Sr Project Designer

hntb; New York (NY); On-site; USD 120,000 - 188,000; Full time

Job summary

HNTB is seeking a Senior Architectural Design Leader in New York, NY, to translate client vision and program objectives into innovative, functional design solutions. You will guide multidisciplinary teams through all design phases and advise clients and project leadership on strategy and execution.

The role balances design leadership, technical expertise, stakeholder engagement, and strategic thinking to deliver projects that meet budget, schedule, and sustainability goals.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Architecture or related field and 8 years of relevant experience.

Responsibilities

• Interprets client's goals and programs.
• Prepares design concepts aligned with budget and schedule.
• Collaborates with project architect and project manager to plan and implement work processes.
• Develops work plans, estimates hours, prepares project reports, and reviews invoices.
• Acts as subject matter expert on architectural projects of large size.
• Develops and presents design viewpoints ensuring consistency with program, budget, and schedule.
• May mentor other team members.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Skills

Design leadership

Multidisciplinary collaboration

Client engagement

Executive communication

Mentoring

Building systems knowledge

Design reviews

Risk management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Architecture

Tools

Revit

Bluebeam

Adobe Creative Suite

Enscape

Lumion

Rhino

Job description

What We're Looking For

At HNTB, you can create a career that is meaningful to you while building communities that matter to all of us. For more than a century, we have been delivering solutions for some of the largest, most complex infrastructure projects across the country. With our historic growth, it is an exciting time to join our team of employee-owners.

This opportunity entails serving as a senior architectural design leader responsible for translating client vision, operational requirements, and program objectives into innovative, functional, and memorable design solutions. The successful candidate will lead the development of design concepts for complex projects, guide multidisciplinary teams through all phases of design, and serve as a trusted advisor to clients and project leadership. This role requires a strong balance of design leadership, technical expertise, stakeholder engagement, and strategic thinking to successfully deliver projects that achieve client goals while meeting budget, schedule, operational, and sustainability objectives.

What You'll Do

• Provides interpretation of client's goals and programs.
• Prepares design concepts consistent with client's goals, budget and schedule.
• Works closely with the project architect and protect manager in planning and implementing all work processes.
• Prepares work plans, estimating hours to complete tasks, developing project reports, managing consultant team members (including coordination and incorporation of all work products) and reviewing invoices.
• Serves as subject matter expert on architectural projects of the largest size.
• Develops and presents design viewpoint on all projects. Ensures that a design solution, consistent with the program, budget and schedule is properly developed and produced.
• May mentor other team members, including early to mid-career professionals.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

What You'll Need

• Bachelor's degree in Architecture or related field and 8 years of relevant experience.

What You'll Bring

• Demonstrated ability to lead architectural design efforts from visioning and programming through design development and construction.
• Experience collaborating with multidisciplinary teams, including engineering, planning, interiors, sustainability, and specialty consultants.
• Strong client engagement and presentation skills, with the ability to communicate complex design concepts to executive stakeholders, user groups, and technical audiences.
• Proven success delivering complex projects while balancing aesthetics, operational functionality, project budgets, and schedules.
• Ability to mentor and develop architectural staff while fostering a collaborative and inclusive team culture.
• Strong understanding of building systems, codes, accessibility requirements, and industry best practices.
• Experience facilitating design workshops, stakeholder meetings, and iterative design reviews.
• Ability to identify and manage project risks while advancing design quality and client satisfaction.
• Passion for design excellence, innovation, and creating environments that positively impact users and communities.

What We Prefer

• Registered Architect (RA)
• LEED Accredited Professional, WELL AP, or similar sustainability credential.
• 10+ years of architectural experience with demonstrated design leadership responsibilities.
• Aviation experience, including airport terminal, concourse, landside, support facility, or infrastructure-related projects.
• Experience leading large, complex projects exceeding $50 million in construction value.
• Strong proficiency in Revit, Bluebeam, Adobe Creative Suite, Enscape, Lumion, Rhino, or comparable visualization platforms.
• Experience supporting pursuits, interviews, design competitions, and client presentations.
• Demonstrated success serving as Design Manager, Lead Designer, Project Architect, or Design Lead on multidisciplinary projects.
• Knowledge of airport planning principles, passenger experience design, operational efficiency, wayfinding, security integration, and stakeholder coordination.
• Experience working directly with airport authorities, airlines, federal agencies, or major transportation clients.
• History of building strong client relationships and contributing to practice growth and business development efforts.

Additional Information

• Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Locations

• Atlanta, GA
• New York, NY

The approximate pay range for New York is $119,989.38 - $187,675.71. Please note that the pay range provided is a good faith estimate for the position based on all selected locations within the state at the time of posting. Actual compensation will be dependent on factors, including but not limited to, the individual's qualifications, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities as well as physical work location within the stat