Senior Project Architect - Core & Shell

Perkins & Will Inc.; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 128,800 - 189,300; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision

401(k) retirement plan

Paid time off

Professional development stipend

Bonuses

Affinity groups

Studio initiatives

Job summary

Perkins & Will in San Francisco is seeking a Senior Project Architect who can lead design authorship and technical execution on complex Core & Shell projects, balancing creative intent with code compliance. You will work directly with clients, engineers, and authorities having jurisdiction to move projects forward.

The role requires mentoring staff, coordinating disciplines, and guiding QA across the full design to construction lifecycle, while staying current with building technology and urban

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in architecture or related discipline.
• LEED GA within 6 months of hire.
• Living Design accreditation (LEED AP, WELL AP, etc).

Responsibilities

• Lead design and delivery on complex Core & Shell projects, aligning standards and design intent.
• Coordinate architecture, interior design, landscape, and consultants into one team.
• Direct project documentation and QC reviews at every phase for accuracy and constructability.
• Own QA adherence to Perkins & Will standards across the lifecycle.
• Mentor staff and manage assignments to grow judgment and capability.

Skills

Building codes

Site analysis

Client communication

Project coordination

Mentoring staff

Education

Bachelor's degree in architecture

LEED GA certification within 6 months

Living Design accreditation

Tools

Revit

Rhino/Grasshopper

Adobe Creative Cloud

Enscape/Lumion/V-Ray

3D printing

Job description

San Francisco
San Francisco, CA 94105, USA

• Travel Required : No

Description

Our SF studio is a 100-person team inside a 3,000-person global firm, which means you get the resourcing and technical bench of a major practice with the accountability and visibility of a small one. We're growing, we're busy, and we need a Senior Project Architect who can hold design authorship and technical execution in the same hand on complex Core & Shell projects, without needing the plan explained twice.

This role is for someone who treats quality control as a discipline, not a checkbox, and who still thinks like a designer while doing it. Someone who can sit across from a client\'s development team, a structural engineer, and a code official in the same afternoon and speak all three languages fluently, then go back to the drawing and make the call. Someone who mentors without ego and delivers without drama.

What You\'ll Own

• Lead all phases of design and delivery on complex Core & Shell projects, holding the line on firm standards, contractual commitments, and design intent simultaneously (not sequentially, when they conflict).
• Translate technical implications and design decisions into real financial consequences for the project and the client.
• Direct project documentation and drawing production, and lead QC reviews at every phase for accuracy, constructability, and completeness. This is the job, not a task within the job.
• Own QA adherence to Perkins&Will standards across the project lifecycle.
• Coordinate architecture, interior design, landscape, and external consultants into one functioning team, even when their priorities don\'t naturally align.
• Serve as the technical voice to the client. Translate jargon in both directions.
• Manage regulatory review and AHJ submissions for building code, accessibility, and zoning, particularly the jurisdictional quirks specific to complex urban work.
• Run construction contract administration effectively, which means your team doesn\'t just show up to meetings, they close loops.
• Stay current on building technology and systems relevant to high-rise and mixed-use delivery.
• 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, not just their task list.

What You\'ll Bring

Technical range: Building, zoning, and energy code fluency. Site analysis. Preliminary design studies through contract documents and specifications. Construction contract administration. Consultant coordination. 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: $128,800–$189,300, 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 Commitment Our 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.
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

Licenses & Certifications

Required

Licensed Architect

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.