Architect Jobs in California
Architect jobs in California are among the most active in the country, concentrated in commercial development, public infrastructure, healthcare facility design, and sustainable residential construction, with openings at every level from intern architect through principal and project manager. Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego are the largest hiring centers, where firms like Gensler, AECOM, and HOK maintain major California offices and consistently bring on design talent. The most in-demand specialties are sustainable design, mixed-use commercial, and urban infill residential. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Architect
At Salas O’Brien we tell our clients that we’re engineered for impact. This passion for making a difference applies just as much to our team as it does to our projects. That’s why we’re committed to living our values every day: inspiring, achieving, and connecting as shared owners of our success with a focus on a sustainable future.
Building for the long-term means that all of our team members can expect to work on amazing projects with a people-first approach to problem solving. It also means that each member of our team has truly limitless potential to build a unique, meaningful, and high-impact career—and they’ll receive great total rewards along the way.
About us:
Founded in 1975, Salas O’Brien is an employee-owned engineering and professional services firm focused on achieving impact for our clients, our team, and the world. We know that tomorrow’s requirements are today’s opportunities, and we are here to design lasting solutions for pressing challenges.
We work across a variety of industries providing integrated engineering and consulting services. Our specialized experience includes design for data centers, healthcare, science and technology, high-rise buildings, clean energy, education, and other building types as well as structural and building sciences, infrastructure asset management, advanced robotics, and more.
Our technical expertise is paired with an exceptional team of business development, human resources, finance and accounting, information technology, and marketing professionals, all of whom play a key role in bringing our commitments to life every day.
Job Responsibilities:
Here are the details of your duties in your primary role:
- Coordinate with a team of professionals performing highly technical commercial design projects across multiple geographic regions.
- Lead client meetings and provide other communications to maintain good client relationships through attentive and result-oriented service.
- Develop project priorities and schedules for program deliverables, review meetings with key stakeholders, and bidding / construction procurement.
- Provide team training and Quality Control / Assurance reviews to efficiently develop & deliver highly consistent documents to all program stakeholders.
- Support the construction process by timely response to RFI’s, review of submittals, processing approved change orders, and monthly draw requests.
- Learning, applying and improving client standards.
- Perform site visits upon client request or based on project requirements.
- Perform building assessments.
Qualifications and Experience:
To succeed in this role, you are required to meet the following requirements:
- California Licensed Architect.
- Accredited Architectural Degree or equivalent.
- Ideal candidates will have 10 years of experience, including design, construction documents, and construction administration.
- Strong skills and work experience in AutoCAD is a MUST. Revit experience is a plus.
- Applicant must provide a portfolio with project examples of similar work experience.
- U.S. Citizenship or Permanent Resident Work Authorization Required.
Attributes of Top Performers
If you have some of the following characteristics and experience, you would be an especially good fit:
- Experience with renovations of various building types and applying applicable building codes and ADA requirements.
- Knowledge of fire resistive designs and egress analysis for existing buildings.
- Experience in elevator designs.
- Working closely and in collaboration with State Fire Marshals and other AHJ type inspectors.
- Excellent organizational skills and an extremely high level of attention to detail.
- Excellent written and verbal communications.
- Excellent problem-solving skills.
- Excellent teamwork and collaboration skills.
- Effective at handling multiple tasks.
- Able to learn quickly and adapt to changes.
- Able to demonstrate a high standard of professionalism, customer service oriented.
Travel: 20%
Location: San Jose, CA
Compensation & Benefits:
The expected base salary range for this role is $120,000 - $140,000 USD per year. Actual compensation will be determined based on a number of factors including skills, experience, qualifications, and location.
This role is also eligible for performance-based bonuses and a comprehensive U.S. based benefits package, including:
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
- 401(k) with company match.
- Paid time off and company holidays.
- Wellness programs and employee assistance resources.
- Professional development support.
For more information, visit our full benefits overview here.
Equal Opportunity Employment Statement
Salas O’Brien provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state/provincial, or local laws. Salas O’Brien will accommodate the disability-related needs of applicants as required by law.
Third-Party Agency Notice
Salas O’Brien does not accept unsolicited resumes from external recruiters or agencies. We only work with approved partners engaged directly by our Talent Acquisition team for specific searches. Unsolicited submissions will not be eligible for placement fees.
Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.
See All 1,304+ Architect Jobs in California
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Find Architect JobsArchitect Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Architect Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- NVIDIA116

- Apple61

- Qualcomm36

- Google28

- Adobe27

Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software583
- Electronics & Hardware262
- Construction & Real Estate113
- Consulting & Professional Services111
- Manufacturing50
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in architect jobs across California.
- Active California Architect license issued by the California Architects Board required
- Professional degree in architecture from a NAAB-accredited program required
- Completion of the Architectural Experience Program hours strongly preferred or required
- Proficiency in Revit, AutoCAD, and BIM coordination workflows expected
- Experience with California Building Code, Title 24 energy compliance, and CEQA preferred
- Strong project management skills and client communication experience valued in senior roles
Architect Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a architect in California?
You become a licensed architect in California by earning a professional degree from a NAAB-accredited program, completing your Architectural Experience Program hours, and passing all divisions of the Architect Registration Examination. The California Architects Board issues the state license. California also requires applicants to pass the California Supplemental Examination, which covers state-specific code and practice requirements before full licensure is granted.
How much do architects make in California?
Architects in California earn a median of about $108,540 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $75,640 for the lowest 10% to over $171,160 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire architects in California?
Employers hiring architects in California right now include NVIDIA, Apple, and Qualcomm, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of June 2026. California's concentration of large public agencies, healthcare systems, and global design firms means demand is distributed across both private practice and institutional clients.
Which California cities have the most architect jobs?
San Francisco, Santa Clara, and San Jose have the most architect openings in California. Los Angeles and San Francisco drive the bulk of demand through their large commercial development pipelines, public works programs, and headquarters of major national design firms, while San Diego contributes consistently through defense-related facilities, biotech campuses, and healthcare construction projects.
Are there remote architect jobs in California?
Yes, but they're rare. About 27% of architect openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of June 2026, reflecting the hands-on, site-dependent nature of most architecture work. The roles most likely to offer remote flexibility are in schematic design, BIM coordination, construction document production, and project administration rather than site supervision or client-facing project management.
How can I get hired as a architect in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is an intern architect or architectural designer role, which large California firms like Gensler, AECOM, and public agencies such as Los Angeles County Public Works advertise specifically for recent graduates. Building your Architectural Experience Program hours through these roles is the standard ladder. Candidates who strengthen their position do so by completing their ARE divisions early, building a portfolio that includes California-specific project types like mixed-use or Title 24-compliant residential, and targeting firms with formal graduate development programs.
Where can I find and apply to architect jobs in California?
You can find and apply to architect jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from employers hiring in the state right now. Search the listings, find roles that fit your experience and specialty, and apply directly to the ones that match.
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