Senior Architect (Engineer IV)

$5,000 signing bonus for new merit county employees.

About the role

This position serves as a technical expert overseeing architectural design and space management activities. Leads and guides design professionals in planning, designing, and delivering interior retrofit projects for commercial buildings, including producing and stamping architectural drawings. Supervises a team of 2 or more employees and works under the principal architect of the department. Provides professional support across more than 230 county-owned and designated leased facilities totaling over 11 million square feet.

Leveraging deep technical expertise, strong design capabilities, attention to detail, and a commitment to quality control, develops and reviews reports, contract drawings, specifications, schedules, and budgets for space management and architectural projects. Ensures timely completion of assigned projects while maintaining the department’s quality standards and adhering to industry best practices. Ensures that designs and projects are financially and operationally viable, delivered efficiently, and aligned with the strategic needs of the department.

This position is designated an essential employee.

Responsibilities

• Oversee a wide range of architectural design and space management activities.
• Lead and guide design professionals in planning, designing, and delivering interior retrofit projects for commercial buildings.
• Produce and stamp architectural drawings.
• Supervise a team of 2 or more employees.
• Develop and review reports, contract drawings, specifications, schedules, and budgets for space management and architectural projects.
• Ensure timely completion of assigned projects while maintaining quality standards and adhering to industry best practices.
• Ensure designs and projects are financially and operationally viable, delivered efficiently, and aligned with strategic department needs.
• Demonstrate experience producing contract documents.
• Interpret and apply building codes and regulations.
• Read building architectural and engineering plans.
• Manage a complex portfolio of commercial buildings, including development of contracts using Revit or AutoCAD, authoring scope of work, financial oversight, design development, submittal approval, RFI responses, construction quality, safety performance, oversight of quality metrics, firm/contractor selection and oversight, project documentation, project schedule, and risk mitigation.
• Stamp drawings for commercial building complex interior retrofits.
• Respond to permit comments, code-related comments, or AHJ-related comments with written responses.
• Supervise or manage team members.

Requirements

• Graduation from a four-year college or university accredited by the Accreditation Board of Engineering and Technologies with a bachelor's degree in the appropriate engineering or architectural field.
• Four years of progressively responsible professional experience in the appropriate engineering or architectural field.
• Valid driver’s license.
• Possession of a valid Virginia Professional Engineer or Architect license is required. An individual who possesses a valid Registered Architect license in another state will be granted a temporary exemption of a maximum of six months pending the Virginia Board for Architects decision regarding reciprocity.
• Completion of a criminal background check and driving record check to the satisfaction of the employer.

Preferred Qualifications

• Seven or more years of demonstrated history directly responsible and accountable for management and supervision of full performance space planning design and construction projects in occupied buildings greater than 100,000 gross sq. ft., including low-rise and high-rise (5 stories or more) buildings with individual project budgets over $500,000 involving multiple trades.
• Seven or more years of demonstrated history in interpreting and applying building codes and regulations.
• Seven or more years of project management experience as a licensed architect for a complex portfolio of commercial buildings.
• Five years of experience stamping drawings for commercial building complex interior retrofits.
• Seven or more years of demonstrated history of responding to permit comments, code-related comments, or AHJ-related comments with written responses.
• Seven or more years as a supervisor or manager overseeing other team members.
• Graduation from a four-year college or university with a recognized accredited professional degree program and receipt of a bachelor’s degree in architecture or master’s degree in architecture.
• Registration with NCARB is preferred.
• Proficiency in reading architectural, structural, and engineering plans.

Physical Requirements

• Access facility equipment and equipment rooms.
• Mobile to access active construction sites.
• Wear personal safety equipment, including safety shoes, ear protection, safety glasses, and hardhat.
• Ability to climb ladders, access tight spaces, crawl, reach, lift 25 lbs., push 25 lbs., etc.
• Dexterity to use hand tools.
• Vision to see detailed drawings, construction, and discern color.
• Drive a motor vehicle.
• Communicate with others verbally and in writing.

All duties performed with or without reasonable accommodations.