Lead Designer

LPA • Austin, TX

3d

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. We’re currently seeking an Lead Designer to join our dynamic Austin studio . You’ll be part of a culture that values deep collaboration, technical excellence, and continual growth. Examples of projects completed by our Austin studio include Casis Elementary School and General Marshall Middle School . We're also revitalizing an underutilized space in a historic building on Southwestern University's campus (Cullen Hall), and are working on Pflugerville City Hall (which is currently under construction). Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams across our studios in California and Texas—and help bring high-performance, community-first design to life.

Requirements

• Bachelors and/or Masters Degree in Architecture.
• 10+ years of experience in all phases of architecture projects.
• Advanced abilities with conceptual design and graphic presentations.
• Active architecture license in Texas.
• Proficiency in Revit and Adobe Creative Suite.

Responsibilities

• Lead design ideation with clients and project teams, driving creativity from concept through schematic design.
• Engage all disciplines and stakeholders early to ensure an integrated, informed design process.
• Guide and facilitate presentations of design concepts and project documents for client review and approval.
• Preside over project-specific design meetings, presentations, and activities.
• Collaborate in firmwide design charrettes to share ideas and elevate design quality.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, builders, authorities, and project stakeholders.
• Partner with the Managing Director, Design Director, and Project Manager to deliver innovative, high-quality design solutions.
• Mentor and inspire design teams while ensuring alignment with LPA’s design standards and processes.

Benefits

• 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: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 501-1,000 employees