Senior Lead Technical Designer Employer:

Miami, FL, US Location:

Mon, Nov 9 '26 Posted on: $135,000 - $165,000annually

Pay:

This is an onsite role in Miami, FL, though an outstanding candidate in another geography may start remotely with the intention to relocate to Miami as soon as reasonably possible.

ABOUT THE STUDIO

An international design studio focused on master planning, architecture, and interior design, shaping luxury resorts, boutique hotels, private residences, and mixed-use destinations globally.

ROLE SUMMARY

The Senior Lead Project Architect / Senior Lead Technical Designer is responsible for leading complex architectural projects from concept through completion, ensuring design integrity, technical quality, and constructability. This role requires a seasoned professional with strong technical expertise, advanced QA/QC leadership, and team management skills to mentor others and deliver projects of the highest technical standards.

WHAT YOU'LL

DOProject Leadership Lead projects from initial concept through tender and construction documentation. Serve as the main point of contact for clients, consultants, contractors, and internal design teams on design and technical issues. Lead project meetings and coordinate with all stakeholders to ensure alignment. Develop working plans in alignment with the project schedules. Assist the Project Manager in aligning technical scope and deliverables with overall project schedules and contractual requirements. Present design and technical ideas clearly to clients, stakeholders, and team members. Foster a technically strong studio culture, promoting knowledge sharing and continuous improvement. Implement and monitor the Design Management Plan for each project. Assist Project Managers in implementing the Project Execution Plan. Team Collaboration Facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration with engineering and design professionals. Promote a culture of design excellence, accountability, and professional development. Mentor and supervise junior architects and technical staff. Allocate work tasks and monitor team productivity. Technical Design Translate conceptual designs into practical, buildable solutions. Develop and produce comprehensive technical drawings, ensuring design quality, functionality, and innovation. Ensure compliance with building codes, accessibility standards, fire safety, and zoning regulations. Demonstrate strong knowledge of building systems, materials, construction methods, and sustainability standards. Refine material assemblies, façade systems, and construction detailing to align with performance, budget, and aesthetic goals. Provide leadership during value engineering, design revisions, and coordination changes without compromising design quality. Technical Documentation Produce highly accurate and organized drawings and documents, and manage the submissions. Manage the organization, versioning, and tracking of all project-related documents and drawings throughout the project lifecycle. Coordinate with internal and external teams to ensure timely delivery of drawing packages for design milestones, permitting, tendering, and construction. Ensure drawing sets are logically organized, properly annotated, and coordinated with all disciplines. Maintain consistent graphic standards, such as line weights, title blocks, sheet numbering, and drawing conventions per office or project standards. Create and maintain detailed BIM models (primarily in Revit). Manage model coordination across all disciplines. Assist with clash detection and integration of consultant models. Ensure all documents are aligned with project schedules, client expectations, and contractual deliverables. Establish drawing and documentation standards to maintain consistency across projects and disciplines. Ensure that document sets are fully coordinated, buildable, and aligned with contractor expectations and industry best practices. Implement and monitor project technical templates. Oversee internal production teams and collaborate with consultants to incorporate all necessary information and specialty systems. Ensure that deliverables are properly sequenced and submitted on time, meeting both internal standards and client requirements. Permitting Assemble comprehensive drawing packages and supplemental documents required for authority-having -jurisdiction (AHJ) submissions, ensuring adherence to the formatting, content, and technical standards mandated by local regulatory bodies. Ensure all permit packages are well-organized, complete, and clearly annotated to facilitate timely review and approval by planning and building departments. Conduct preliminary research into applicable zoning ordinances, land use regulations, building codes and other jurisdictional requirements. Keep project managers and design teams informed of permit-related milestones, regulatory constraints, and any changes affecting design or documentation. Provide clients with clear overviews of the permitting process, anticipated timelines, and deliverable requirements. Milestone Monitoring and Schedule Coordination Track project milestones across all design phases, ensuring that drawing submissions, consultant deliverables, and client reviews align with established schedules. Collaborate with project managers and senior team members to maintain design and documentation timelines, proactively flagging potential delays or resourcing issues. Manage internal workplans, checklists, and phase-by-phase deliverables to support efficient project delivery. Coordinate schedules for internal reviews, external consultant submissions, regulatory check-ins, and client presentations to ensure alignment with the overall project timeline. Maintain visibility into the project's master schedule, identifying dependencies between disciplines to ensure deliverables are synchronized across all stakeholders. Reporting and Progress Tracking Maintain up-to-date drawing logs, issue logs, and revision histories to ensure all stakeholders work from the latest information. Track submission dates, revisions, and approvals to support the issuance of drawing packages. Consultant and Team Coordination Logs Track incoming and outgoing communication with external consultants, ensuring fully integrated information into the architectural documentation. Monitor the status of RFI responses, submittals, and technical queries to support progress across all design phases. Prepare and maintain the design change and action trackers. Record and distribute the meeting minutes and weekly progress reports in coordination with all the stakeholders. Analyze recurring RFIs or submittal patterns to identify design gaps and opportunities for documentation improvement. Quality Assurance and Risk Management Review design and technical drawings from junior staff for accuracy and completeness. Provide technical guidance and mentorship to project team members. Implement and monitor QA/QC protocols across all phases of design and documentation. Anticipate project risks and develop mitigation strategies in coordination with Project Managers. Conduct technical compliance audits on projects. Conduct QA/QC audits on projects. Approve final deliverables prior to client submission, permitting, or bidding to reduce risk and support accurate cost estimation and construction execution. Collaborate with all stakeholders to validate and update report contents regularly, ensuring alignment across disciplines and project phases. Construction Support Support issue resolution and ensure adherence to design intent. Review shop drawings, respond to RFIs, and process change orders. Ensure construction adheres to design specifications and regulatory requirements. Conduct site inspections and provide technical input during site meetings. Evaluate contractor-issued change order requests and prepare architect-issued change directives (ASIs), documenting impacts on schedule, scope, and cost.

WHO YOU ARE 15-17

years of professional experience in architectural practice, with demonstrated experience leading projects. Bachelor's or Master's degree in Architecture from an accredited institution. Licensed or registered architect with AIA, RIBA, ARB, or equivalent professional accreditation (as applicable by region). Well-versed in the requirements and deliverables of the relevant accrediting bodies (e.g., AIA, RIBA, ARB, or equivalent). Extensive experience in hospitality and destination design, with strong familiarity with hospitality programming, FOH/BOH planning, and brand standards, ensuring these requirements are fully integrated into technical documentation, specifications, and coordinated consultant deliverables. Comprehensive knowledge of architectural design standards, building systems, and construction best practices. Proficient in BIM software (Revit preferred), architectural software (AutoCAD, SketchUp), Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator), Microsoft Office, and project management tools. Versatile architectural professional with a proven track record in delivering projects across multiple sectors and geographies, with specialized experience in resorts, hospitality, residential and commercial design. Experienced in navigating multicultural settings, with an appreciation for diverse communication styles, design values, and workplace norms. Skilled at adapting communication strategies to meet the needs of international clients, consultants, and teams, ensuring all stakeholders feel heard and respected throughout the design and construction process. Beyond the qualifications, the Senior Lead Project Architect / Senior Lead Technical Designer role requires an individual who: Demonstrates innovative problem-solving by balancing functionality and design in addressing technical challenges. Maintains precision and thoroughness, producing high-quality, error-free deliverables. Applies deep expertise in construction methods, building systems, and materials, while staying current with technological advancements. Fosters a collaborative environment, mentoring others and encouraging collective problem-solving. Anticipates potential issues and develops strategies to minimize project disruptions and risks. Communicates complex technical concepts clearly to clients, consultants, and team members. Upholds ethical and accountable practice by taking responsibility for design outcomes and maintaining transparency. Navigates conflict constructively, facilitating communication and maintaining team cohesion. Adapts to varying working styles and demonstrates empathy under high-pressure situations. •This search is being managed by professional staffing firm Donato LLC. If a candidate is qualified as a fit for the role after application submission, the candidate will be contacted and provided further details on the hiring studio and position. Thank you for your interest.• More job listings from this employer: Miami, FL, US Thu, Sep 3 '26 Technical Designer / Project Architect Donato LLC