Project Designer

MAK Design + Build; Davis (CA); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

Health insurance

SIMPLE IRA matching

Profit sharing

Mobile phone stipend

Mileage reimbursement

Job summary

MAK Design + Build is seeking a Project Designer in Davis, CA. You will be the accountable design lead for remodeling projects, guiding programming, concept development, documentation, selections, and permitting strategy from discovery through handoff to estimating and production.

You will balance imagination with constructability, code compliance, procurement, and client goals, while staying aligned with schedule and budget.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of residential design experience, preferably remodeling/additions.
• Proficiency in BIM software; Vectorworks experience preferred.
• Strong knowledge of residential construction assemblies, detailing, constructability, and permitting requirements.
• Demonstrated ability to produce coordinated permit and construction documents and clear project specifications.
• Experience leading clients, coordinating consultants, and keeping design decisions aligned with schedule and budget parameters.

Responsibilities

• Own the design-phase client relationship and clarify project goals, scope, budget, and schedule.
• Lead programming, concept development, documentation, selections, consultant coordination, and permitting strategy.
• Frame options and trade-offs for clients to avoid late-stage surprises.
• Produce permit and construction drawing sets with design intent and coordination.
• Guide fixture, finish, and specification decisions to balance aesthetics, cost, and lead times.
• Coordinate estimating, production, consultants, vendors, and trade partners; identify budget risk early.

Skills

Client leadership

Project planning

Communication

Presentation

Organizational skills

Tools

Vectorworks

Job description

Are you the right person for our team, and are we the right team for you? Are you interested in seeing your work move from concept to completion, with designers, estimators, and builders working side by side?

MAK Design + Build is an award-winning residential design + build remodeling company in Davis, California. We are looking for a Project Designer to join a collaborative, curious, and accountable team. We value excellent design, practical problem-solving, direct communication, continuous improvement, and a healthy sense of humor.

Our projects range from kitchens and bathrooms to additions, whole-house remodels, and occasional new construction. Because we design what we build, our designers stay connected to the work from early discovery through construction. This feedback loop helps us create solutions that are not only thoughtful and beautiful, but also permit-ready, price-aware, durable, and buildable.

The Project Designer is the accountable design lead for standard remodeling projects throughout the entire design phase. This role owns the design-phase client relationship; leads programming, concept development, documentation, selections, consultant coordination, permitting strategy, and design schedules; and delivers a complete handoff to estimating and production. The right person can balance imagination with constructability, code, procurement, and budget without losing sight of what the client is trying to solve.

Responsibilities

• Own the design-phase client relationship and maintain clarity around project goals, scope, budget, schedule, decisions, and next steps.
• Lead client consultation, site assessment, programming, concept development, design development, and presentation meetings with confidence and empathy.
• Frame options and trade-offs clearly so clients can make timely, informed decisions without late-stage surprises.
• Produce or direct complete permit and construction drawing sets that integrate design intent, constructability, structural coordination, building systems, and jurisdiction requirements.
• Guide fixture, finish, and specification decisions so aesthetics, durability, cost, availability, and lead times remain aligned.
• Coordinate estimating, production, consultants, vendors, and trade partners; identify budget risk and value-engineering opportunities early.
• Build and maintain the design-phase schedule, decisions, and project record so unclear or late decisions do not block downstream teams.
• Lead the design-to-production handoff, communicate outstanding items and client-management details, and support the Build team during construction as needed.
• Direct and supervise project support appropriately while remaining accountable for the final design-phase outcome.

Desired traits + skills

• A confident, nurturing client leader who asks good questions before offering solutions.
• Strong self-management, project-planning, and organizational skills across multiple active projects.
• Excellent verbal, written, visual, and meeting-facilitation skills.
• Sound judgment under pressure and a habit of surfacing risks early rather than improvising past uncertainty.
• A collaborative, low-drama approach with high standards for accountability, quality, and follow-through.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of residential design experience, preferably involving remodeling, additions, or custom homes.
• Proficiency in BIM software with demonstrated space-planning, modeling, and documentation skills. MAK uses Vectorworks; equivalent expertise and the ability to learn quickly are welcome.
• Strong knowledge of residential construction assemblies, detailing, constructability, and common code and permitting requirements.
• Demonstrated ability to produce coordinated permit and construction documents and clear project specifications.
• Experience leading clients, coordinating consultants, and keeping design decisions aligned with schedule and budget parameters.
• Strong rendering, graphic presentation, and general computer skills.

Work schedule

Monday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Benefits

• Paid time off
• Health insurance
• SIMPLE IRA matching
• Profit sharing
• Mobile phone stipend
• Mileage reimbursement

Location + work arrangement

This is a full-time, Davis-based position with the possibility for some flexible remote options. Regular in-office collaboration and local project-site visits are required. Our office is located in downtown Davis, California, and our projects are generally within a 45-minute drive of the office. A valid CA driver’s license and reliable transportation are required.