Residential Architect

Character Companies•Alexandria, VA

About The Position

Join a growing home builder where you'll collaborate with a small, high-performing team that values craftsmanship, accountability, and efficient design. You'll receive competitive compensation along with profit-sharing, giving you a direct stake in the company's success. Unlike traditional architecture firms, you'll work directly with the builder and see your designs come to life in a streamlined, production-focused environment. As the company grows, you'll have the opportunity to expand your influence, help shape our home designs, and truly own the product you design. Day-to-day, you will design custom homes and model homes from concept through construction drawings, creating floor plans, elevations, and detailed architectural plans ready for permitting and construction. A key part of the role will be developing model home plans and multiple exterior elevations that can be used across different communities and lots. You will meet with clients when needed to customize plans or adapt designs to specific sites and homeowner preferences. You'll collaborate closely with our interior design and construction teams to ensure homes are efficient to build, structurally sound, and aligned with budgets. The role also includes preparing permit drawings, coordinating with local jurisdictions, and supporting the team with architectural details during construction when questions arise. By designing efficient model homes, multiple elevations, and build-ready construction plans, this role helps the company deliver high-quality homes consistently while improving build efficiency and scalability. Clear, well-coordinated architectural plans reduce construction issues, accelerate permitting and production timelines, and support the company's goals for growth, profitability, and customer satisfaction. Character Companies is a home builder dedicated to designing and building high-quality homes with timeless architecture and exceptional craftsmanship. We guide our clients through a clear, organized building process while delivering homes that are both beautiful and built to last. Our team operates by three core values: Fail Forward (we learn and improve quickly), Figure It Out (we take ownership and solve problems), and Fuel the Vibe (we bring positive energy and strong teamwork to everything we do). By combining thoughtful design with disciplined construction, we create an outstanding experience for our clients from concept to completion.

Responsibilities

Model Home Plan Development Design model home floor plans and base architectural packages that can be reused across projects.
Exterior Elevation Design Create multiple exterior elevations for each model home to provide architectural variety across homes and communities.
Permit-Ready Construction Drawings Produce accurate architectural plans that move smoothly through permitting and construction.
Site-Specific Plan Adjustments Modify model home designs to fit specific lots, zoning requirements, and homeowner needs.