Project Architect

Project Architect

Department: Buildings

Employment Type: Full-time

Location: Rochester, New York — On-site

Supervisory Responsibility: Junior architectural staff on a project basis

About the Company

Our client is a well-established multidisciplinary architecture and engineering firm with more than four decades of experience. With multiple offices across New York State, the firm is recognized for its diverse portfolio, technical expertise, and commitment to quality.

Position Overview

Our client is seeking an experienced, licensed Project Architect to join its Rochester, New York office. This is a hands-on architectural design and production role supporting non-residential, multidisciplinary projects. It is not a position focused exclusively on project management.

The Project Architect will lead the development and production of architectural work, guide project teams, ensure code and regulatory compliance, and coordinate with clients, consultants, internal disciplines, and governing agencies. The successful candidate will combine strong design and technical expertise with leadership skills and the ability to maintain project momentum when the Project Manager is unavailable.

This position is based exclusively in the Rochester office and is not eligible for remote work.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the architectural design and production of assigned non-residential and multidisciplinary projects from design through construction.

• Coordinate architectural work with internal engineering teams, external consultants, clients, contractors, and governing agencies.

• Prepare and oversee complete project documentation for client approvals, bidding, construction, and state and local permitting.

• Ensure drawings, specifications, and other deliverables comply with applicable building codes, regulatory requirements, contract requirements, and internal quality standards.

• Remain actively involved in design development, technical detailing, documentation, and production.

• Establish architectural procedures, technical approaches, and project-specific design solutions.

• Assign and coordinate project workloads, prepare redlines, review staff work, and provide clear technical direction.

• Mentor junior architectural staff through regular feedback, coaching, and professional-development support.

• Collaborate with Project Managers on staffing, schedules, budgets, design progress, and project priorities.

• Maintain project continuity and momentum when the Project Manager is unavailable.

• Support construction administration activities, including site visits, construction walkthroughs, RFI responses, shop-drawing and submittal reviews, supplementary instructions, and closeout-document verification.

• Confirm that construction work aligns with the contract documents, design intent, and project specifications.

• Document project meetings and communicate decisions, responsibilities, and follow-up items clearly.

• Contribute to value-engineering efforts while protecting design quality, functionality, compliance, and client objectives.

• Foster a positive, collaborative, and professional working environment.

Required Qualifications

• Professional architect license, preferably in New York State. Candidates licensed in another jurisdiction must be eligible and able to obtain New York licensure through reciprocity within six months of employment.

• Five-year NAAB-accredited professional architecture degree or an equivalent combination of relevant education and professional experience.

• At least six years of hands-on architectural design, technical development, and construction-documentation experience, primarily involving non-residential projects.

• Demonstrated ability to lead architectural or multidisciplinary project teams while remaining actively involved in design and production.

• Strong knowledge of applicable building codes, permitting requirements, construction methods, materials, and architectural standards.

• Proficiency in AutoCAD, Revit, Bluebeam, Microsoft Office, and applicable New York State energy-code software.

• Strong written, verbal, organizational, and interpersonal communication skills.

• Ability to coordinate multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and work effectively with clients, consultants, contractors, and internal teams.

• Ability to mentor and provide technical direction to junior architectural staff.

• Valid driver’s license and an acceptable motor vehicle record for required site visits and project-related travel.

• Ability to work full-time on-site at the Rochester, New York office.

Preferred Qualifications

• Construction administration experience, including site observations, RFI responses, submittal reviews, supplementary instructions, and project closeout.

• Advanced technical expertise in architectural design and documentation.

• Experience organizing team workloads and coordinating project staffing.

• Experience contributing to value engineering and constructability reviews.

• Experience working on multidisciplinary, non-residential projects.