Senior Associate/Job Captain (Architecture)

MKThink•Honolulu, HI

4d•Hybrid

About The Position

MKThink is a future-forward design firm grounded in spatial intelligence and dedicated to “build less, solve more.” Our data-informed solutions improve human performance at less operational, environmental, and capital costs than conventional approaches. Founded in 2000, MKThink practices from the Pacific Edge of San Francisco to the Oceanic Edge of O’ahu. At MKThink, we believe that we can play a role in helping create a better and more sustainable future by creating intelligent spaces that improve the quality of life. Our greatest resource is our staff and their ability to contribute fully as teammates and individuals. We bring together thinkers from various disciplines to solve problems at the nexus of architecture, culture, and the environment. Our people have the interdisciplinary skills to contribute to this mission within and across the domains of architecture, strategies, and innovation. MKThink is seeking a highly motivated and technically skilled Senior Associate (Job Captain) to support the development and delivery of architectural projects across a diverse range of sectors, including commercial, civic, education, healthcare, multi-family residential, and mixed-use developments. This role is ideal for an emerging architectural professional who thrives in a collaborative, interdisciplinary environment and is passionate about delivering thoughtful, high-quality technical documentation and project coordination from concept through construction. We are seeking a candidate with at least 3 years of experience in a similar role. The Senior Associate (Job Captain) will serve as a key technical team member, collaborating closely with Project Architects, Project Managers, consultants, and clients to support successful project execution in alignment with MKThink’s design standards, client expectations, schedules, and budget goals. This position requires strong technical proficiency in construction documentation, consultant coordination, BIM/Revit workflows, and construction administration support, as well as the ability to mentor and guide junior staff. The ideal candidate is proactive, detail-oriented, organized, and comfortable managing multiple responsibilities in a fast-paced environment. Experience working with California, Hawaii, and Pacific Island jurisdictions, public agencies, DSA and/or HCAI processes, and multidisciplinary consultant teams is highly valued.

Requirements

Bachelor or Master Degree in Architecture from an accredited program.
Minimum 3+ years of professional architectural experience in a Job Captain or similar technical production role.
Strong experience producing and coordinating construction documents.
Advanced proficiency in Revit within a professional architectural environment.
Working knowledge of construction administration processes and procedures.
Strong understanding of building codes, accessibility requirements, construction methods, and building systems.
Excellent verbal, written, and organizational communication skills.
Ability to manage multiple priorities and work collaboratively in a team environment.
Experience coordinating multidisciplinary consultant teams.
Ability to iterate and test novel ideas

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with campus design, urban design, and landscape architecture
Strong interest in stakeholder engagement and experience
Strong interest in data and database management as a component of the design process
Strong interest in environmental controls, sustainability and supply chain
Spec writing experience
Interest in strategic and contextual analysis in architectural design processes.
California or Hawaii Architectural Registration or active progress toward licensure.
Experience working on projects in California, Hawaii, and/or the Pacific Islands.
Experience with public agency jurisdictions and permitting processes.
DSA and/or HCAI project experience.
LEED Accredited Professional and/or WELL Accreditation.
Experience with sustainable and high-performance building strategies.
Familiarity with healthcare, education, civic, and mixed-use project types.
Additional software proficiency: Rhino, Sketchup, Rendering software such as Lumion, Bluebeam, Adobe software, hand sketching
Familiarity with parametric tools such as Dynamo and Grasshopper.
Curiosity about AI integration into project delivery
Strong technical problem-solving abilities.
Self-motivated and adaptable in a dynamic project environment.
Commitment to design excellence, innovation, and continuous learning.
Demonstrated interest in at least one of the following: The relationship between architecture, the natural environment, and culture. The psychology behind human behavior in the built environment. The impact of built environment solutions on community strength, human health, environmental resiliency, or learning outcomes.

Responsibilities

Support the preparation, coordination, and production of comprehensive architectural construction documents across all project phases.
Collaborate closely with Project Architects and Project Managers to support project planning, technical execution, scheduling, and delivery strategies.
Assist in translating design intent into coordinated and constructible documentation.
Coordinate work produced by internal design teams, engineering consultants, specialty consultants, and contractors.
Assist with drawing organization, technical detailing, constructability coordination, and document consistency.
Participate in project meetings with clients, consultants, contractors, and agency representatives.
Help maintain project schedules and deliverables to support successful project execution.
Support construction administration activities, including shop drawing review, submittal review, RFI review and response, field observations and site visits, coordination with contractors and consultants, and punch list development and closeout support.
Assist in resolving technical and construction-related issues during the construction phase.
Help ensure project documentation accurately reflects field conditions, revisions, and approved changes.
Assist with building code analysis and compliance reviews, including accessibility, life safety, and jurisdictional requirements.
Maintain working knowledge of applicable California and/or Hawaii building codes, ADA requirements, accessibility standards, and local agency review processes.
Apply knowledge of building systems, construction methods, materials, detailing, and industry standards.
Support permitting and agency coordination efforts, including DSA and/or HCAI review processes where applicable.
Utilize Revit with a high level of technical proficiency for documentation, coordination, and model development.
Support implementation and adherence to office BIM standards and workflows.
Coordinate BIM deliverables with internal teams and external consultants.
Assist in troubleshooting technical modeling and documentation issues.
Participate in quality control and quality assurance reviews of drawings, specifications, and consultant coordination documents.
Help identify and resolve technical inconsistencies, coordination conflicts, and constructability concerns early in the project lifecycle.
Support efforts to ensure project documentation meets firm standards, regulatory requirements, and client expectations.
Collaborate with and support junior architectural staff and emerging professionals.
Foster a collaborative and inclusive studio environment focused on growth, accountability, and continuous improvement.
Provide peer support related to technical documentation, project workflows, and production coordination.
Participate in team coordination and project resource discussions as needed.
Ability to work independently, prioritize effectively, and seek support when needed.
Demonstrates kindness and actively supports colleagues.
Stay informed on emerging design trends, technologies, sustainability initiatives, and evolving building codes.
Pursue ongoing professional development opportunities, certifications, and licensure progression.
Contribute to office initiatives, process improvements, and technical standards development.