Mid Level - Urban Designer

Sasaki Associates•Los Angeles, CA

4d•$86,000 - $100,000•Onsite

About The Position

Sasaki is seeking a mid-level Urban Designer with 3–6 years of relevant experience to contribute to urban design and master planning projects in the United States and internationally. Based in the Los Angeles office, the role is part of Sasaki’s Planning and Urban Design practice and involves close collaboration with planners, landscape architects, architects, and other urban designers. The designer will work across geographies and project types, including college and university campuses, urban and mixed-use districts, new communities, research and innovation districts, corporate employment campuses, design competitions, corridor studies, and regional strategies. Project locations may include the United States, Latin America, China, Vietnam, India, and other Asia-Pacific countries. Candidates should bring strong graphic, design, and communication skills and an eagerness to learn. The position involves contributing throughout the design process, developing analytical and conceptual materials, initiating design concepts with guidance from senior and principal designers, mentoring staff-level urban designers, and presenting ideas in internal and client meetings. Sasaki offers resources for career development, including in-house training, mentoring, professional association memberships, and licensing examination reimbursement.

Requirements

Master’s degree in Urban Design with a background in Architecture or Landscape.
At least 3 years of professional experience as an urban designer in a design firm; experience in a public agency or other organization may also be considered.
Ability to work enthusiastically and collaboratively in teams.
Excellent design talent, graphic communication, and visual storytelling skills.
Strong technical understanding of urban design, including placemaking, urban form, and building typologies.
Passion for sustainable and resilient design.
Experience working as part of an interdisciplinary design team in an office setting.
Willingness to contribute ideas in a team setting.
Demonstrated ability to work on multiple projects and tasks simultaneously.
Curiosity and enthusiasm for working across a variety of client and project types.
Experience with 2D and 3D software, including AutoCAD, Rhino, and/or SketchUp.
Expertise with Adobe Suite workflow, including AI, PSD, and INDD.

Nice To Haves

Proficiency in languages spoken in frequent project locations, such as Spanish, Chinese, or Vietnamese.
Organizational and management skills, with attention to detail.
Familiarity with spatial analysis workflows and software such as ArcGIS.
Experience with programming, Python, Grasshopper, or similar programs.
Experience with community engagement processes and public speaking.
Quantitative and qualitative analysis skills to support data-informed planning processes.
A design perspective informed by lived experience that is under-represented in urban design.
Relevant experience in ecology, real estate development, campus planning, or mobility planning.
A distinctive additional skill or strength that could make an impact on projects and the practice.

Responsibilities

Participate in all aspects of the design process, including analysis, conceptual ideas, design development, client presentations, and documentation.
Create 2D and 3D analytical and conceptual drawings, graphics, presentation materials, research, and digital models.
Initiate urban design concepts and visual graphics with guidance from senior and principal urban designers.
Work with and mentor staff-level urban designers in developing urban design concepts and graphics.
Present design ideas during internal team and client meetings.
Collaborate with a variety of teams and contribute to projects across different types and geographies.