Senior Project Architect

Senior Project Architect

Otak is seeking a Senior Project Architect to join our Architecture team and contribute to meaningful, community-focused work. If you're passionate about creating projects that enhance communities, support environmental stewardship, and elevate design excellence, we encourage you to apply. Our firm is deeply committed to sustainability and design that enhances the human experience. We value individuals who demonstrate leadership potential, enjoy mentoring others, and bring a positive, collaborative spirit to their work.

In this role, the Senior Project Architect leads the planning and design of a range of project types, including multifamily housing, commercial, and mixed-use developments, with experience in mass timber a plus. You will collaborate closely with internal teams and external partners throughout all phases of design, ensuring projects are delivered on schedule and aligned with client expectations. This position is responsible for guiding project documentation, coordinating across disciplines, and navigating design and jurisdictional review processes.

At Otak, our Architects and Urban Designers create enduring, thoughtful environments that balance creativity with practicality and innovation with timelessness. From housing and transit centers to community-focused spaces, we bring a commitment to sustainable design and design excellence to every project.

This position may be based out of our Portland, OR or Denver, CO office location.

How You'll Contribute:

• Collaborate with the project team to develop design solutions that emphasize design excellence and best practices.
• Ensure quality control and the delivery of a fully coordinated set of construction documents.
• Provide mentorship and guidance to junior staff while fostering a collaborative, energized team environment to solve design challenges.
• Participate in project reviews, focusing on project costs, budgets, and adherence to schedule.
• Collaborate with clients to define requirements and expectations, ensuring alignment and achievement of project goals.
• Participate in business development activities including client meetings and preparation of proposals, while developing and maintaining strong client relationships.

The Strengths You Bring:

• Bachelor's degree in Architecture or relevant field required. Master's degree preferred.
• Minimum 15 years of progressively responsible experience in architecture.
• Professional Architectural Registration required.
• Proven ability to build and maintain strong client relationships while driving business growth.
• Demonstrated experience with Revit, AutoCAD and SketchUp.
• Renovation project experience is a plus.
• Knowledge of Building Information Modeling (BIM) and Project Delivery methods.
• Public or federal project experience is desired.
• Experience with mass timber is a plus.
• Experience in California, Colorado, Oregon, and Washington with local agency building departments is a plus.

Salary Range: $130,000 - $165,000 per year

Benefits

At our core, we believe that supporting our communities begins with supporting our employees. No matter what stage you're at in your career, we have a comprehensive total rewards program to enhance your quality of life, help support your family, and assist you in achieving your personal and professional goals. Otak employees enjoy competitive salaries; discretionary performance bonuses; no-cost medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance, HRA/HSA; a 401(k)-retirement match that is 100% vested immediately; a hybrid work schedule; Paid Time Off (PTO) accrual based on your industry experience rather than your seniority plus 9 paid holidays per year; a commuter allowance (based on your office location); support for your professional registration and/or certification fees; and much more! If you are out of the area and interested in relocating for this opportunity, relocation assistance may be provided.

Why work at Otak?

We're not just looking for skills and experience, having shared values is just as important! When you work at Otak, you aren't just joining a firm — you're joining a community. We believe our best work happens in a culture of collaboration and inclusion, where the expertise of diverse individuals can thrive in a foundation of teamwork. The work environment we create is built on a simple concept: working on interesting projects with interesting people. However, we don't just believe in cultivating our own community; we're also committed to enriching the communities around us with smart, creative solutions. We know our employees make an investment in us, so we're committed to making an investment in them. Seasoned experts and young professionals work together to encourage personal growth and skill development at all experience levels. Plus, we're expanding — and we're dedicated to developing an internal infrastructure with the strength and talent to support that growth.

Equal Opportunity

At Otak, we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer committed to cultivating a workplace that is inclusive, equitable, and respectful for all. We believe that diverse perspectives enrich our work environment, fuel innovation, and are essential to our collective success.

We are dedicated to maintaining a workplace that is free from discrimination, harassment, and bias. Every individual at Otak is valued, included, and treated with dignity and respect. We do not tolerate discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local laws.

All employment decisions, including those related to recruitment, hiring, training, promotion, compensation, benefits, and termination are based on business needs, job requirements, and individual qualifications. We strive to ensure that our practices uphold fairness and equity at every stage of the employment lifecycle.

Our Vision for an Inclusive Workplace

We are committed to creating an environment where:

• Diverse identities are embraced, and differences are valued as a source of strength.
• Every employee feels safe to be their authentic self and contributes meaningfully.
• Unique perspectives are encouraged, and open dialogue is welcomed to foster innovation.
• Curiosity replaces judgment, and respectful engagement is prioritized in all interactions.
• Relationships are built on mutual trust, dignity, and respect, forming the foundation of our workplace culture.

We provide reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities, including pregnant employees, to ensure an accessible and supportive work environment. If you require assistance or accommodations during the application process or in the workplace, please contact Otak's People Services Department at View email address on click.appcast.io.

Join us in shaping a more inclusive future!