build teams. We conduct annual pay equity audits and train all managers on pay practices. We believe inclusion drives creativity.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.

Pay Transparency: We are committed to pay equity. Compensation decisions are based on qualifications, skillset, and experience. Employees may discuss their own compensation without fear of retaliation. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)

Travel Required

No .

Qualifications

Skills

Behaviors

Preferred

Leader

Leader

: Inspires teammates to follow them

Functional Expert

Functional Expert

: Considered a thought leader on a subject

Detail Oriented

Detail Oriented

: Capable of carrying out a given task with all details necessary to get the task done well

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Motivations

:

Education

Experience

Licenses & Certifications

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.