Architect II / Intermediate Architect High-End Retail

Job Description

Job Description

Job Title: Architect II / Intermediate Architect High-End Retail

Job Description

This role offers an intermediate-level architect the opportunity to work in a highly detailed, high-end retail and commercial environment with a strong focus on Revit-based construction documentation. You will translate client and brand design intent into precise construction documents, coordinate with consultants, and support technical execution across ground-up and tenant improvement projects. The position is hands-on and production-focused, ideal for someone progressing from a strong junior role into broader intermediate responsibility, with clear opportunities to grow into greater project ownership and second-in-command responsibilities over time.

Responsibilities

• Use Revit to produce construction documents for ground-up retail projects and AutoCAD for tenant improvement projects and early-phase studies where CAD is more efficient.
• Produce, develop, and coordinate comprehensive architectural construction documents, including plans, elevations, sections, details, schedules, and related technical drawings.
• Support and contribute to documentation across schematic design, design development, construction documents, and select construction administration activities, depending on project phase.
• Coordinate with internal project teams and external consultants, including disciplines such as MEP, structural, civil, lighting, and others, to ensure fully integrated drawing sets.
• Review work prepared by other team members for accuracy, consistency, and alignment with project standards, escalating questions and issues to senior staff as needed.
• Apply applicable building codes and coordinate with senior staff on documentation, permitting, and approval requirements to help ensure code-compliant solutions.
• Work closely with senior staff and principals to maintain high design and technical standards, ensuring that construction documents accurately reflect client and brand design intent.
• Actively produce drawings and technical details on a daily basis, maintaining a strong hands-on presence in project production rather than focusing on oversight alone.
• Own clearly defined portions of project scope, such as specific drawing packages or detail sets, and incorporate redlines efficiently with minimal rework.
• Identify and help resolve coordination issues, including conflicts between disciplines, and incorporate consultant revisions and background updates into the drawing set.
• Participate in select construction administration support, such as responding to RFIs, assisting with submittal reviews, and updating drawings based on field conditions when required.
• Clearly articulate personal contributions to each project, including owned portions of drawing sets, coordination responsibilities, and technical problem-solving during team discussions and reviews.
• Maintain organized documentation of project work, including authorship notes for portfolio purposes and clear records of individual responsibilities.
• Demonstrate ongoing interest in high-end retail and related detail-driven project types, contributing to the refinement of detailing, finishes, and technical solutions over time.

Essential Skills

• Degree in Architecture from an accredited program.
• Approximately 37 years of professional architectural experience, demonstrating progression from strong junior-level contribution toward intermediate-level ownership and responsibility.
• Strong Revit proficiency for project production, with active, current experience producing construction documents in Revit.
• Proven experience producing and coordinating architectural construction documents, including ownership of meaningful portions of professional construction-document sets.
• Understanding of how complete drawing sets are assembled, organized, and coordinated across disciplines and project phases.
• Experience coordinating with at least one consultant discipline, such as MEP, structural, civil, or lighting, including incorporating consultant revisions and coordinating backgrounds.
• Ability to clearly explain individual project ownership, specific drawing packages, and technical responsibilities during interviews and team discussions.
• Current hands-on production experience within architectural projects, with comfort remaining deeply involved in technical production and problem-solving.
• Strong technical detailing skills and sound documentation judgment appropriate for high-end, detail-driven project environments.
• Demonstrated interest in high-end retail work and willingness to build long-term experience within retail-focused or comparable high-end project types.
• Professional portfolio demonstrating work personally produced, with clear authorship notes and examples of construction documentation and detailing.
• Ability to articulate how individual drawing packages and details fit into the overall project set and support design intent and constructability.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• High-end retail experience is preferred; candidates from hospitality, high-end residential, branded commercial, restaurants, and other detail-driven project environments are encouraged to apply if they demonstrate comparable documentation quality and client standards.
• Luxury retail or flagship retail project experience is highly valued.
• Experience in high-end hospitality or high-end residential projects, particularly those requiring refined detailing and finishes.
• Ground-up and tenant improvement project experience, especially within retail or other commercial building types.
• Exposure to construction administration activities, such as RFIs, submittal reviews, and field-coordination updates.
• Experience with high-end detailing and finish development, including coordination of materials, fixtures, and specialty elements.
• Proficiency in AutoCAD for tenant improvement projects, early design studies, or specific documentation tasks where CAD is more efficient.
• Experience working directly with principals or senior architects, including regular design and technical reviews.
• Promotion-ready architects with slightly less than 3 years of experience may be considered if they demonstrate strong production capability, construction document ownership, and consultant coordination exposure.
• Licensure is not required for this role.
• Ability to provide submission materials that clearly describe specific project types, portions of construction documents personally owned, Revit usage and production responsibilities, consultant coordination exposure, and portfolio authorship notes.
• Demonstrated potential to grow into broader project ownership and second-in-command responsibility over time within a high-end retail-focused practice.

Work Environment

The role is based in a professional architectural office within a mid-sized firm of approximately 7080 employees, offering exposure to a diverse portfolio that includes airports, museums, luxury retail, mixed-use, and adaptive reuse projects. The environment is highly collaborative, with teams working closely alongside senior staff and principals in a culture that emphasizes mentorship, technical quality, and long-term career development. The pace is fast yet supportive, with a strong focus on collaborative problem-solving, rigorous technical standards, and high-quality documentation. This is a full-time, in-office position following standard business hours Monday through Friday, and candidates must be able to commute to a Mid-City Los Angeles office on a daily basis. The firm provides long-term stability, direct collaboration with experienced principals, meaningful involvement in high-end retail architecture projects, and a clear path for professional growth within a quality-driven, technically rigorous practice.

Job Type & Location

This is a Permanent position based out of LOS ANGELES, CA.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $75000.00 - $105000.00/yr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Competitive salary based on experience level Health, vision, and life insurance coverage 401(k) retirement plan options Vacation and paid sick leave Licensing support for professional development

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in LOS ANGELES,CA.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Oct 19, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email View email address on us.fitly.work for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.