Designer I

Life at PE:

Perkins Eastman is a global architectural design practice with expertise in all aspects of the built environment, working at all scales, and at every level of detail. With studios in twenty-six locations worldwide, we design for people, to leave a lasting and positive impact on the human experience and the world we inhabit. This is captured in our ethos "human by design".

We believe design is a collaborative art and we are structured as integrated practice of passionate professionals committed to delivering the best design for our clients. Our team of diverse and complementary talents work together in studios, that can draw from relevant expertise and points of view from across the whole practice to analyze and solve the specific design challenges they are working on. Within the firm we have 18 practice areas, cores of expertise, that focus as centers of knowledge and analysis, that are both an essential foundation and fuel for the creative design work. Sustainability is intrinsic to our design approach. It is an essential ingredient for the design teams throughout the process, adding valuable insights, ideas, and research to the process. For us all good design is sustainable.

The Opportunity:

We are looking for a creative and design-focused Architectural Designer (Architect I) to join our team in our Chicago office. The ideal candidate is passionate about developing innovative architectural solutions and translating ideas into compelling drawings, layouts, and visual presentations. You will work on projects of moderate size and complexity, applying both conceptual and technical design skills and demonstrating strong critical thinking to create functional and aesthetically engaging spaces.

In this role, you will take ownership of key design tasks, including developing architectural drawings, plans, and layouts, conducting planning and occupancy studies, and preparing project specifications. You will analyze design concepts, apply critical and analytical reasoning to evaluate options, and compile and interpret relevant data. Your work will help shape the vision of each project while ensuring compliance with industry standards and regulations.

Collaboration is central to this position. You will work closely with senior architects and project teams to refine designs, participate in design reviews, and contribute to client presentations. This role is perfect for a designer who is eager to grow, think critically and creatively, experiment with new ideas, and play an active role in delivering innovative and high-quality architectural solutions.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with the project team to develop bold, innovative architectural concepts and translate them into drawings, models, and presentations.
• Create schematic proposals, layouts, and 3D design models in Revit or other digital tools, bringing conceptual ideas to life for client review and feedback.
• Explore and test design solutions through hand sketches, diagrams, and iterative modeling, ensuring the design vision is clear and compelling.
• Assist in producing construction drawings and detailing that maintain the integrity of the original design intent.
• Contribute to construction administration by reviewing shop drawings and tracking submittals, ensuring design quality throughout the project lifecycle.
• Develop material boards, physical models, and immersive graphic presentations that communicate design intent with clarity and creativity.
• Support projects across all phases—from early conceptual design to construction documents—actively shaping and refining the aesthetic and functional quality of each project.

Required qualifications:

• Bachelor or master’s degree in architecture
• Minimum of 3 to 5 years’ relevant work experience

Additional Qualifications and Skills:

• Strong communication, graphics, organization, technical and written skills
• Demonstrated experience in and readiness to lead the design of projects.
• Ability to prioritize and manage their design time on multiple projects.
• Able to demonstrate proficiency with Revit, Affinity Suite, and other related design software. Rhino, Enscape, and interest in Ai related design software is a plus.
• LEED Accreditation preferred
• Certification as a licensed professional or on path to licensure

What we offer you:

• Comprehensive medical, dental and vision coverage
• 401k Options
• PTO
• Company Paid Holidays
• Life Insurance
• Pre-tax commuter benefits
• Professional Development
• Competitive salary

Please include a cover letter, resume and/or portfolio (Adobe PDF preferred).

PE has a hybrid policy that allows flexibility for our employees in managing their working days and hours to cater to their diverse needs.

Salary Range: $65.5k to $71k

Compensation may vary based on the job level and your geographical work location.

Perkins Eastman is an affirmative action, equal opportunity employer and a participant in the U.S. Federal E-Verify program. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information