Residential Landscape Designer / Hardscape Architect

About Us: Southside Specialties is a premier design and build firm in Northern Virginia. We are dedicated to delivering premium-quality service, professional integrity, and timeless outdoor spaces for our high-end residential clientele. Our team works closely with homeowners to understand their dreams for their outdoor spaces, crafting custom plans that elevate everyday life and make their vision a reality.

Position Overview: We are seeking a highly talented and experienced Landscape Architect & Designer with a strong background in high-end residential projects. The ideal candidate is a stellar communicator who combines creative design skills with the ability to translate ideas into precise, high-quality technical models and site plans. This is a “behind the scenes” role - a defining element of this role is the ability to work dynamically with clients; you will lead live screen-share sessions, making fast, highly accurate real-time edits to 3D models and layouts. You will help guide clients through the entire process, from producing custom concepts for elevated outdoor living areas and hardscapes to overseeing the project handoff, collaborating directly with our construction teams, and ensuring project success.

Key Responsibilities:

• Design Collaboration: Meet with our lead designer and with prospective clients to assess the landscape design needs and understand the project vision.

• Design, Planning, Technical Modeling: Perform thorough site analyses to gather information on existing conditions, topography, and drainage. Utilize your strong technical modeling skills to create comprehensive site plans, 2-D layouts, and 3D models with clean, professional render quality. This includes designing accurate and detailed elevations, rooflines, footings, outdoor kitchens, pergolas, and lighting plans.

• Live Client Presentations & Real-Time Editing: Support and lead dynamic, collaborative design presentations with clients via screen-share. You must execute fast, accurate, real-time edits to 3D models and site plans with clients, quickly following the creative direction to refine concepts and secure design approval.

• Construction Documentation: Assist in the preparation of detailed construction document packages, design specifications, and plant information documents that adhere to local codes and regulatory requirements.

• Seamless Project Handoff & Internal Collaboration: Work closely with and collaborate with the construction teams, project managers, and operations staff to ensure the custom design is highly functional and executable. You will help to effectively communicate the exact design intent, project scope, and detailed plans to the production staff to facilitate a smooth installation.

• Estimating & Sourcing: collaborate with the operations manager and construction team on take-offs and cost estimates for your designs. Communicate with internal team members, suppliers, and external subcontractors regarding the pricing and availability of plants, site furnishings, specialty materials, and hard materials to accurately estimate costs and the timing of projects.

• Pre-Installation Layout & Quality Control: Work closely with operations managers to schedule design installations. Visit sites ahead of installation to participate in pre-project walk-throughs, review the design, and physically lay out the designed landscapes alongside the construction crews. Perform site visits throughout the production phase to ensure the design specifications are met and plans are followed flawlessly.

Qualifications:

• Experience: 5+ years of proven experience designing high-end residential landscapes, including extensive hardscaping and luxury outdoor living projects. Must have a strong portfolio showcasing 2-D and 3D modeling capabilities, comprehensive site plans, and clean render quality.

• Technical Skills (Live-Editing Ready): Proficiency and speed in Structure Studios is preferred to support our live-editing workflow. We are also open to candidates highly skilled in AutoCAD, SketchUp, and Lumion.

• Education & Licensure: A degree and license in landscape architecture or design is preferred but not required.

• Industry Knowledge: Deep expertise in landscape installation and construction methods, state and local code requirements, and local plant palettes per hardiness zones.

• Communication & Culture: Stellar written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to present and explain complex design concepts clearly. Must be a proactive team player with a positive, respectful attitude, capable of handling fast-paced client feedback.