RESIDENTIAL ARCHITECT / LEAD DESIGNER - Austin, Texas

Moontower • Austin, TX

3d • Onsite

About The Position

Moontower Design + Build is seeking an experienced Residential Architect / Lead Designer to create custom homes and guide projects from concept through construction. The role integrates architecture, interiors, estimating, purchasing, and construction, working with internal teams and outside consultants to deliver homes that are beautiful, practical, buildable, and responsive to clients and sites. The position reports to the Design Director and focuses on custom homes, major renovations, additions, and residential design-build projects.

The role leads residential design from programming and early concepts through design development, construction documentation, permitting, and construction. It requires balancing design intent with client goals, site conditions, budgets, schedules, engineering, codes, and construction requirements. The designer also coordinates clients, consultants, and construction teams; provides construction-phase design oversight; and helps strengthen the design practice through guidance, quality control, and improved workflows.

This is a full-time, in-person position in Austin, Texas, with a stated salary range of $80,000–$100,000. Moontower describes its work as custom, collaborative, and connected to Austin, with an emphasis on thoughtful problem-solving, craftsmanship, strong relationships, and homes made with soul.

Requirements

• Professional experience designing and delivering custom residential architecture.
• A strong portfolio demonstrating architectural judgment, technical ability, site responsiveness, and attention to detail.
• Broad building-design knowledge, including site planning, structural coordination, exterior design, construction detailing, and building systems.
• Experience carrying residential projects through concept design, design development, construction documentation, permitting, and construction administration.
• An active architectural license, eligibility to obtain reciprocal registration in Texas, or a clearly defined near-term path to Texas licensure.
• Confidence working directly with clients, consultants, engineers, craftspeople, vendors, project managers, and construction teams.
• Practical understanding of how architectural decisions affect construction, procurement, budget, schedule, and long-term building performance.
• Ability to manage multiple projects, priorities, deadlines, and design decisions while maintaining the larger vision.
• Strong organization, communication, follow-through, judgment, and personal accountability.
• Ability to receive feedback thoughtfully, resolve design and construction challenges, and collaborate without ego.

Nice To Haves

• High-end residential design-build experience.
• Experience with Google Workspace, Archicad, Enscape, Morpholio, Canva, and JobTread.
• Comfort learning new tools and workflows quickly.

Responsibilities

• Lead residential projects from programming and early concept through design development, construction documentation, permitting, and construction.
• Develop design solutions responsive to client goals, site conditions, budget, schedule, and construction requirements.
• Guide space planning, site planning, building massing, circulation, exterior composition, material selection, and architectural detailing.
• Translate client priorities into clear, cohesive, buildable residential designs.
• Prepare and lead client presentations, design reviews, and milestone meetings.
• Maintain design intent while addressing budget, scheduling, engineering, and field considerations.
• Develop and review architectural drawings, details, specifications, and permit-ready construction documents.
• Coordinate architectural documentation with interior design, estimating, purchasing, project management, and field operations.
• Maintain organized project files, design decisions, meeting notes, consultant information, and follow-up items.
• Identify missing information, unresolved decisions, coordination conflicts, and schedule risks early.
• Coordinate with structural, civil, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, landscape, energy, and other project consultants as needed.
• Work with builders, craftspeople, vendors, fabricators, and field teams to support successful execution of architectural details.
• Provide design oversight during construction through site meetings, milestone reviews, submittal review, responses to field questions, and resolution of unforeseen conditions.
• Communicate directly and professionally with clients throughout design and construction.
• Balance design ambition with constructability, budget, code requirements, and long-term performance.
• Provide architectural guidance and constructive design feedback to other design-team members.
• Support the Design Director in maintaining design quality and consistency across projects.
• Help improve architectural workflows, drawing standards, templates, quality-control procedures, and standard operating procedures.
• Assist with qualified prospective projects through discovery conversations, site visits, preliminary evaluations, scopes, proposals, and follow-up.
• Build productive relationships with consultants, architects, engineers, builders, craftspeople, realtors, and other referral partners.
• Represent Moontower professionally within Austin’s residential design and construction community.

Benefits

• 10 days paid time off.
• 11 paid company holidays.
• Company pays 80% of the employee premium for company-sponsored health insurance.
• Company-sponsored disability insurance.
• Opt-in company phone plan.
• Mileage reimbursement for personal vehicle use.
• Professional licensing and continuing education support.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: No Education Listed