Lead architectural design across complex projects from concept through construction administration. Provide creative direction, mentor staff, coordinate multidisciplinary teams, champion sustainable and performance-based strategies, prepare client presentations, and drive design excellence across multiple projects.
If you think your skills, experience and aspirations make you a good match for this position, we encourage you to apply. This position may be filled in our Dallas or Houston office.
ABOUT THE ROLE
You will provide architectural design leadership across multiple projects and serve as a leader of creative authority with expert level knowledge, translating ideas into built environment solutions. You will provide team leadership, collaborating across roles and disciplines and championing project design cohesion. You will mentor and develop team members and be a voice in your office and region for design excellence.
HERE'S WHAT YOU'LL DO
- In collaboration with senior design leaders and other project leadership, conceptualize design solutions and develop them throughout all phases of a project. Create innovative design concepts that synthesize our clients’ culture, goals and aspirations to deliver solutions responsive specifically to them. In the absence of a senior design leader, you will serve as the voice of design for the project.
- Effectively translate shared design goals and ideas for both team and client. Your focus will be on our most complex projects, bringing your creativity and expertise to schematic design and design development, while also collaborating closely with project architects to guide the design integrity of details and construction documents. Provide guidance on design intent during the construction administration phase. You will be the day-to-day voice for design intent in matters of project execution.
- Direct the preparation of client presentation materials, assisting in setting the creative direction of visual communication for the project. Have an understanding (if not proficiency) of all available digital design tools, including 3D modeling, rendering, computational design, immersive technologies, and AI, for the effective management of junior designers. Lead design presentations when called upon to do so in support of the project and team.
- Work within our culture of being an integrated practice by closely collaborating with interior designers and typology subject matter experts on holistic design solutions from exterior to interior. Have a good familiarity of all design capabilities available to your teams within the firm -- envelope expertise, specialized system knowledge, building performance analytics, strategic consulting – and call up on them as the project requires.
- Collaborate with technical leaders and all engineering disciplines to employ thoughtful and innovative integration of building systems. Ensure conceptual design intent is woven through the work of all disciplines.
- Champion performance-based and sustainable design strategies into design solutions, promoting the decarbonization of our building portfolio. Work with the building performance group in our goal to energy model all projects.
- Expect to apply these approaches in the design of large-scale, complex projects and/or multiple projects simultaneously.
- Mentor and grow emerging professionals. You will assist in nurturing an environment that exemplifies collaboration, experimentation, innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
HERE'S WHAT YOU'LL NEED
- Bachelor or Master degree in Architecture required. Bachelor or Master degree in Architecture from an accredited program preferred.
- A design portfolio of past and current design work with clear demonstration of significant personal contribution to project conceptualization and detailed development is required. Must contain 3 or more fully constructed building designs representing a high level of design excellence. Sole authorship of building concepts is not required.
- Minimum 12 years of related professional experience required.
- Architectural Registration in the United States preferred.
- LEED accreditation is preferred.
- Knowledge of building codes and requirements.
- Must have strong verbal and written communication skills.
- Technical knowledge of exterior and interior materials and building assemblies.
- Command of Revit, Bluebeam, Microsoft Office required. Additional experience in 3D modeling, rendering, computational design, immersive technologies, and AI image generation is a plus.
- Experience with digital media creation and editing in the Adobe Creative Cloud applications required.
For a general overview of our benefits, please visit our careers page at https://www.cannondesign.com/careers/benefits
ABOUT OUR FIRM
CannonDesign is a design practice where strategy, experience, architecture, engineering, and social impact converge. We don’t just dream up solutions — we create and bring them to life in ways to solve some of the biggest challenges facing our clients and the society. At the heart of everything we do is Living-Centered Design, a bold commitment to using our talents to not just improve the world but to truly reshape it for the better. It’s more than a philosophy — it’s who we are, and it drives us to make a meaningful, lasting difference every day.
ABOUT WORKING HERE
- We are relentless in our pursuit of client adoration (not simply satisfaction). Consistent delivery of the best service is what we are about.
- We are committed to ensuring our practice provides equal opportunities for all employees, as we strive to connect with communities around us and focus on the future of design. We support equity, diversity, and inclusion efforts that benefit all employees through the leadership of our DEI Council, our Employee Resource Groups which are open to everyone, and other community initiatives.
- We’re about communication and transparency here. If you want to talk to someone about an idea you have, or a challenge that needs addressing, we’re ready for you.
Please note that candidates can only apply to our positions on our company Careers site. It's not uncommon for scammers to create positions that look legitimate on other sites; never enter your information or apply for CannonDesign positions on any platform. Should an issue arise that you feel we should be aware of, please contact us. Please provide your resume and portfolio when applying.
As a condition of employment, all employees are expected to complete mandatory training, including compliance training, within required timeframes and adhere to our internal policies and our Code of Conduct.
CannonDesign is an Equal Opportunity Employer. CannonDesign is committed to maintaining a work environment that is free from any and all forms of unlawful discrimination and harassment. It is therefore the firm’s policy to prohibit discrimination and harassment against any applicant, CannonDesign employee, vendor, contractor, or client on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, pregnancy, veteran status, genetic information, citizenship status, or any other basis prohibited by applicable law. It is also CannonDesign’s policy to prohibit any and all forms of retaliation against any individual who has complained of harassing or discriminatory conduct, or participated in a firm or agency investigation into such complaints.
Similar Jobs
Database
Lead and deliver architectural designs from concept through entitlements and construction documents. Mentor junior designers, manage multiple complex projects, liaise with clients and jurisdictions, ensure code and zoning compliance, perform site feasibility and visits, and champion technical innovation and Revit-based production.
Top Skills:
Revit
Real Estate
Lead interior design for complex commercial projects from concept through construction. Produce drawings, presentations, space planning with Revit, coordinate FF&E and AV consultants, collect stakeholder data, mentor project designers, and manage multiple projects and deadlines.
Top Skills:
Revit
Professional Services
Lead all design phases, produce schematic designs, coordinate with clients and consultants, apply building technology and code knowledge, prepare presentations and submissions, mentor staff, and support marketing and client development.
Top Skills:
GrasshopperRevitRhino
What you need to know about the Austin Tech Scene
Austin has a diverse and thriving tech ecosystem thanks to home-grown companies like Dell and major campuses for IBM, AMD and Apple. The state’s flagship university, the University of Texas at Austin, is known for its engineering school, and the city is known for its annual South by Southwest tech and media conference. Austin’s tech scene spans many verticals, but it’s particularly known for hardware, including semiconductors, as well as AI, biotechnology and cloud computing. And its food and music scene, low taxes and favorable climate has made the city a destination for tech workers from across the country.
Key Facts About Austin Tech
- Number of Tech Workers: 180,500; 13.7% of overall workforce (2024 CompTIA survey)
- Major Tech Employers: Dell, IBM, AMD, Apple, Alphabet
- Key Industries: Artificial intelligence, hardware, cloud computing, software, healthtech
- Funding Landscape: $4.5 billion in VC funding in 2024 (Pitchbook)
- Notable Investors: Live Oak Ventures, Austin Ventures, Hinge Capital, Gigafund, KdT Ventures, Next Coast Ventures, Silverton Partners
- Research Centers and Universities: University of Texas, Southwestern University, Texas State University, Center for Complex Quantum Systems, Oden Institute for Computational Engineering and Sciences, Texas Advanced Computing Center
