Principal Architect

Discover your exciting role

The Principal Architect - Biopharma & Life Sciences (BLS) serves as the architectural leader and subject matter expert for complex pharmaceutical, biotechnology, advanced therapy, and life sciences projects. This role is responsible for establishing project vision, design strategy, and architectural excellence across all project phases, from conceptual planning and feasibility studies through detailed design, construction, commissioning, and operational readiness.

As a trusted advisor to clients, project leadership, and technical teams, the Principal Architect drives innovative, compliant, and high-performance facility solutions while ensuring alignment with business objectives, regulatory requirements, and industry best practices. This position provides technical oversight, mentorship, and strategic leadership for multidisciplinary project teams and plays a key role in advancing Exyte's architectural capabilities within the global Biopharma & Life Sciences market.

Explore your tasks and responsibilities

• Serve as the architectural lead and technical authority for major BLS projects, providing strategic direction and oversight throughout the project lifecycle.
• Develop facility concepts, architectural design strategies, and planning solutions for pharmaceutical manufacturing, biotechnology, cell and gene therapy, laboratory, and research facilities.
• Lead client engagement activities, establishing trusted relationships and serving as the primary architectural advisor.
• Collaborate closely with engineering disciplines, project management, process architects, CQV teams, and construction personnel to deliver integrated design solutions.
• Guide multidisciplinary teams in resolving complex technical, operational, and regulatory challenges.
• Ensure designs comply with applicable building codes, GMP requirements, FDA regulations, ISO standards, biosafety requirements, and industry best practices.
• Lead architectural programming, space planning, workflow analysis, and facility master planning efforts.
• Direct development and quality review of design deliverables, including studies, reports, BIM models, drawings, specifications, and construction documentation.
• Conduct architectural reviews to ensure constructability, maintainability, operational efficiency, and lifecycle performance.
• Drive innovation in cleanroom design, laboratory environments, manufacturing suites, containment strategies, and controlled environments.
• Support project pursuit efforts, including proposal development, client presentations, technical interviews, and design narratives.
• Establish and maintain architectural standards, design guidelines, and best practices across the organization.
• Provide mentoring, coaching, and technical development support to architects, designers, and junior staff.
• Support risk management, change management, and technical decision-making processes during project execution.
• Participate in value engineering efforts while maintaining design intent, compliance, and project objectives.
• Contribute to thought leadership initiatives and represent Exyte at industry conferences, professional organizations, and client forums.
• Support global collaboration and knowledge sharing across Exyte offices and project teams.
• Other duties as assigned.

Show your expertise

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Architecture required.
• Master's degree in Architecture preferred.
• Registered Architect (RA) required.
• NCARB Certification strongly preferred.
• LEED Accredited Professional, WELL AP, or similar credentials preferred.
• Minimum 15+ years of architectural design experience.
• Minimum 10+ years of experience in pharmaceutical, biotechnology, advanced therapy, laboratory, or life sciences facility design.
• Demonstrated expertise designing complex GMP-regulated manufacturing facilities, laboratories, cleanrooms, and high-containment environments.
• Strong understanding of FDA, EMA, GMP, GxP, IBC, NFPA, and applicable life sciences industry standards.
• Proven leadership experience directing multidisciplinary design teams on large-scale projects.
• Advanced knowledge of architectural planning, facility programming, building systems integration, and BIM-enabled project delivery.
• Proficiency with Autodesk Revit, BIM 360/ACC, AutoCAD, and related design technologies.
• Experience supporting Design-Build, EPCM, and integrated project delivery approaches.
• Strong understanding of construction administration, project execution, and commissioning requirements.
• Experience leading technical reviews, design quality programs, and architectural governance processes.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple stakeholders, clients, and project priorities within fast-paced project environments.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and relationship management skills.
• Experience working in global teams and multi-office project execution environments preferred.
• Ability to travel as required to support project and client needs.

Preferred Experience

• Cell & Gene Therapy Facilities
• Biologics Manufacturing Facilities
• Vaccine Manufacturing Facilities
• Semiconductor or Advanced Technology Cleanroom Facilities
• Research & Development Laboratories
• cGMP Manufacturing and Fill-Finish Operations
• Facility Master Planning and Campus Development
• International Project Delivery and Regulatory Compliance

Contact:

For further questions and information, please do not hesitate to contact Tina Denny.

Please note that we only consider applications submitted through our application portal. Applications sent via email will not be considered due to data protection regulations.