Senior Architectural Designer

Senior Designer

Company Name: MCG Architecture
Location: Irvine CA
Project Focus: Retail Mixed-Use Hospitality Office Self-Storage Restaurant National Accounts Tenant Improvement Ground-Up Commercial and Branded Environment Projects
Work Setting: Full-Time Collaborative Commercial Architecture Studio
Base Salary: $105000-$140000 annually (DOE)
Total Compensation Package: Estimated total annual compensation package of approximately $131700-$171600 including base salary performance bonuses employer-paid employee health benefits 401(k) match paid time off holidays professional development and career advancement opportunities
Recruited Exclusively By: Luxus Group

Position Overview

This is a strong opportunity for an experienced Senior Designer to lead the creative development of commercial architecture projects within MCG Architectures Irvine this role you will help shape retail mixed-use hospitality office self-storage restaurant and branded commercial projects from early programming and site planning through concept design entitlements design development and transition into technical documentation.

This position is ideal for a concept-driven commercial designer who can translate a developers vision tenant program brand standard or repositioning opportunity into an attractive practical and buildable architectural solution. The strongest fit will enjoy leading design discussions presenting concepts to clients mentoring other designers and collaborating with technical production teams to protect design intent throughout the project lifecycle.

Core Responsibilities

• Lead programming precedent research test fits site-planning studies building massing facade concepts and material selections
• Translate client objectives brand standards leasing goals tenant requirements and operational needs into compelling architectural concepts
• Develop design narratives planning exhibits entitlement graphics renderings and client presentation materials
• Lead or participate in client design meetings entitlement presentations internal design reviews and project coordination discussions
• Coordinate with Project Directors Project Managers Job Captains consultants developers tenants and production teams
• Maintain original design intent as projects transition into construction documentation permitting bidding and construction administration
• Evaluate design concepts against zoning accessibility life-safety constructability cost schedule and jurisdictional requirements
• Provide design direction mentorship and constructive feedback to junior designers and production staff
• Establish appropriate graphic modeling visualization and presentation standards for assigned projects
• Support responses to plan-check comments RFIs substitutions and field conditions requiring design judgment
• Participate in project pursuits client presentations proposal support and business-development activities
• Help develop creative practical and commercially successful design solutions across multiple project types
• Collaborate with technical teams to balance design quality brand identity permitting needs construction budgets and aggressive client schedules

Required Qualifications

• Education: Bachelors or Masters Degree in Architecture or a closely related field
• Experience: Approximately 8-15 years of architectural design experience
• Project Experience: Commercial retail mixed-use hospitality restaurant or branded-environment experience strongly preferred
• Portfolio: Strong portfolio demonstrating concept development site planning facade design material selection visualization and completed projects
• Software: Advanced proficiency in Revit and Adobe Creative Suite
• Design Leadership: Ability to lead creative direction present design concepts and guide projects through early planning and design development
• Technical Awareness: Understanding of California planning entitlement accessibility energy-code and building-code requirements
• Communication: Ability to communicate design concepts clearly to clients consultants jurisdictions and internal teams
• Organization: Strong presentation collaboration organization time-management and follow-through skills
• Commercial Judgment: Ability to balance design creativity with budget schedule leasing tenant visibility circulation and constructability requirements

Preferred Qualifications

• Visualization Tools: Experience with SketchUp Enscape Lumion Rhino or comparable visualization software
• Licensure: Architectural licensure valued but not required for candidates with exceptional design leadership and technical knowledge
• Retail Expertise: Experience with shopping centers grocery-anchored retail national accounts tenant improvements restaurant design or prototype rollout programs
• Entitlements: Experience supporting entitlement graphics planning exhibits jurisdictional presentations and early site-planning studies
• Client Presentations: Experience leading design presentations for developers owners tenants brands or public-review groups
• Mentorship: Experience guiding junior designers architectural staff or production teams
• California Experience: Familiarity with California Building Code Title 24 accessibility local planning departments and entitlement processes
• Growth Mindset: Interest in helping shape the creative direction of a long-standing commercial architecture practice

Project Types

• Ground-up shopping centers and grocery-anchored retail developments
• Retail shell buildings and freestanding commercial pads
• Mixed-use destinations combining retail restaurants office hospitality entertainment and residential uses
• Shopping-center renovations and facade repositioning
• Restaurant and retail tenant improvements
• National retail prototype and rollout programs
• Hospitality and branded commercial environments
• Office and workplace projects
• Self-storage developments
• Adaptive-reuse and building-renovation projects
• Outdoor gathering spaces and pedestrian-oriented commercial centers

Compensation & Benefits

• Base salary of $105000-$140000 depending on experience portfolio licensure and technical capability
• Estimated total annual compensation package of approximately $131700-$171600
• Two performance bonuses each year
• Employer-paid employee health benefits
• 401(k) retirement plan with employer match
• Paid time off and company holidays
• Professional-development and career-advancement opportunities
• Mentorship and leadership growth within a national architecture practice

The estimated package value includes base salary a combined target bonus modeled at 10% of salary an estimated 4% employer 401(k) match and approximately $12000 in employer-paid employee health coverage. Actual value will depend on final plan terms elected coverage and individual and company performance.

About MCG Architecture

Founded in 1927 MCG Architecture is a nationally established commercial architecture firm with offices throughout the United States and architectural licensing coverage in 49 states. The firm specializes in retail mixed-use hospitality restaurant office self-storage land planning national-account renovation tenant-improvement and ground-up commercial development projects.

The Irvine office supports projects throughout California and the Western United States from initial site planning and entitlements through design permitting and construction administration. MCG offers experienced designers the opportunity to lead creative project direction while collaborating with a strong technical team within a long-standing national practice.

About Luxus Group

Luxus Group is a specialized recruiting and talent advisory firm serving the architecture engineering construction and related professional-services industries. Luxus Group is representing MCG Architecture in the identification and recruitment of qualified candidates for this opportunity and will coordinate confidential candidate introductions initial discussions interviews and offer-stage communication.

Keywords

Senior Architectural Designer Senior Designer Design Lead Commercial Design Retail Architecture Mixed-Use Shopping Centers Ground-Up Retail Facade Renovation Retail Repositioning Site Planning Entitlements Design Development Tenant Improvement Hospitality Design Restaurant Design National Accounts Retail Rollouts Revit SketchUp Enscape Lumion Rhino Adobe Creative Suite California Building Code Title 24 ADA Client Presentations Irvine Architecture Jobs California Architecture Jobs MCG Architecture Luxus Group

Required Experience:

Senior IC