Project Architect / Designer, Public Sector (Revit, Inland Empire, CA)

You've spent five to ten years learning your craft at a larger firm. You're good at what you do, and you know it. But you also know you're a small piece of a big machine, and the path from where you are now to running your own projects feels like it's measured in decades, not years. What if there was a firm where you'd learn more in your first month than you did in the last year? Where you'd work directly with the Principal on police stations, fire stations, and libraries from schematic design through construction close-out, and actually see the full impact of your work on the communities you serve? Pave Talent is hiring on behalf of our client, an established public sector architecture firm with over 40 years of serving communities across Southern California. With a close-knit team of around 10 professionals, this firm specializes exclusively in civic and public safety projects: fire stations, police facilities, libraries, community centers, municipal buildings, and educational spaces. They operate out of the Inland Empire with a new office opening this spring, expanding their geographic footprint. This is not a revolving‑door firm. Relationships here are measured in decades, both with clients and staff. The firm's backlog currently sits at nearly three years of work across 20+ active projects ranging from design through construction, with construction values spanning from $200K to $100M. As the Principal put it: "In a small office like ours, people gain a lot more width and depth of understanding. One of our recent hires said after one month he had learned more than he had in a year at his prior job." The organizational structure is intentionally flat. You'll sit across from the Principal, participate in client meetings from day one, and take on real responsibility, not busy work filtered through three layers of management. Let's be direct: if you're at a large firm and you can't see a clear path to Project Architect or PM in the next five years, this is worth a conversation. The firm has a track record of bringing in mid‑level professionals from larger practices and accelerating their careers significantly. You won't be siloed into one phase or one task. You'll touch everything: client presentations, design development, construction documents in Revit, consultant coordination, agency submittals, construction administration, site visits, punch lists. You'll understand how a building gets designed, permitted, built, and handed over, because you'll be part of all of it. If you've been stuck producing CDs for someone else's vision, this is where you get to shape the vision and see it built. You will join a flat, collaborative team and work directly with the firm's Principal and senior architect across the full project lifecycle. Current active work includes two large police stations going to bid this spring (construction starting summer), a Riverside police station about a third into design, several fire stations in various phases, and a library project about to kick off design. You will report to the Principal and collaborate with a team of peers at similar career stages, with a senior mentor available for technical guidance and professional development. Responsibilities Manage and support public sector projects from schematic design through construction close‑out Produce and coordinate construction documents in Revit as a core part of your daily workflow Lead consultant coordination across structural, MEP, civil, and specialty disciplines Participate in client meetings and presentations with municipal stakeholders, fire chiefs, and police departments Prepare and manage agency submittals, including DSA plan check documentation Perform construction administration duties: RFI responses, submittal reviews, site observations, and punch lists Develop details, specifications, and code compliance documentation (Title 24, ADA, CBC) Contribute to design development and schematic design with real authorship, not just drafting support This is a small firm. There is no one to delegate the unglamorous work to. The Principal describes the culture this way: "We need people who want to roll up their sleeves. Less structure than larger firms, maybe a little chaotic at times, but you're really engaged with what you're doing." You will start by supporting one project and ramping up over several weeks to months. New hires typically start with foundational tasks like meeting notes, follow‑ups, and observation before taking on more independent responsibility. The expectation is a full year before confident, autonomous project management. If you thrive with structure and predictability, this probably isn't the right fit. If you thrive on variety, direct responsibility, and learning fast, this is where you'll accelerate. Qualifications 5 to 10 years of architecture experience (closer to 10 years preferred) Strong Revit production capability (your years with Revit should roughly match your years in the profession) Proven experience supporting projects through construction phase, including construction administration Public sector project background (municipal, civic, educational, or public safety) Willingness to work on‑site in the Inland Empire, especially during the first year (hybrid evaluated after year one) Demonstrated job stability (2+ years per position preferred; projects here run 2 to 5 year cycles) Licensed Architect (RA) or significant ARE progress Master's degree in architecture Direct experience with fire stations, police facilities, or law enforcement design Small firm background (you understand what "wear many hats" actually means) Deep municipal client exposure with city councils, public works departments, or fire/police leadership Advanced detailing or specification writing experience Hiring Process Phone screen with Pave Talent 1‑hour virtual interview with firm leadership Follow‑up virtual interview including a Revit skills review On‑site meeting with the team Interested? Apply via LinkedIn and we'll reach out to schedule a conversation. This is a confidential search; your application is fully private. #J-18808-Ljbffr Pave Talent