Lead Designer

Join the 2025 AIA Firm Award Winner shaping a more sustainable future.

LPA is a collective of designers, engineers, and researchers committed to tackling the biggest issues of our time. Our "No Excuses" integrated design approach was recognized by the AIA as “a trailblazer in sustainable, high-performance architecture". At LPA you’ll be part of the team that is changing the way the industry thinks about design and carbon emissions, built around the belief that we only achieve our goals when everybody has a seat at the table and all input is valued.

We’re currently seeking an Lead Designer to join our dynamic Austin studio. You’ll be part of a culture that values deep collaboration, technical excellence, and continual growth. Examples of projects completed by our Austin studio include Casis Elementary School and General Marshall Middle School. We're also revitalizing an underutilized space in a historic building on Southwestern University's campus (Cullen Hall), and are working on Pflugerville City Hall (which is currently under construction). Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams across our studios in California and Texas—and help bring high-performance, community-first design to life.

What You'll Do:

• Lead design ideation with clients and project teams, driving creativity from concept through schematic design.

• Engage all disciplines and stakeholders early to ensure an integrated, informed design process.

• Guide and facilitate presentations of design concepts and project documents for client review and approval.

• Preside over project-specific design meetings, presentations, and activities.

• Collaborate in firmwide design charrettes to share ideas and elevate design quality.

• Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, builders, authorities, and project stakeholders.

• Partner with the Managing Director, Design Director, and Project Manager to deliver innovative, high-quality design solutions.

• Mentor and inspire design teams while ensuring alignment with LPA’s design standards and processes.

What We Offer:

At LPA, your growth and contributions matter. We foster a collaborative culture where creative ideas are valued, and voices are heard.

• Mentorship from Managing Directors, Design Directors, and senior team members across disciplines.

• Career development support, including professional development grants and in-house training.

• Ongoing education through LPA+U courses and Tech Talks focused on innovative, sustainable practices.

• 8 paid hours of volunteer time each year.

• Opportunities to propose and lead projects that impact your local community, including more than $1 million since 2015 in Habitat for Humanity builds, scholarships, and other pro bono community projects.

• Access to our Professional Development Grants program, created to encourage professional development and further LPA's collective knowledge as a firm. Over the life of the grant program, we have invested $1,196,890 and impacted 848 LPA employees.

What We're Looking For:

Required:

• Bachelors and/or Masters Degree in Architecture.

• 10+ years of experience in all phases of architecture projects.

• Advanced abilities with conceptual design and graphic presentations.

• Active architecture license in Texas.

• Proficiency in Revit and Adobe Creative Suite.

LPA is an integrated design firm with offices in California and Texas, focused on creating forward-thinking, sustainable spaces that make a positive impact. We believe great design begins with great people, which is why we foster a supportive, collaborative environment where creativity, curiosity, and professional growth are encouraged. Our culture values diversity, promotes wellness, and supports a healthy work-life balance. At LPA, we offer competitive salaries and a robust benefits package—including health and dental insurance, retirement and financial planning, wellness initiatives, and flexible work/life programs.

This position is eligible for an annual bonus. If you are hired at LPA, your base salary is based on factors such as geographic location, skills, education, experience and/or project complexity. We believe in the importance of pay equity and consider the internal equity of our current team members as part of any final offer.

LPA uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of new hires.

NOTICE TO RECRUITMENT AGENCIES AND RECRUITERS:

Please note that LPA does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters or employment agencies. In the absence of a signed contract, LPA will not agree to pay any recruiter fee. In the situation an agency or recruiter submits a candidate or resume without a previously signed agreement and/or without LPA’s request, LPA explicitly reserves the right to hire those candidate(s) without any financial obligation to the recruiter or agency. Any unsolicited resumes, including those submitted to hiring managers, are deemed to be the property of LPA.