Deceder Group is searching for an Architectural Project Designer // Project Designer with 3 to 6 years of experience to join a talented, close-knit group of architects and interior designers. You will lead programming on smaller jobs, produce construction documents with minimal oversight, and present your own design work to clients. Experience on complex workplace projects and secure space design (SCIF / ICD-705) is a strong plus.
Both titles describe the same role. Architecture candidates hold the architectural title; interior design candidates hold the design title. The titles Architect and Interior Designer are reserved for team members who hold the license or certification.
About Deceder Group
Deceder Group is a next-generation design firm that balances creativity with dependability. We embrace technology exploration, recognize the value of diverse perspectives, and hold ourselves to a high standard—so you can too.
We provide progressive ideas and unwavering trust rooted in a shared desire to return personalized attention and service to the design process. Our teams are built around individual expertise, work ethic, and culture, bringing a distinct experience and result to each unique project. We believe practical solutions don’t need to come at the expense of experimentation and collaboration. Discover the Deceder difference on your next project.
As an expanding firm, there is plenty of room to grow. We support certifications, continuing education, and networking, and every team member has a voice in the firm’s direction. Project types include:
- Commercial Workspaces (professional services, non-profits and associations, tech and corporate headquarters, government contractors, and law firms)
- Secure Spaces (SCIF design to ICD-705) and GSA / Government projects
- Capital Expenditure (spec suites, roof terraces, conference centers, lounges, and building lobby renovations)
- Building Modernization (building additions, façade renovations, and core element reconfiguration)
- Light Medical, Retail, Restaurants, and Hospitality
What you’ll do
- Develop functional requirements and identify design complexities
- Lead programming with clients on smaller jobs; turn their needs into a Program of Requirements, test fits, and a space plan
- Select materials and finish palettes and build the schematic design package; produce renderings for presentations
- Present your own design work in client meetings
- Produce construction documents and pricing notes; adapt standard details to the conditions of each job
- Complete the code analysis: occupancy, plumbing fixture count, travel distance, construction type, and fire ratings
- Coordinate MEP and structural work into the drawings and check that the sets agree
- Review submittals, answer RFIs, make site visits, and write field reports on smaller jobs, with senior review
- Manage several tasks across phases with minimal supervision; flag scheduling conflicts early
- Guide Designers on day-to-day project work and troubleshoot basic technical issues
- Act as a team player in a growing firm by taking on additional responsibilities as needed
What you’ll bring
Experience and education
- 3 to 6 years of experience in an architecture or interior design practice
- Bachelor’s degree in architecture (NAAB-accredited or similar) or interior design (CIDA-accredited or similar)
Technical skills
- Independent in Revit and AutoCAD; can produce a full drawing set for a small tenant fit-out
- Builds schedules and basic families; runs coordination views against consultant models; manages worksets
- Lays out short presentations and finish palette boards in InDesign within brand standards
- Reads a project’s budget and phase status in Monograph; keeps tasks and milestones current on smaller jobs
- Firm tools: Revit 2023 or later (every Deceder Group project is done in Revit), AutoCAD Architecture 2024 or later, Enscape, InDesign, Autodesk Construction Cloud, Monograph, and Microsoft Office
- Familiarity with Claude and other AI tools is a plus; Claude is used on approved firm accounts only
Licensure and certifications
- Architecture path: progressing through AXP across practice areas; preparing for or taking the ARE with firm support
- Interior design path: accumulating hours and sitting the IDFX; NCIDQ preferred or on the path
- LEED or WELL certification encouraged
Business development
- Attend six (6) to eight (8) industry events a year
- Pick one client or industry group, such as CREW, CoreNet, CREDA, CREBA, AIA, or IIDA, and take part regularly
- Follow up with the people you meet and pass leads to your Director
- Supply project information for proposals; take part in pitches, office tours, and presentations
Communication and growth
- Handles routine client, consultant, and contractor correspondence on your jobs
- Keeps the team and client informed before they ask; follows up on open items without reminders
- Prioritizes well, meets deadlines, and adapts when priorities shift
Our values
We look for people who share our five core values: Approachable, Clever, Dependable, Intuitive, and Progressive.
Benefits
- Paid time off with no set annual limit, available from your first day
- Paid company holidays
- Health insurance with a firm contribution toward your premium; dental and vision coverage paid by the firm for employee-only plans
- 401(k) with a company match, starting after six (6) months
- Twelve (12) weeks of paid parental leave at full salary after one year with the firm
- Paid bereavement leave
- Monthly tax-free commuting and parking reimbursement
- Continuing education and certification maintenance paid by the firm; exam fees (ARE, NCIDQ) reimbursed when you pass; a salary increase when you earn a credential such as LEED or WELL
- A current laptop, a work iPhone, and the software you need to do your best work
Deceder Group embraces a hybrid environment, with up to two (2) work-from-home days a week. We believe in the importance of in-person collaboration while balancing the ability to complete other tasks from the location of your choice. Our office is in an exciting and accessible location in the Ballston area of Arlington, complete with snacks, Nespresso, and additional onsite amenities. New team members are expected in the office more often while they get to know the team and our projects.
How to apply
Apply through our LinkedIn job listing, or send your resume and portfolio to Dan Deceder at dan@decedergroup.com.