Landscape Architect

SWA Group • Sausalito, CA

1d • $100,000 - $135,000 • Onsite

About The Position

SWA Group is seeking an experienced, creative, and technically accomplished Landscape Architect to join its Sausalito office. This is a senior technical leadership position with a strong design focus, centered on turning ambitious landscape concepts into innovative, elegant, and buildable solutions. The role leads technical development through Design Development (DD) and Construction Documentation (CD), provides selective Construction Administration (CA) support, and may offer early technical input during concept and schematic design.

The successful candidate will collaborate with design teams to develop technically sophisticated solutions for complex and customized landscape elements while preserving and enhancing design intent. The role involves exploring new materials, fabrication methods, construction technologies, and sustainable construction approaches; coordinating with multidisciplinary consultants, contractors, manufacturers, and fabricators; and providing technical oversight of documentation, specifications, and quality assurance.

The position also provides specialized support on technically significant construction issues, contributes to cost-aware, design-driven value engineering, and mentors colleagues. The Technical Design Director is not expected to serve as the primary day-to-day field representative; construction involvement focuses on key design elements and significant technical issues. The role offers the opportunity to help shape how complex landscape designs are developed, detailed, and built across projects of diverse scales and contexts.

Requirements

• Degree in Landscape Architecture, Architecture, or a closely related design discipline.
• 10–15 years of relevant professional experience, with substantial experience leading technical development and construction documentation for complex, design-driven projects; exceptional candidates with less experience may be considered.
• Demonstrated expertise in construction detailing, material systems, specifications, fabrication methods, and construction methodologies.
• A strong portfolio of built projects demonstrating creative technical problem-solving and successful realization of complex or unconventional design elements.
• Ability to develop innovative technical solutions that balance design intent, constructability, performance, and cost.
• Extensive experience coordinating with architects, engineers, specialty consultants, contractors, fabricators, and manufacturers.
• Experience leading technical meetings and representing design teams in multidisciplinary coordination.
• Strong understanding of landscape construction systems, including paving, retaining structures, landscape structures, waterproofing, drainage, planting on structure, and integration with architectural and engineering systems.
• Experience overseeing DD and CD documentation, specifications, and QA/QC processes.
• Experience with construction-phase technical coordination, RFIs, shop drawings, submittals, and mockup reviews.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, leadership, and problem-solving skills.
• Design sensitivity and the ability to understand, protect, and enhance the original design vision through technical development.
• Intellectual curiosity about how things are made, material performance, emerging technologies, and manufacturing methods.
• Rigorous understanding of construction, detailing, performance, and documentation, with exceptional attention to quality.
• Ability to lead complex technical discussions while remaining approachable, respectful, and receptive to others' ideas.
• Proactive ability to anticipate challenges, identify opportunities, and propose solutions before problems escalate.
• Willingness to share knowledge, support colleagues, and adapt expertise through collaboration.

Nice To Haves

• Professional licensure in Landscape Architecture or Architecture.
• Experience with high-end residential, hospitality, mixed-use, urban public realm, or other complex design projects.
• Experience developing custom-designed landscape elements with specialty manufacturers and fabricators.
• Familiarity with emerging construction technologies, digital fabrication, advanced materials, and innovative manufacturing processes.
• Experience working on international projects and coordinating multidisciplinary teams across regions.
• Proficiency in AutoCAD and working knowledge of Rhino, Revit, and contemporary digital design and documentation workflows.
• Familiarity with sustainable design practices, accessibility requirements, relevant building codes, and industry standards.
• Background in architecture, fabrication, or construction technology that can contribute to technical development of complex landscape projects.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with design teams to translate conceptual designs into constructible solutions through Design Development and Construction Documentation.
• Lead technical development and detailing of complex, customized landscape elements, including paving, structures, water features, furnishings, and integrated planting systems.
• Develop creative technical solutions that preserve and enhance design intent while addressing constructability, durability, performance, maintenance, cost, and regulatory requirements.
• Provide selective technical input during concept and schematic design to identify challenges and explore construction strategies early.
• Research and introduce new materials, products, manufacturing techniques, construction systems, and sustainable technologies.
• Explore digital fabrication, prefabrication, modular construction, and advanced material applications.
• Develop relationships with specialty manufacturers, fabricators, suppliers, and technical experts; collaborate on prototypes, mockups, assemblies, and construction details.
• Evaluate materials and systems for aesthetics, technical performance, durability, cost, and maintenance requirements.
• Build and maintain internal knowledge of innovative details, materials, manufacturers, and construction methods.
• Represent the landscape design team and lead technical coordination with architects, engineers, consultants, clients, contractors, fabricators, and manufacturers.
• Coordinate landscape design with architectural, structural, civil, waterproofing, drainage, utility, and other engineering systems.
• Identify interdisciplinary conflicts, constructability challenges, and technical risks, and develop coordinated solutions.
• Communicate technical issues clearly to internal teams and external stakeholders, and exercise independent technical judgment in collaboration with project design leaders.
• Provide technical leadership and oversight for DD and CD documentation across multiple projects.
• Lead QA/QC reviews of drawings, details, specifications, and interdisciplinary coordination; ensure documentation is comprehensive, coordinated, and consistent with design intent.
• Review construction details and assemblies for constructability, performance, durability, and maintenance; identify documentation gaps and conflicts before submissions.
• Guide teams in producing clear, efficient, technically rigorous construction documents and improve office technical standards, specifications, detail libraries, and QA/QC procedures.
• Provide specialized construction-phase support, including review and response to complex RFIs, shop drawings, submittals, and proposed substitutions affecting critical design elements.
• Participate in selected site visits, mockup reviews, and construction meetings for complex or customized landscape features.
• Work with field representatives, contractors, and manufacturers to resolve technical challenges and evaluate construction alternatives or field modifications while maintaining design integrity.
• Document construction lessons learned and apply them to future technical development and detailing.
• Understand cost implications of materials, fabrication, details, and installation; work with design teams, cost consultants, and contractors to develop cost-effective solutions without compromising design quality.
• Contribute to value engineering through creative technical problem-solving and help teams anticipate technical and cost challenges early.
• Mentor landscape architects and designers, support their technical development, and foster curiosity, experimentation, technical excellence, and continuous learning.
• Organize technical workshops, detail reviews, material presentations, and knowledge-sharing sessions; maintain a library of details, materials, manufacturers, and project lessons learned.

Benefits

• Competitive compensation and benefits package.
• Performance-based bonuses.
• Profit sharing.
• Participation in the firm's Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP).
• Employer 401(k) matching contributions.
• Opportunities for long-term professional and financial growth through shared ownership.

What This Job Offers

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