Landscape Designer and Outdoor Living Specialist (Syracuse)

Design extraordinary outdoor spaces. Build an extraordinary career.

Syracuse Lightscapes is seeking a Landscape Designer & Outdoor Living Specialist who wants to do more than produce drawings. This role is approximately 50% design and 50% field work, giving you the opportunity to help shape projects from the first client conversation through construction and final walkthrough.

Syracuse Lightscapes designs and builds exceptional outdoor living environments throughout Central New York. Our work includes luxury poolscapes, outdoor kitchens, landscape lighting, fire and water features, premium plantings, patios, retaining walls, estate landscaping and complete outdoor living projects. We combine creativity, craftsmanship and close attention to detail to deliver distinctive residential environments that are designed to last.

You will participate in every phase of a project: client discovery, design development, plant and material selection, field layout, construction coordination, quality control and final presentation. You will collaborate with clients, project managers, foremen, crews, nurseries and suppliers to maintain design intent throughout construction.

• Meet with clients to understand their property, lifestyle, goals, priorities and budget.

• Measure and document sites and translate field conditions into practical design solutions.

• Prepare landscape and outdoor living concepts, plans and client presentations.

• Develop plant palettes, planting plans, lighting concepts and material selections.

• Visit nurseries, suppliers and showrooms to select plants, stone, pavers and finish materials.

• Lay out plantings, hardscape elements and design details in the field.

• Coordinate with project managers, foremen and installation crews.

• Support construction oversight, quality inspections and client walkthroughs.

• Solve drainage, grading, maintenance, seasonal-interest and constructability challenges.

• Help ensure the finished project reflects the approved design and Syracuse Lightscapes quality standards.

• Luxury residential estates and complete outdoor living environments

• Pool environments, spas and outdoor entertainment areas

• Outdoor kitchens, fire features and water features

• Estate planting plans and four-season landscape designs

• Landscape lighting, custom hardscape and drainage solutions

The strongest candidates combine creativity with practical judgment. You appreciate great landscapes, communicate professionally, pay attention to detail and enjoy solving problems with clients and field teams.

• Strong plant identification and selection knowledge

• Working knowledge of landscape construction and materials

• Excellent client communication and presentation skills

• A collaborative, positive and accountable approach

• The initiative to keep learning and the potential to grow into leadership

• Comfort working outdoors and moving through active residential jobsites

Experience in one or more of the following areas is preferred. Candidates do not need to match every item to be considered.

• Landscape architecture, landscape design, horticulture or a related field

• Nursery experience, plant identification and planting design

• Hardscape, lighting, drainage, poolscape or outdoor living design

• AutoCAD, SketchUp, DynaScape, Land F/X, Bluebeam or Adobe Creative Suite

• Digital presentation tools, Microsoft 365, drone photography, GPS layout or AI visualization tools

• Base salary of $65,000-$85,000 per year, based on relevant experience and qualifications

• Paid holidays and paid vacation

• Retirement plan

• Health insurance contribution

• Performance bonuses

• Professional development, continuing education and industry certifications

• Design, plant, technology, leadership and cross-training opportunities

• Modern equipment, challenging work and premium residential projects

• Clear growth paths in design leadership, project management and operations

Compensation Philosophy

Compensation reflects experience, knowledge, design ability, construction knowledge, leadership, initiative, performance and professionalism. Performance bonuses and benefits are separate from the stated base salary range.

Location and Work Style

This is a full-time field and office position based in East Syracuse, New York. The role includes regular in-person client meetings and travel to residential jobsites, nurseries, suppliers and project locations throughout Central New York.

Apply online:

Send a resume and, if available, a portfolio or representative project samples to View email address on apply.placed-app.com

If you are inspired by great design, plants, craftsmanship and creating places where families gather, we would like to meet you.

Syracuse Lightscapes provides equal employment opportunities to applicants and employees and prohibits discrimination or harassment on any basis protected by applicable law.