Architect Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
Licensed architects have a clear path to H-1B visa sponsorship since architecture is explicitly recognized as a specialty occupation. Large architecture firms like Gensler, SOM, and HOK sponsor regularly, and so do real estate developers with in-house design teams. TN visas are available for Canadian and Mexican architects specifically. The main caveat is that entry-level positions are harder to sponsor for, so having licensure or progress toward ARE exams makes a real difference. For detailed occupation requirements, see the O*NET profile.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
DLR Group is an integrated design firm with a promise to elevate the human experience through design. This fuels the work we do around the world and inspires our mission to improve the lives of our clients, our communities, and our planet. If this sparks your interest, you're in the right place.
DLR Group's Cleveland Office has an opening for an Architect. We operate within a hybrid work model, supporting flexibility between office time and work from home.
Position Summary
As a key contributor to our design team, you will be responsible for the day-to-day design and technical development of projects. You will coordinate all aspects of project documentation and delivery, working closely with our integrated design team to produce high-quality work while ensuring adherence to project schedules, budgets, and work plans.
As part of our integrated design team, you create buildings that elevate the human experience through design. You will partner directly with the Project Manager to ensure the financial health of the project, the quality of project documents, claim prevention, team collaboration, and communication. Additionally, you will lead the cross-functional design disciplines in developing technical solutions.
Our Atlanta studio is experiencing exciting growth, creating opportunities to work on purposeful, design-driven projects alongside a passionate and collaborative team. Here, you'll be empowered to shape meaningful work, build strong relationships, and take your career to the next level in a studio that values creativity, impact, and people. We are looking for someone who is entrepreneurial and enthusiastic about great design with great people. We are seeking an architect who is a team player and embodies integrity, intelligence, curiosity, and critical thinking. The right candidate will be a well-rounded design professional who is actively involved in all phases of design across a wide variety of project types, scales, and locations.
What you will do:
- Develop creative and technically sound solutions to design challenges, ensuring high standards of design excellence
- Coordinate project drawings, specifications, and documentation with the project team, ensuring alignment with design intent and budget
- Lead collaboration within project teams, generating innovative design ideas and solutions
- Apply advanced architectural concepts to projects, including complex assignments requiring new or improved techniques
- Integrate QA/QC procedures and practice standards into project deliverables, resolving any issues
- Ensure BIM standards are applied and coordinate with the Project Manager and BIM Manager
- Provide technical guidance to less experienced staff, fostering a collaborative learning environment
- Meet project deliverable deadlines and manage time effectively to maintain project schedules and work plans
- Participate in client presentations and contribute to successful project outcomes
Required Qualifications:
- Bachelor's Degree in Architecture (Graduate degree not required unless mandated by local licensure regulations)
- Minimum of six years of professional experience in architecture
- Professional licensure required; LEED AP and other certifications preferred but not required
- Proficient in Revit, Bluebeam, SketchUp, Rendering Software, Microsoft Office Suite, and Adobe Suite
- Competent in technical design, with the ability to investigate, evaluate, and recommend solutions that meet client needs
- Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to multitask and maintain quality standards
- Demonstrates initiative, problem-solving skills, and a commitment to continuous learning
*TO BE CONSIDERED, PLEASE SUBMIT CURRENT PORTFOLIO/WORK SAMPLES IN PDF FORMAT*
DLR Group is an integrated design firm delivering architecture, engineering, interiors, planning, and building optimization for new builds, renovations, and adaptive reuse projects.
We are 100% employee-owned: every employee is literally invested in our clients' success. At the core of our firm are interdisciplinary teams engaged in every step of project lifecycles. Our teams champion true collaboration, open information sharing, shared risk and reward, value-based decision making, and proficient use of technology to deliver exceptional design. We are pursuing the goals of the 2030 Challenge, the ME2040, and the SE2050, and are an initial signatory of the China Accord and the AIA 2030 Commitment.
Through our values – commitment, creativity, environmental stewardship, fun, integrity, ownership, sharing, teamwork – we elevate the human experience through design, together.
DLR Group follows a four-day in-office work model, with employees having the flexibility to work somewhere other than the office on Fridays.
We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/M/F/Veteran/Disabled employer.
INTRODUCTION
DLR Group is an integrated design firm with a promise to elevate the human experience through design. This fuels the work we do around the world and inspires our mission to improve the lives of our clients, our communities, and our planet. If this sparks your interest, you're in the right place.
DLR Group's Cleveland Office has an opening for an Architect. We operate within a hybrid work model, supporting flexibility between office time and work from home.
Position Summary
As a key contributor to our design team, you will be responsible for the day-to-day design and technical development of projects. You will coordinate all aspects of project documentation and delivery, working closely with our integrated design team to produce high-quality work while ensuring adherence to project schedules, budgets, and work plans.
As part of our integrated design team, you create buildings that elevate the human experience through design. You will partner directly with the Project Manager to ensure the financial health of the project, the quality of project documents, claim prevention, team collaboration, and communication. Additionally, you will lead the cross-functional design disciplines in developing technical solutions.
Our Atlanta studio is experiencing exciting growth, creating opportunities to work on purposeful, design-driven projects alongside a passionate and collaborative team. Here, you'll be empowered to shape meaningful work, build strong relationships, and take your career to the next level in a studio that values creativity, impact, and people. We are looking for someone who is entrepreneurial and enthusiastic about great design with great people. We are seeking an architect who is a team player and embodies integrity, intelligence, curiosity, and critical thinking. The right candidate will be a well-rounded design professional who is actively involved in all phases of design across a wide variety of project types, scales, and locations.
What you will do:
- Develop creative and technically sound solutions to design challenges, ensuring high standards of design excellence
- Coordinate project drawings, specifications, and documentation with the project team, ensuring alignment with design intent and budget
- Lead collaboration within project teams, generating innovative design ideas and solutions
- Apply advanced architectural concepts to projects, including complex assignments requiring new or improved techniques
- Integrate QA/QC procedures and practice standards into project deliverables, resolving any issues
- Ensure BIM standards are applied and coordinate with the Project Manager and BIM Manager
- Provide technical guidance to less experienced staff, fostering a collaborative learning environment
- Meet project deliverable deadlines and manage time effectively to maintain project schedules and work plans
- Participate in client presentations and contribute to successful project outcomes
Required Qualifications:
- Bachelor's Degree in Architecture (Graduate degree not required unless mandated by local licensure regulations)
- Minimum of six years of professional experience in architecture
- Professional licensure required; LEED AP and other certifications preferred but not required
- Proficient in Revit, Bluebeam, SketchUp, Rendering Software, Microsoft Office Suite, and Adobe Suite
- Competent in technical design, with the ability to investigate, evaluate, and recommend solutions that meet client needs
- Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to multitask and maintain quality standards
- Demonstrates initiative, problem-solving skills, and a commitment to continuous learning
*TO BE CONSIDERED, PLEASE SUBMIT CURRENT PORTFOLIO/WORK SAMPLES IN PDF FORMAT*
DLR Group is an integrated design firm delivering architecture, engineering, interiors, planning, and building optimization for new builds, renovations, and adaptive reuse projects.
We are 100% employee-owned: every employee is literally invested in our clients' success. At the core of our firm are interdisciplinary teams engaged in every step of project lifecycles. Our teams champion true collaboration, open information sharing, shared risk and reward, value-based decision making, and proficient use of technology to deliver exceptional design. We are pursuing the goals of the 2030 Challenge, the ME2040, and the SE2050, and are an initial signatory of the China Accord and the AIA 2030 Commitment.
Through our values – commitment, creativity, environmental stewardship, fun, integrity, ownership, sharing, teamwork – we elevate the human experience through design, together.
DLR Group follows a four-day in-office work model, with employees having the flexibility to work somewhere other than the office on Fridays.
We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/M/F/Veteran/Disabled employer.
See all 7,701+ Architect Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Architect roles.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Architect Jobs
Complete your NCARB certification early
NCARB certification demonstrates that your qualifications meet U.S. professional standards, which strengthens the H-1B specialty occupation argument. It also enables interstate reciprocity, making you more attractive to firms with offices in multiple states. Start the process while on OPT so it is ready before your employer files.
Target firms with international project portfolios
Firms like SOM, HOK, KPF, and AECOM frequently sponsor because their global work requires cross-border talent. These firms value candidates who can navigate international building codes and design standards. Their existing immigration infrastructure tends to make the sponsorship process smoother.
Log your AXP hours from day one
Track your Architectural Experience Program hours in NCARB's system as soon as you start U.S. employment. Completing AXP while on OPT shows employers you are committed to U.S. licensure, which can motivate them to invest in your H-1B sponsorship.
Explore cap-exempt positions at university design labs
Architecture faculty roles and university-affiliated design research centers are H-1B cap-exempt, meaning no lottery is required. Schools like MIT, Harvard GSD, and Columbia GSAPP hire international architects for teaching and research. These positions often allow you to maintain professional practice alongside academic work.
Pass ARE divisions before the H-1B filing window
Completing some or all six ARE divisions before your employer files the H-1B petition provides concrete evidence of your commitment to U.S. licensure. NCARB allows you to begin testing before finishing all AXP hours in most jurisdictions. This documentation can strengthen the specialty occupation case in the petition.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do architecture firms sponsor H-1B visas for licensed architects?
Many mid-to-large architecture firms sponsor H-1B visas because architecture qualifies as a specialty occupation requiring at least a bachelor's degree. Firms like Gensler, SOM, HOK, and Perkins&Will have established immigration processes for international hires. Having your NCARB certification and progress on the Architect Registration Examination (ARE) can strengthen your petition.
Can I use my foreign architecture license to practice in the U.S.?
Foreign architecture licenses do not transfer directly to the U.S. You typically need to have your education evaluated through NCARB's Education Evaluation Services for Architects (EESA) and then complete the ARE. Some states offer alternative pathways for foreign-licensed architects with substantial professional experience, but most require full NCARB certification.
Is architecture eligible for STEM OPT?
Yes. Architecture programs under CIP code 04.0201 are on the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program list. This means architecture graduates on F-1 visas can apply for the 24-month STEM OPT extension, giving them up to 36 months of post-graduation work authorization. This extra time can be critical for securing employer-sponsored H-1B filing.
What visa options exist for architects beyond the H-1B?
The O-1B visa is available to architects who can demonstrate extraordinary ability through awards, major project portfolios, or published work. Canadian and Mexican architects can use the TN visa under USMCA, which lists Architect as a qualifying profession. For long-term residency, the EB-2 category can leverage an advanced degree or exceptional ability in the field.
How to find Architect jobs with visa sponsorship?
To find architect jobs with visa sponsorship, use Migrate Mate, which specializes in connecting international architects with sponsoring employers. Focus on construction firms, urban planning agencies, and large architectural studios that commonly offer H-1B, EB-2, or skilled worker visas. Filter searches by visa sponsorship availability and target companies with established international hiring practices for the best opportunities.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Architect jobs?
When a U.S. employer sponsors a foreign worker for a work visa, they are legally required to pay at least the "prevailing wage" — the average wage paid to workers in the same occupation, in the same geographic area, with similar experience. This is set by the Department of Labor to prevent employers from hiring foreign workers at below-market rates. The prevailing wage varies significantly by role, location, and experience level — for example, a architect in California will have a different prevailing wage than the same role in a smaller state. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search.