Architectural Designer Jobs in California
Architectural designer jobs in California are among the most active in the country, concentrated in commercial development, residential design, urban infill, and tech-campus projects, with openings at every level from entry-level drafters to senior project designers. Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego are the largest hiring markets, home to firms like Gensler, HOK, and Skidmore Owings and Merrill, all of which maintain substantial California studios. The most in-demand specialties right now are sustainable design, mixed-use development, and adaptive reuse, reflecting both state building code priorities and client demand. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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About Us
SLObispo Remodelers, LLC is a licensed general contractor (CSLB #1114943) serving San Luis Obispo County. We handle remodels, additions, ADUs, and new construction, and we’re growing our in-house pre-construction team so we can take projects from first walkthrough to permit-ready plans. We’re looking for a talented designer to own the drafting and design side of that process.
What You’ll Do
- Produce design development drawings and permit-ready construction document sets in Revit for remodels, additions, ADUs, and custom homes
- Build accurate existing-conditions (as-built) models from site measurements and 3D scans
- Work alongside our pre-construction team, sales team, and consulting engineers to turn client goals into buildable plans
- Respond to plan check comments and manage revisions through the county and city permitting process
- Prepare drawings and 3D views that help clients visualize and make decisions on their project
- Visit job sites to measure, scan, and verify conditions
What We’re Looking For
- Advanced proficiency in Revit (families, views, sheets, schedules, and full CD sets)
- A strong portfolio of residential architectural work (required with your application)
- Solid understanding of residential construction and California building code
- Detail oriented, organized, and able to manage several projects at once
- Clear communicator who can work directly with clients and our field team
Big Plus, But Not Required
- Experience capturing Matterport scans and turning scan data into accurate as-built models
- Architecture license, or actively working toward one
- Experience with SLO County permitting
Why Join Us
- Steady, year-round workload across a wide variety of project types
- A direct hand in shaping a growing pre-construction program
- See your designs get built by our own crews
- Respectful, professional team
How to Apply
Submit your resume along with a link to your portfolio (or a PDF). Applications without a portfolio will not be considered.
SLObispo Remodelers LLC, CSLB License #1114943
Pay: $35.00 - $45.00 per hour
Application Question(s):
- Please provide a link to your portfolio.
- Do you have a valid driver’s license and reliable transportation for site visits?
- Have you produced a full permit-ready construction document set in Revit from start to finish?
- Which project types have you designed or drafted?
Describe a residential project in your portfolio you’re proudest of and what your role was.
- Have you created Revit families, schedules, and sheet sets yourself, or mainly worked inside existing templates?
- Have you responded to plan check comments and taken a project through to permit approval?
- Have you captured Matterport (or other 3D) scans and used the scan data to build as-built models?
- Do you hold an architecture license, or are you on the licensure path (AXP or ARE)?
- Do you have experience with California residential code (CRC, Title 24)?
- Have you worked with SLO County or local city building departments?
- The pay range for this role is $35 to $45 per hour. Does that work for you?
- When could you start?
Experience:
- Revit: 3 years (Required)
Ability to Commute:
- Grover Beach, CA 93433 (Required)
Work Location: In person
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Architectural Designer Job Market in California
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Who's Hiring



Top Industries Hiring
- Construction & Real Estate
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in architectural designer jobs across California.
- Licensure as a California Architect or active progress toward California Architects Board registration preferred
- Bachelor's or master's degree in architecture from an NAAB-accredited program required
- Proficiency in Revit, AutoCAD, and BIM workflows required for most roles
- Portfolio demonstrating completed commercial, residential, or mixed-use project work
- Familiarity with California Building Code and Title 24 energy compliance standards
- Strong verbal and written communication skills for client presentations and agency submittals
Architectural Designer Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a architectural designer in California?
Most architectural designer roles in California require at minimum a bachelor's degree in architecture from a program accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board. Candidates pursuing licensure register with the California Architects Board and complete the Architectural Experience Program before sitting for the Architect Registration Examination. Even without full licensure, designers working under a licensed architect can qualify for many positions, and a strong portfolio of California-relevant project types, especially those involving Title 24 compliance and sustainable design, meaningfully strengthens candidacy.
How much do architectural designers make in California?
Architectural designers in California earn a median of about $76,520 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $49,850 for the lowest 10% to over $114,600 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire architectural designers in California?
Employers hiring architectural designers in California right now include Harley Ellis Devereaux, Thornton Tomasetti, and DC BUILDERS, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. California's concentration of large commercial developers, healthcare systems, and technology campuses means demand is spread across corporate, institutional, and private-practice settings throughout the state.
Which California cities have the most architectural designer jobs?
San Diego, Los Angeles, and Irvine have the most architectural designer openings in California. Los Angeles leads because of its scale and volume of commercial, entertainment, and mixed-use development, while San Francisco and San Diego draw openings through tech-campus projects, healthcare expansion, and urban infill work anchored by major firms and institutional clients based in each metro.
Are there remote architectural designer jobs in California?
Yes, but they are less common than in purely analytical fields, since much of the work involves site visits, consultant coordination, and hands-on model review. About 57% of architectural designer openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, and those positions tend to concentrate the remote component on schematic design, documentation, and rendering work rather than construction administration phases.
How can I get hired as a architectural designer in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is applying to large California architecture firms and design-build developers that run structured internship or new-graduate cohort programs, including firms like Gensler and AECOM, which regularly bring on designers at the junior level through campus recruiting. Adjacent roles such as architectural drafter, CAD technician, or design coordinator are common stepping stones at development companies and general contractors across Los Angeles and the Bay Area. Enrolling in the California Architects Board's Architectural Experience Program early and building a portfolio that includes Title 24 or sustainable design work gives candidates a meaningful edge.
Where can I find and apply to architectural designer jobs in California?
You can find and apply to architectural designer jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings across commercial, residential, and institutional sectors. Find roles that fit your experience and specialty and apply directly through each listing.
See All 31 Architectural Designer Jobs in California
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