Licensed Architect

Licensed Architect

Darien or Chicago, Illinois

Are you looking for an opportunity to do challenging, creative work that makes a real impact? Would you like to be part of a company that respects individual contributions and thrives on collaboration? Do you love to win? Then consider joining Wight & Company. We're a nationally recognized, award-winning architecture, engineering, and construction firm known for a dynamic company culture that fosters innovation and challenges the status quo, and we're looking for a talented professional to join our team.

We seek an experienced and highly skilled licensed architect with 5-10 years of professional experience to join our team. In this role, you will support and lead the development of design, technical documentation, coordination, and construction administration for small to mid-sized projects. You will collaborate closely with interdisciplinary teams, support client and consultant coordination, and contribute to high-quality project delivery from concept through completion.

This position requires strong professional drive, technical judgment, design sensitivity, and self-direction. Potential candidates should demonstrate a thorough understanding of architectural design and documentation, analytical problem-solving skills, and a passion for high-quality design, integrated delivery, and collaborative processes.

• Design Development: Contribute to and help advance design concepts that align with client goals, project requirements, technical feasibility, and Wight & Company's commitment to high-quality design.
• Project Execution: Support and lead portions of architectural projects through design, documentation, coordination, and construction administration while maintaining alignment with scope, schedule, budget, and quality expectations.
• Technical Documentation: Plan, develop, and produce comprehensive technical design and construction documents, ensuring accuracy, code awareness, graphic consistency, and alignment with project objectives.
• Technical Knowledge: Demonstrate a strong understanding of building materials, systems, specifications, codes, details, and construction techniques, and apply appropriate tools to design and document projects across all phases.
• Interdisciplinary Coordination & Collaboration: Coordinate with engineering, construction, consulting, and design team members through schematic design, design development, construction documents, and construction administration to support integrated, well-coordinated project delivery.
• Project Planning & Management: Work closely with the project manager, project architect, and lead project designer to support work planning, task delegation, milestone tracking, and document delivery aligned with project schedule, budget, and owner's project requirements.
• Sustainability: Incorporate sustainable design principles and responsible material, systems, and performance strategies into project work in alignment with Wight & Company's values.
• Quality Assurance: Review design and construction documents for accuracy, coordination, constructability, code compliance, and consistency with project goals. Identify potential design and construction issues and support timely resolution to reduce errors and rework. Adhere to the Wight Quality Assurance Program.
• Construction Administration: Support project-related construction administration activities, including submittal and RFI review, field observation documentation, OAC meeting participation, and issue resolution, with appropriate oversight by the project architect, senior architect, or project manager.
• Client and Consultant Coordination: Support client, consultant, and internal team communication by preparing materials, documenting decisions, presenting technical solutions, and helping maintain clear project alignment throughout the project lifecycle.
• Mentorship: Provide guidance and support to emerging professionals and design staff, contributing to a culture of collaboration, learning, accountability, and professional growth.
• Versatility: Adapt to various roles within a project, whether in leadership or support, while consistently performing at a high level. Proactively handle tasks beyond the primary scope and adjust to changing priorities to support project success, team collaboration, and firm excellence.

• Licensure: Licensed architect with current registration.
• Education: Bachelor's or master's degree in architecture from an accredited program.
• Experience: 5-10 years of professional experience in an architectural firm, with strong experience in design development, technical documentation, interdisciplinary coordination, and construction administration.
• Software Proficiency: Proficient in design and documentation software such as Revit, Enscape, Bluebeam, Procore, Adobe Creative Suite, and Microsoft Office. Experience coordinating BIM models and supporting model-based coordination workflows is preferred.
• Skills: Strong design sensibility, technical knowledge,…