Senior Interior Designer SD

Carrier Johnson + Culture•San Diego, CA

About The Position

At Carrier Johnson + Culture (CJ+C), we are fueled by creativity, curiosity, and collaboration. Our team champions a user-first approach that pushes design boundaries and fosters innovation. Our work spans hospitality, multifamily residential, mixed-use, workplace, civic, and commercial projects of varying scales and complexities, delivered through collaboration, design excellence, and thoughtful leadership. As a Senior Interior Designer, you will partner with clients, design leaders, project managers, and interdisciplinary teams to shape compelling environments that elevate user experience and strengthen community connection. Your Role As a Senior Interior Designer at CJ+C, you will lead the creative vision and experiential direction of interior projects from early concept through design development. You will play a central role in shaping project narratives, guiding design strategy, and translating client aspirations into thoughtful, high-impact environments. With 10+ years of experience, you are recognized for exceptional design sensibility, strong conceptual thinking, and the ability to communicate ideas with clarity and influence. You bring expertise across hospitality, multifamily residential, and workplace or higher education interiors, paired with the confidence to lead presentations, guide stakeholder conversations, and contribute to competitive pursuits. Your leadership elevates project outcomes, inspires teams, and strengthens the broader design culture of the studio. You will collaborate closely with architectural and interdisciplinary design leadership to develop integrated project solutions that connect interior experience, architecture, and placemaking into a cohesive vision from the inside out and the outside in.

Requirements

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Interior Design, Interior Architecture, or Architecture from an accredited university required.
10+ years of professional experience in interior design, with strong experience in hospitality, multifamily residential, and workplace or higher education interiors preferred.
Exceptional portfolio demonstrating concept-driven design, spatial storytelling, and high-quality built work across multiple project phases.
Strong presentation and communication skills, with experience leading client presentations, workshops, stakeholder meetings, and pursuit interviews.
Experience contributing to RFQ and RFP pursuits, including presentation development and design strategy.
Advanced proficiency in Revit, SketchUp, Enscape, Adobe Creative Suite, and visualization workflows.
Strong understanding of materials, finishes, FF&E integration, and experiential design principles.
Understanding of sustainable design principles, wellness-focused environments, and certifications such as LEED or WELL preferred.
Ability to collaborate effectively across multidisciplinary teams and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
Strong design judgment, organizational skills, and attention to detail.

Nice To Haves

NCIDQ certification preferred.
Licensed Architect is a plus, particularly for candidates with integrated architecture and interiors experience.

Responsibilities

Lead interior design efforts across programming, conceptual design, schematic design, and design development phases.
Develop compelling design narratives, spatial concepts, and user experience strategies that align with client goals and project vision.
Collaborate closely with architectural and interdisciplinary design teams to ensure interior environments are holistically integrated with the overall building design and project vision.
Lead design presentations, workshops, and stakeholder engagement sessions, clearly communicating design intent and fostering alignment across client and user groups.
Contribute to RFQ, RFP, and interview pursuits through design visioning, storytelling, presentation development, and strategic input.
Lead space planning, material palettes, FF&E concepts, and experiential design strategies, particularly within hospitality and multifamily residential environments.
Collaborate closely with Project Managers, Project Architects, and technical teams to ensure continuity between design intent and project execution.
Partner with consultants, fabricators, vendors, and specialty collaborators to support innovative and integrated design solutions.
Create and direct high-quality visual communication materials including renderings, diagrams, mood boards, and presentation packages.
Participate in user group meetings and stakeholder workshops, helping synthesize feedback into clear and compelling design responses.
Support sustainable and wellness-focused design strategies that enhance environmental performance and occupant experience.
Mentor and guide junior and intermediate designers, fostering creativity, collaboration, and professional growth.
Contribute to the evolution of CJ+C's design culture through thought leadership, curiosity, and a commitment to design excellence.