Transit Facility Architectural Design Lead

Transit Facility Architectural Design Lead

Job Site

Location:

Illinois - Chicago

• Serve as the technical lead and subject matter expert for transit facility architecture projects.
• Lead architectural design from planning and concept development through final design and construction support.
• Act as Architect of Record where required, including signing and sealing architectural documents.
• Make and document key technical decisions, manage design risk, and uphold quality standards across projects.
• Review and approve architectural drawings, technical calculations, specifications, and design deliverables.
• Coordinate closely with engineering, systems, construction, and operations teams to deliver integrated solutions.
• Work directly with public transit agencies, navigating agency standards, design review processes, and operational constraints.
• Support construction-phase activities in active operating transit environments, including design clarifications and field coordination.
• Lead and manage architectural scope on projects with multiple interfaces, phased construction, and ongoing transit operations.
• Apply sound judgment related to constructability, staging, maintenance, and lifecycle considerations.
• Mentor and guide junior architectural staff, ensuring consistency in technical execution and professional development.
• Contribute to proposal development, scope definition, and fee estimation for transit facility pursuits.
• Serve as Project Technical Leader on select projects and proposals, driving the technical vision of the final deliverable.
• Collaborate with project managers to manage scope, budgets, schedules, and staffing needs.

Bachelor’s degree in Architecture. 11 years of related experience. Must possess RA certification
. Equivalent additional directly related experience will be considered in lieu of a degree. Domestic and/or international travel may be required. The frequency of travel is contingent on specific duties, responsibilities, and the essential functions of the position, which may vary depending on workload and project demands.

• Experience working with public transportation agencies and urban municipalities.
• Leadership experience on projects involving dense urban conditions, constrained sites, and active operations.
• Experience developing project scopes of work and fee proposals.
• Experience developing construction plans, technical specifications, and cost estimates.
• Experience developing technical reports and design justification documentation.
• Ability to assign work, provide daily technical direction, and mentor junior staff.
• Experience providing day-to-day oversight of architectural or transportation facility design projects, including budget and schedule management.

We attract the best people in the industry, supporting their efforts to learn and grow. We strive to create a challenging and progressive work environment. We provide career opportunities that span a variety of disciplines and geographic locations, with projects that our employees plan, design, build and operate as diverse as the needs of our clients. CDM Smith is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, pregnancy related conditions, childbirth and related medical conditions, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression), national origin, age, marital status, disability, veteran status, citizenship status, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Pay Range Minimum: $110,240

Pay Range Maximum: $192,899

Additional Compensation:
All bonuses at CDM Smith are discretionary and may or may not apply to this position.

Hybrid Work Options may be considered for successful candidate.

Visa Sponsorship Available:
No – we will not support sponsorship, i.e. H‑1B or TN visas for this position.

Amount of

Travel Required:

10%

Assignment Category:
Fulltime-Regular

Skills and Abilities:

Expert technical knowledge and design application knowledge. Expert…