Senior Design Architect - Higher Education

Progressive Companies • Durham, NC

19h • Hybrid

About The Position

As a Senior Design Architect, you will lead and elevate the design vision on medium-to-large-scale projects. You will synthesize design excellence with technical precision, mentor emerging designers, and contribute to shaping our firmwide design culture. Your work will influence how we integrate Performance-Based Design principles with creativity, function, and community impact.

Transforming Spaces. Empowering People.
The talented professionals of Progressive Companies are designers of a bold new future, creating high-performance structures and pathways, delivering on today’s needs and preparing for what’s to come. We live by the idea that design isn’t simply about beauty, it’s about improving strategic outcomes—what we call Performance Based Design. Our work spans across the nation, allowing team members to work on a variety of exciting projects and maximize impact as trusted partners to our clients and communities.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Architecture or equivalent education/experience required for professional licensure; Master’s degree preferred.
• Licensure as a Registered Architect (RA) required; NCARB certification preferred.
• Typically 15 years of post-graduate experience and/or 10 years of experience as a licensed architect.
• Proficiency in Revit or AutoCAD required; additional experience with SketchUp, Adobe Creative Suite, and BSD Spec Link preferred.
• Demonstrated experience mentoring staff, contributing to firmwide design culture, and leading collaborative design processes.

Nice To Haves

• AIA membership and CSI-CDT certification preferred (training available).
• LEED AP BD+C accreditation preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead the architectural design process from concept through execution, ensuring alignment with client vision and project goals.
• Prepare and oversee design documentation including technical drawings, presentations, and 3D renderings.
• Guide and support project teams in the use of Revit, AutoCAD, SketchUp, and Adobe Suite, ensuring high-quality output.
• Coordinate with clients, consultants, vendors, and contractors to align disciplines and maintain design intent.
• Develop work plans and manage deliverables to meet project budget and schedule expectations.
• Ensure technical compliance, QA/QC standards, and alignment with code and Performance Based Design principles.
• Mentor junior architects and participate in firmwide design critiques, initiatives, and competitions.

Benefits

• The firm is continually ranked as one of the Best and Brightest Companies to Work For in the Nation®, with comprehensive benefits including an award-winning wellness program, hybrid work schedule, summer hours, profit-sharing, and employee stock ownership plan (ESOP).
• Progressive Companies is committed to development and growth of team members through continuing education, mentorship, growth opportunities, and more.
• We are dedicated to giving back to our communities, with paid service-learning hours available to every employee and corporate sponsorship for a wide range of community organizations and activities.

What This Job Offers

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