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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Overview

Open roles1,304+
Top employerNVIDIA
Top citySan Francisco, CA
Cities hiring89
Work type73% On-site
Top industryTechnology

Showing 5 of 1,304+ Architect jobs

Salas O'Brien
Architect
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Salas O'Brien
Added 3w ago
Architect
Salas O'Brien
San Jose, California
Specialized Engineering
Construction Management
Engineering (Non-Software)
$120k - $140k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's
1,001-5,000

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Dell Technologies
Technical Staff, Storage Architect
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Dell Technologies
New 2h ago
Technical Staff, Storage Architect
Dell Technologies
Santa Clara, California
Solutions Engineering & Architecture
Cloud & DevOps
Data Science & Analytics
Specialized Engineering
Engineering (Non-Software)
$264k - $342k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's
10,000+

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Jabil
Principal Solutions Architect
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Jabil
New 2h ago
Principal Solutions Architect
Jabil
San Jose, California
Solutions Engineering & Architecture
Technical Product & Program Management
Specialized Engineering
Engineering (Non-Software)
$144k - $260k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's
10,000+

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Smart IT Frame LLC
Java Architect
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Smart IT Frame LLC
New 3h ago
Java Architect
Smart IT Frame LLC
Irvine, California
Software Engineering
Cloud & DevOps
Technical Product & Program Management
Backend Engineering
Technical Program Management
Hybrid
None

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SanDisk
Product Security Assurance Architect
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SanDisk
New 7h ago
Product Security Assurance Architect
SanDisk
Milpitas, California
Cybersecurity
Technical Product & Program Management
Security Engineering
Technical Program Management
On-Site
Bachelor's
1,001-5,000

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Architect Jobs by City in California

Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.

San Francisco
271 jobs
Santa Clara
197 jobs
San Jose
157 jobs
Los Angeles
84 jobs
Sunnyvale
77 jobs
Irvine
59 jobs
San Diego
58 jobs
Cupertino
33 jobs
Fremont
27 jobs

Architect Job Market in California

A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.

Who's Hiring

  • NVIDIA
    NVIDIA116
  • Apple
    Apple61
  • Qualcomm
    Qualcomm36
  • Google
    Google28
  • Adobe
    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.

See All 1,304+ Architect Jobs in California

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