JUNIOR DESIGNER

SWA's Houston office is seeking a JUNIOR DESIGNER to join our award-winning team of landscape architects, architects, urban designers, and planners. It's an exciting time to be engaged in the design of cities and communities, and our Houston office is on the forefront of rethinking how designers can tackle the issues of resilience, equity and climate change … while infusing them with beauty and craft.

Our work is global in scale, but grounded in Houston's communities and ecosystems where we are reinventing the urban fabric of our home town. We engage with public agencies, philanthropic foundations, world-class developers and are active in Houston's design community. Our projects are largely approached in a prime consultant capacity, giving us the opportunity to create meaningful relationships with our clients while shaping the design response.

If selected to join our studio, you will work as part of a team on a variety of project types and scales – some local, others international – all demanding engagement with the topics of resilience, cultural diversity, and designed ecologies. Our goal is to give you the resources you need to grow your design, technical, and communication skills to become an invaluable member of our talented team. We expect that you will bring a sense of curiosity, creativity, and innovative thinking paired with a willingness to “jump in” and be an enthusiastic participant in developing technical documents and communicating complex design ideas. This is a unique opportunity to learn from a team of world-class designers in Houston and across our US offices, while growing to be the next generation of design and technical leaders in the profession.

Computer graphic fluency required for this position includes: 3D modeling and rendering, illustrative graphics development, analytical diagramming, presentation formatting and graphic layout. Demonstrated experience with technical documentation, as well as verbal and written communications skills are essential.

Key tasks associated with this position include:

• Design communication graphics production
• 3D modeling
• Plan and perspective rendering
• Assisting in the development of crafted design elements, planting design and the preparation of construction drawings
• Attending and participating in meetings
• Work with senior designers on a collaborative team

WHY SWA | HOUSTON?

• You'll develop your design and technical skills alongside a diverse and talented team of our growing global studio.
• We have access to some of the world's most interesting project opportunities, both nationally and internationally.
• Houston and Harris County are going through rapid urban transformations and our design thinking is in high demand across the region.
• We are an idea-driven studio, great design aspirations guide all aspects of our work.
• You will be empowered to develop your communication skills and techniques and share your thoughts and ideas with our design team, community, and clients.
• Our team is offered a flexible work approach, where access to exciting design work is balanced with consideration for individual lifestyle needs.
• We offer an opportunity to cross-pollinate with some of the most interesting voices in the design world.
• Houston/Harris County is the most ethnically diverse county in the United States and has become a major destination in the national culinary scene. Houston's theater district is the second largest in the US, and we have world-class museums, professional sports, big nature, all found in our affordable “city of neighborhoods”.
• Unparalleled benefits package unique to SWA, which includes employee stock contributions, profit sharing, and other wealth-building benefits.

PREFERRED REQUIREMENTS:

• Accredited degree in landscape architecture, architecture, urban design or related field of study;
• Strong problem solving, critical thinking, and analytical skills;
• Attention to detail and organization;
• Strong communication skills (written and verbal);
• Effective time management skills;
• Positive attitude and sense of accountability;
• Curiosity about the world, and the people that use the places we design;
• Preferred computer graphics and communication qualifications:
  • Design Communication Software (Adobe Creative Cloud)
  • 3D Modeling Software (Rhino, SketchUp, Revit, Lumion, Enscape)
  • Parametric Scripts (Rhino Grasshopper)
  • Technical Drawing Software (AutoCAD, Revit)
  • GIS

To apply for this position, please submit a resume, portfolio of work you are most proud of, and a cover letter. Outline why you chose to become a designer, the type of projects that most motive you, and the design topics that you hope to tackle in your work.