Junior Designer – Architecture

Job Description

Junior Designer – Architecture | SOM

The Tone:
This is an early career opportunity within SOM’s Year One Program for a Junior Designer in Architecture. This program is specifically designed to bridge formal education with practical experience, providing a structured suite of events and creative initiatives to help new professionals maximize their first year at the firm. Participants are encouraged to expand their learning and propose bold ideas that contribute to the future of design. SOM offers the unique advantage of hands-on experience within small, studio-like teams, combined with the extensive resources and diversity of a global organization. The firm is a collective committed to shaping a better future for clients, communities, and the planet by creating sustainable and impactful work through interdisciplinary teams. SOM believes in a meritocracy of ideas, encouraging everyone to actively contribute to the firm’s discourse. They foster lifelong learning, expecting individuals to pursue answers, develop new skills, and deepen their knowledge while striving for excellence in the concept, quality, and delivery of all work. This role is crucial for emerging designers to dive into the profession, contribute their creativity from day one, and make a significant mark in a firm known for its transformative contributions and innovation in architecture, engineering, and planning.

The TL;DR
• Role: Early Career
• Pay: $58000–$64000 yearly
• Team: Works within interdisciplinary teams, reporting to project leadership.
• Mission: Contribute to architectural project development and design by producing high-quality deliverables and integrating creative ideas to shape a better future.
• Tech Stack: Revit, AutoCAD, Rhino, parametric and rendering software, Adobe Suite, Google Workspace.

What You’ll Actually Do
• Project Contribution: Contribute to the development of specific project aspects under the direct supervision of project leadership, exhibiting initiative, process innovation, and problem-solving skills.
• Deliverable Production: Produce presentation and contract deliverables such as diagrams, 3D models, drawings, renderings, physical models, and animations with precision and accuracy.
• Design Innovation: Create and innovate with strong conceptual design ability, integrating interdisciplinary criteria to effectively move forward the design of a project component.
• Team Collaboration: Actively collaborate at a project team level by critically and constructively evaluating ideas, and effectively communicate internally through timely written, oral, and visual means.
• Technical Application: Demonstrate a basic understanding of building materials, systems, specifications, codes, details, and construction techniques, using appropriate tools to design and document at all project phases.

The Must-Haves
• Background: Recent completion of a professional degree in Architecture or a related field.
• Experience: Strong collaborative ability, effective verbal and written communication skills, and a commitment to professionalism and personal integrity within a team-oriented environment.
• Skills: Proficiency in a comprehensive suite of design software including Revit, AutoCAD, Rhino, parametric and rendering software, and Adobe Suite, alongside proficiency in Google Workspace.