Principal Architect

About Stratus

Stratus® is an integrated, multi-disciplinary engineering, architecture, interior design, and consulting firm. Consistently ranking among the Top 500 Design Firms in Engineering News-Record, the firm offers a deep bench of industry experts through a highly collaborative approach, delivering innovative solutions across the full project lifecycle. Operating coast to coast, Stratus® serves clients nationwide while maintaining a strategic commitment to supporting high-growth economies and building vibrant communities that foster the professional growth of its team.

Serving public- and private-sector clients, the firm is dedicated to delivering the highest-quality service wherever projects take shape. Across the Civic, Commercial, Industrial, Transportation, Education, Water Resources, and Government sectors, we bring precision, insight, and purpose to every project, from targeted renovations to large-scale infrastructure. Stratus® designs spaces, systems, and solutions that perform, endure, and make an impact, delivering on our promise of Better Plans.

Better Places .

The Principal Architect serves as a critical operations leader responsible for supporting the overall performance, coordination, and growth of the Education Market. This role ensures the efficient and high-quality execution of work across teams while also contributing to strategic initiatives, client relationship management, and staff development. The Principal Architect plays a hands-on role in day-to-day operations, including oversight of project execution, resource management, financial metrics, and market-specific initiatives that align with organizational priorities.

• Support the Education Market Leader in executing strategic and operational initiatives across the assigned market.
• Oversee the daily operations of the market, ensuring projects are delivered on time, on budget, and to scope and quality expectations.
• Lead resource planning and workforce management efforts, matching talent to market and client needs effectively.
• Manage and monitor key financial metrics, including revenue forecasts, backlog, utilization, and project profitability.
• Support business development activities through proposal preparation, pursuit strategy, and existing client relationship management.
• Collaborate with project managers to monitor project performance and ensure alignment with contractual and regulatory obligations.
• Partner with HR and market leadership to support employee development, career planning, and performance management within the market.
• Drive operational consistency and continuous improvement by implementing best practices and contributing to process optimization.
• Act as a culture ambassador by promoting an inclusive, collaborative, and performance-oriented environment across offices and disciplines.
• Contribute to annual planning and budgeting processes, identifying opportunities for growth, efficiencies, and risk mitigation.
• Serve as a liaison between project teams and executive leadership, escalating issues and communicating market needs as appropriate.
• Oversee compliance with health, safety, and quality assurance standards.
• Represent the market in internal forums, town halls, and leadership meetings when needed, acting as a proxy for the VP.

• Bachelor’s degree in Architecture.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in operations, project management, or market leadership in the A/E/C or professional services industry.
• Demonstrated experience managing teams, budgets, and project portfolios.
• Proficient in tools and platforms used for project and financial management (e.g., Deltek, ERP systems, CRM platforms).
• Comprehensive understanding of market-specific trends, client…