Building Performance Specialist

LPA, Inc. • Irvine, CA

2d

About The Position

Join the 2025 AIA Firm Award Winner shaping a more sustainable future.
LPA is a collective of designers, engineers, and researchers committed to tackling the biggest issues of our time. Our "No Excuses" integrated design approach was recognized by the AIA as “a trailblazer in sustainable, high-performance architecture". At LPA you’ll be part of the team that is changing the way the industry thinks about design and carbon emissions, built around the belief that we only achieve our goals when everybody has a seat at the table and all input is valued.
LPA is committed to making sustainability and building performance the foundation of every design, regardless of size, scale or budget. Over the years, we have built a model for a multidisciplinary, research-driven design process, with a collaborative culture focused on analysis and problem-solving. For two years in a row (2018-19), we were the largest firm in the country to surpass the AIA 2030 Commitment target of reducing energy use in our buildings by more than 70 percent.
To help us advance our efforts around high-performing, low-carbon design solutions, we are seeking a passionate Building Performance Specialist to join our integrated team of architects, engineers, interior designers, landscape architects and master planners. We are seeking a candidate with a minimum 1-2 years of relevant industry experience but are also open to someone with more tenure and experience. We will modify the role, title and salary based on the right candidate’s qualifications.

Requirements

• Passion for integrative, high-performance and sustainable design
• Able to effectively communicate technical details with all design team disciplines and clients in a way that is understandable and actionable
• A comprehensive knowledge of sustainable design strategies appropriate to different building types, market sectors and geographic locations
• A working knowledge of energy modeling requirements and documentation for third-party rating systems (LEED) and applicable state/local green building requirements (CalGreen, AEGB)
• A working knowledge of both early-phase and whole-building energy modeling software and tools
• A general understanding of economic considerations such as return on investment variables
• Articulate and comfortable public speaker, whether giving formal presentations or leading workshops
• Bachelor’s degree in Sustainability, Architecture, Engineering or related field.
• Minimum 1-2 years of building performance experience within the AEC industry; more experience a plus

Nice To Haves

• Experience with other performance analysis tools (daylight, life-cycle assessment, envelope integrity, CFD, etc) a plus
• Accreditations such as LEED, HBDP, BEMP preferred

Responsibilities

• Conduct building performance analysis on LPA projects, including early phase analysis through whole-building energy modeling and LEED/regulatory compliance modeling
• Assist in firmwide education and training on early phase modeling software for design staff throughout the firm
• Be a design partner, guiding teams through design decisions based on building performance analysis and feedback
• Assist in the collection of project data to satisfy our 2030 Commitment reporting requirements
• Contribute to LPA’s bi-annual magazine, Catalyst, as well as other internal and external documents and briefs
• Represent LPA in industry committees, conferences and forums

Benefits

• At LPA, your growth and contributions matter. We foster a collaborative culture where creative ideas are valued, and voices are heard.
• Mentorship from Managing Directors, Design Directors, and senior team members across disciplines.
• Career development support, including professional development grants and in-house training.
• Ongoing education through LPA+U courses and Tech Talks focused on innovative, sustainable practices.
• 8 paid hours of volunteer time each year.
• Opportunities to propose and lead projects that impact your local community, including more than $1 million since 2015 in Habitat for Humanity builds, scholarships, and other pro bono community projects.
• Access to our Professional Development Grants program, created to encourage professional development and further LPA's collective knowledge as a firm. Over the life of the grant program, we have invested $1,196,890 and impacted 848 LPA employees.
• At LPA, we offer competitive salaries and a robust benefits package—including health and dental insurance, retirement and financial planning, wellness initiatives, and flexible work/life programs.
• This position is eligible for an annual bonus.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level