Junior Architect

Job Title: Junior Architect

Job Description

This Junior Architect role offers the opportunity to work on a wide range of commercial projects, including retail, hospitality, and other large-scale developments. You will use Revit and AutoCAD to produce detailed construction drawings and will contribute to every phase of the project lifecycle, from initial surveys and conceptual design through schematic design, design development, construction documents, and construction administration. This position is ideal for an early-career architect who wants broad exposure, strong mentorship, and a collaborative environment where everyone contributes across multiple project stages.

Responsibilities

• Use Revit and AutoCAD to produce accurate and detailed construction drawings for commercial projects, including retail stores, rollouts, big box stores, hospitality spaces, and related developments.

• Participate in all phases of project delivery, including initial site surveys, conceptual design, schematic design, design development, construction documents, and construction administration.

• Prepare complete construction drawing sets (CDs) that meet client standards, building codes, and internal quality expectations.

• Conduct existing conditions surveys at job sites, documenting and verifying field conditions to support accurate design and documentation.

• Collaborate closely with a project team to meet project goals, schedules, and deliverables, contributing to a highly coordinated design and documentation process.

• Assist with redlining and revising drawings based on feedback from sr architects, project architects, and project managers.

• Support construction administration activities, including responding to RFIs, reviewing submittals, and coordinating with contractors and consultants as needed.

• Communicate professionally with clients and engineering trades to move projects forward, clarify design intent, and resolve issues in a timely manner.

• Help maintain a strong service-oriented approach by providing responsive, high-quality communication and documentation to long-standing clients.

• Contribute to multiple active projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment, managing time and priorities effectively while maintaining accuracy and attention to detail.

Essential Skills

• Full proficiency in Revit, with the ability to independently produce construction drawings and documentation.

• Full proficiency in AutoCAD, including setting up, organizing, and editing construction drawing sets.

• 2–4 years of architectural experience, preferably gained in a small office setting where you were exposed to multiple project phases.

• Demonstrated experience in commercial architecture, particularly retail projects such as rollouts, big box stores, supermarkets, self-storage facilities, and similar building types.

• Proven ability to put together full sets of construction documents (CDs) for commercial projects.

• Hands-on involvement in schematic design, design development, construction documents, and construction administration.

• Experience producing construction drawings, including plans, elevations, sections, details, and related documentation.

• Ability to work with redlines and incorporate feedback accurately and efficiently.

• Experience responding to RFIs and supporting construction administration tasks.

• Strong communication skills to interact effectively with clients, engineering trades, and internal team members.

• Bachelor’s degree in Architecture.

• Motivation to pursue architectural licensure, demonstrating a commitment to professional growth.

• Ability to work collaboratively within a team to achieve project goals in a fast-paced environment.

• Strong attention to detail, organizational skills, and the ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience working on retail architecture projects, including rollouts and big box stores, is highly preferred.

• Experience with hospitality or equivalent commercial project types is a plus.

• Prior experience in a small architectural firm, where you contributed across various phases and tasks, is beneficial.

• Comfort working on projects across multiple states, with an understanding that codes and standards may vary by jurisdiction.

• Client-facing experience, including participation in meetings and direct communication, is an advantage.

• Strong service-oriented mindset, with a focus on building and maintaining long-term client relationships.

• Interest in long-term career growth within a firm that invests in training and development.

• Ability to adapt quickly, take initiative, and learn firm-specific standards and processes.

• Professional demeanor and reliability, with a commitment to high-quality work and continuous improvement.

Work Environment

This role is based in a long-established, approximately 25-person architectural firm with a homey, welcoming office environment in Bergen County. The team works in-office five days per week in a highly collaborative setting where everyone contributes across multiple phases of projects. The firm emphasizes work/life balance and offers flexibility where possible, even while managing a fast-paced workload with 45–70 active projects at any given time, ranging from roughly $1 million to $35 million in value. The primary client base consists of retail-focused organizations, including major national retailers, supermarkets, self-storage facilities, and car dealerships, with projects primarily located along the East Coast and registrations in about 25 states. The culture is service-oriented and client-focused, with a strong emphasis on clear, consistent communication; every employee has some level of client contact and is expected to deliver top-tier service. The office environment is friendly and team-oriented, with regular group activities and shared meals that reinforce a positive culture. New team members receive thorough training to understand client standards and firm processes, and the firm hires with a long-term perspective, fostering stability and low turnover.

Job Type & Location

This is a Permanent position based out of Hillsdale, NJ.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $60000.00 - $70000.00/yr.

Full benefits guide to be provided to candidates

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Hillsdale,NJ.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Jul 6, 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 click.appcast.io 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.