Urban Designer

Egis Group; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 550,000 - 750,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary commensurate with经验

Exposure to iconic urban projects

Career development opportunities

Studio culture grounded in innovation

Job summary

dhk Architects in Cape Town invites an experienced Urban Designer to join our Cape Town‑based team. You’ll work on urban projects locally and internationally, collaborating with architecture and landscape teams as well as external consultants.

You bring a postgraduate qualification in Urban Design or Architecture and at least 3 years in urban design, with a strong portfolio and proficiency in AutoCAD, SketchUp, and GIS.

Qualifications

• Postgraduate qualification in Urban Design or Architecture with urban design focus.
• Minimum 3 years’ post‑graduate experience in urban design.
• Robust portfolio of urban frameworks, master plans, and design reports.
• Registration with SACAP or UDISA (advantageous).
• South African citizenship (mandatory).

Responsibilities

• Manage urban design projects from inception through to report production and concept development.
• Integrate landscape and public realm design thinking into urban frameworks and master plans.
• Collaborate across disciplines to deliver cohesive, sustainable, and people‑centered urban environments.
• Contribute to the strategic vision of urban interventions that align with dhk’s architectural and landscape ethos.
• Engage with clients, municipalities, and stakeholders on spatial development plans.
• Translate complex urban and environmental challenges into practical, innovative design responses.
• Prepare compelling design reports, visualisations, and presentations.
• Champion design excellence, sustainability, and contextual responsiveness across built and natural systems.

Skills

Graphic communication

Report writing

Strategic thinking

Visual narratives

Analytical mapping

Education

Postgraduate qualification in Urban Design or Architecture

Tools

AutoCAD

SketchUp

Adobe Suite

Microsoft Office

GIS

Rhino

Job description

About Us

dhk Architects is one of the largest and leading design‑led architectural studios in Africa. Our strength comes from a unique blend of creative design thinking, technical capability, implementation expertise and strategic vision.

Our reputation is built not only on landmark architecture but also on our longstanding commitment to designing integrated environments. We believe architecture should enhance and shape its context – a philosophy rooted in urban design. At dhk, we foster a culture of progressive design, high‑performance, and collaboration, where urban thinking drives innovation in built form.

We support personal and professional growth through mentorship, development initiatives, and a studio environment that encourages experimentation, leadership, and ambition.

About the Role

We’re looking for a Urban Designer to join our Cape Town‑based team.

You’ll engage in a variety of urban projects locally and internationally, collaborating with internal architecture and landscape teams as well as external consultants. This role is ideal for highly motivated urban designers, including those with a background or strong interest in landscape design who possess strong conceptual design abilities, an understanding of spatial and ecological systems, and a passion for how cities and public spaces function and evolve.

What You’ll Do

• Manage urban design projects from inception through to report production and concept development.
• Integrate landscape and public realm design thinking into urban frameworks and master plans.
• Collaborate across disciplines to deliver cohesive, sustainable, and people‑centered urban environments.
• Contribute to the strategic vision of urban interventions that align with dhk’s architectural and landscape ethos.
• Engage with clients, municipalities, and stakeholders on spatial development plans.
• Translate complex urban and environmental challenges into practical, innovative design responses.
• Prepare compelling design reports, visualisations, and presentations.
• Champion design excellence, sustainability, and contextual responsiveness across both built and natural systems.

Requirements

• A postgraduate qualification in Urban Design or Architecture with urban design focus.
• Minimum 3 years’ post‑graduate experience specifically in urban design.
• A robust portfolio showcasing urban frameworks, master plans, and design reports.
• Registration with SACAP or UDISA (advantageous).
• South African citizenship (mandatory).

Technical Skills

• Strong graphic, drawing and illustrative communication skills.
• Proficiency in AutoCAD, SketchUp, Adobe Suite, and Microsoft Office.
• Report writing and strategic thinking capabilities.
• Competence in producing visual narratives and analytical mapping.
• Advantageous: GIS proficiency, Rhino or other parametric tools.

Key Attributes

• Self‑driven, organised, and detail‑oriented.
• Strong interpersonal and leadership skills.
• A passion for place‑making, spatial justice, and sustainable urbanism.
• Ability to mentor junior team members and foster a collaborative design environment.

Benefits

• A competitive salary commensurate with experience and expertise.
• Exposure to iconic urban and architectural projects across the continent.
• Career development opportunities in a progressive, design‑led environment.
• A studio culture grounded in innovation, excellence, and collaboration.