Architect II / Intermediate Architect High-End Retail

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

Job Description

This role offers an intermediate-level architect the opportunity to work hands-on in a high-end, detail-driven retail and commercial environment, with a strong focus on Revit-based construction documentation. You will translate client and brand design intent into high-quality construction documents, coordinate with consultants and internal teams, and support select construction administration activities. This position is ideal for someone progressing from a strong junior role into broader intermediate responsibility, who enjoys technical production, problem-solving, and is eager to grow into greater project ownership over time within high-end retail architecture.

Responsibilities

• Use Revit to produce and coordinate construction documents for ground-up retail projects and AutoCAD for tenant improvement projects and early design studies where CAD is more efficient.
• Produce detailed architectural drawings and documentation, including plans, elevations, sections, details, schedules, and other components of comprehensive construction-document sets.
• 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 as required.
• Review work prepared by other team members for accuracy, consistency, and adherence to project standards, and provide clear feedback where needed.
• Apply building codes and coordinate with senior staff on documentation, permitting, and approval requirements as needed.
• Work closely with senior staff and principals to maintain design integrity, technical quality, and firm standards across all project deliverables.
• Actively produce drawings and technical details on a daily basis, maintaining a hands-on role in project production rather than focusing on oversight alone.
• Own defined portions of project scope within larger drawing sets, incorporating redlines efficiently and accurately with minimal rework.
• Identify and help resolve coordination issues between architectural drawings and consultant documents, incorporating revisions and maintaining aligned backgrounds.
• Clearly communicate your individual responsibilities and contributions on each project, including your role in CD production, detailing, and consultant coordination.
• Support construction administration tasks as needed, such as responding to RFIs, reviewing submittals, and assisting with field-clarification documentation.
• Maintain a strong focus on quality, precision, and detail appropriate to high-end retail and other luxury or detail-driven project environments.
• Demonstrate readiness to assume broader project ownership over time, including second-in-command responsibilities under senior architects or principals.

Essential Skills

• Degree in Architecture from an accredited program.
• Approximately 37 years of professional architectural experience, with clear progression from strong junior-level contribution toward intermediate-level ownership and responsibility.
• Strong Revit proficiency for project production, with current hands-on experience producing construction documents in Revit.
• Active involvement in Revit-based construction-document production, with the ability to contribute immediately with minimal ramp-up.
• Experience producing and coordinating architectural construction documents, including ownership of meaningful portions of CD sets such as plans, elevations, sections, details, schedules, or permit-response packages.
• Understanding of how complete drawing sets are assembled, organized, and coordinated across disciplines.
• Experience coordinating with at least one consultant discipline (such as MEP, structural, civil, or lighting), including identifying conflicts, incorporating revisions, and aligning backgrounds.
• Ability to clearly explain individual project ownership, specific drawing packages, and personal contributions during interviews and internal reviews.
• Professional portfolio demonstrating professional project work that you personally produced, with clear authorship of drawings and details.
• Comfort remaining hands-on in technical production work and day-to-day drawing development.
• Current hands-on production experience within architectural projects, particularly in construction documentation and detailing.
• Demonstrated interest in high-end retail and willingness to build long-term experience within retail-focused work or comparable high-end project environments.
• Strong technical judgment in detailing and documentation, with an eye for quality and precision.
• Ability to articulate how individual drawing packages fit into the overall project set and support project delivery.
• Willingness and ability to grow into broader project ownership and second-in-command responsibilities over time.
• Licensure is not required for this role.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience in high-end retail, luxury retail, or flagship retail projects is preferred.
• Experience in high-end hospitality, high-end residential, branded commercial, restaurants, or other detail-driven project environments is highly valued.
• Experience with both ground-up construction and tenant improvement projects.
• Exposure to construction administration, including RFIs, submittals, and coordination with contractors.
• High-end detailing and finish development experience, particularly for luxury or brand-driven environments.
• AutoCAD proficiency for tenant improvement projects and early-phase studies where CAD is more efficient.
• Experience working directly with principals or senior architects, including receiving mentorship and feedback on technical and design work.
• Promotion-ready architects with slightly less than the stated years of experience may be considered if they demonstrate strong production capability, CD ownership, and consultant coordination exposure.
• Ability to clearly document and communicate specific project types worked on, portions of CDs personally owned, Revit responsibilities, and consultant coordination experience.
• Strong interest in building a long-term career within high-end retail and related project types, with a focus on technical excellence and documentation quality.

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, adaptive reuse, and other complex project types. The environment is highly collaborative, with teams working closely alongside senior staff and principals and placing strong emphasis on mentorship, technical quality, and long-term career development. The culture is fast-paced yet supportive, with a collaborative, quality-driven, and technically rigorous approach to project delivery. This is a full-time, in-office position following standard business hours from Monday through Friday. Candidates must be able to commute full-time to a Mid-City Los Angeles office. The workplace provides regular opportunities for direct collaboration with experienced principals, meaningful involvement in high-end retail architecture projects, and a strong mentorship culture that supports professional growth and long-term stability.

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

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.

Insurance: Health, vision, and life insurance plans. Retirement: A corporate 401(k) plan. Paid Time Off: Standard accrued vacation time and paid sick leave (including 48 hours of upfront sick time provided at the beginning of the year). Professional Development: Direct licensing support to assist junior team members in gaining architectural certification. Office Perks: Casual weekly amenities, such as free bagels on Thursdays.

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

This position is anticipated to close on Nov 13, 2026.

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

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.