Back to jobs
New

Architectural Professional II (Mixed-Use Development and Community Design)

Chicago, Illinois, United States

We are seeking a creative and ambitious Architectural Professional II with 4-6 years of professional experience in architecture including work spanning building design, planning, urban design, and community development projects. This role is ideal for individuals who are passionate about shaping the built environment through thoughtful design, strategic planning, and collaborative problem-solving. Our work spans multi-family housing, mixed-use, commercial, and community-focused projects at a variety of scales, requiring designers who can thoughtfully integrate site, building, and community considerations into compelling, impactful design solutions.

Successful candidates will be strong visual thinkers with demonstrated abilities in conceptual design, planning, analysis, and communication. They will be self-motivated, adaptable, and eager to take initiative, thriving in an environment that offers opportunities to contribute across diverse project types, scales, and responsibilities. The ideal candidate is curious, nimble, and comfortable balancing multiple priorities while embracing new challenges and opportunities for professional growth. As artificial intelligence continues to transform the design profession, candidates should demonstrate enthusiasm for and experience with leveraging AI tools to support design thinking, streamline workflows, and improve the speed, quality, and effectiveness of their work.

In this role, you will contribute to projects from early visioning and planning through design development, collaborating closely with firm leaders, senior designers, project architects, and interdisciplinary teams. You will play an active role in design exploration, site planning, urban design studies, visualization, research, documentation, and project storytelling. The Architectural Professional II will help translate project goals into innovative, sustainable, and buildable solutions while contributing to our practice's continued success and growth.

Responsibilities

  • Design & Planning: Contribute to and help lead the development of architectural, urban design, and planning concepts across a variety of scales, including buildings, sites, neighborhoods, and mixed-use environments.
  • Design Communication: Prepare and contribute to design studies, graphics, reports, presentations, and storytelling materials that clearly communicate project ideas and recommendations to clients, stakeholders, and project teams.
  • Research & Innovation: Research emerging design trends, materials, technologies, and best practices to inform project work and innovation
  • Client Collaboration: Participate in client meetings, presentations, and discussions, providing clear and effective communication of design concepts and project
  • Integrated Coordination: Coordinate with interdisciplinary teams, including engineering, construction, and consultants, to ensure seamless integration of project
  • Documentation: Prepare and coordinate design and construction documents, ensuring deliverables are accurate, well-organized, and consistent with project goals, code requirements, and firm standards
  • Quality & Accuracy: Review and ensure design and technical documentation accuracy, conduct quality checks, and resolve design issues as they
  • Mentoring & Leadership: Provide guidance and support to junior architectural staff, fostering a collaborative and learning-oriented
  • Sustainability: Integrate sustainable design principles and environmental considerations into planning and design solutions across all project phases.
  • Project Management: Assist in managing project timelines, budgets, and resources, ensuring projects are delivered on time and within
  • Firm Contribution: Perform general office responsibilities (library and material upkeep, assist in developing project/BIM standards, ).
  • Career Development: Participate in cross-disciplinary career
  • Continuous Improvement & Industry Engagement: Engage in continuous learning opportunities, attend industry events, and participate in internal training sessions to enhance skills and
  • Adaptability & Versatility: Successfully manage multiple assignments and project roles, adapting to evolving client needs, project priorities, and design challenges while maintaining a high level of quality and responsiveness.

Requirements:

  • Education: Bachelor’s or master’s degree in architecture from an accredited program. Degree concentration, coursework, or professional experience in Urban Design, Community Planning, or related disciplines preferred.
  • Experience: 4-6 years of professional experience in architectural design, supported by a strong portfolio demonstrating design excellence and project experience.
  • Software: Proficiency in Revit, Rhino, SketchUp, Enscape, Bluebeam, Adobe Creative Suite, and visualization tools. Experience with GIS, parametric modeling, or computational design tools is preferred.
  • Collaboration: Proven experience working in a collaborative environment, with the ability to work effectively across disciplines.
  • Creativity: Demonstrated ability to generate innovative design solutions that balance aesthetics, functionality, and sustainability.
  • Visualization: Experience producing graphics, diagrams, renderings, and presentation materials that effectively communicate design intent.
  • Artificial Intelligence: Demonstrated ability to leverage AI-powered design, visualization, research, and productivity tools to enhance project workflows, generate insights, and support design exploration, while exercising professional judgment to evaluate, refine, and validate outputs
  • General Skills: Strong design, graphic communication, presentation, and organizational skills, with attention to detail and effective verbal and written communication.
  • Knowledge: General knowledge of building systems, construction methods, materials, building codes, and sustainable design practices.
  • Urban Design: Experience or demonstrated interest in urban design, site planning, zoning analysis, community engagement, corridor studies, master planning, or related planning initiatives.
  • Planning & Analysis: Ability to evaluate site opportunities and constraints, zoning and regulatory considerations, land use relationships, and broader community context to inform planning and design decisions.

Salary Range: $72,000-$86,000 Individual pay will be based on several factors including experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities of the applicant.

Wight & Company offers excellent benefits and a wonderful work environment. Our comprehensive benefits include medical, dental, vision, disability, life insurance, flexible spending, paid holidays, paid time off, and a 401(k). Our flexible work schedule allows for a healthy work-life balance. For more information about our company, visit our website at www.wightco.com.

Wight & Company is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetics, protected veteran status, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

Wight & Company values diversity in our workforce. We are committed to recruiting, hiring, and promoting people with disabilities and veterans. If you need an accommodation to assist with completing the electronic application, please call us at 630.969.7000 and ask to speak with a Human Resources representative.

Create a Job Alert

Interested in building your career at Wight & Company? Get future opportunities sent straight to your email.

Apply for this job

*

indicates a required field

Phone
Resume/CV*

Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf

Cover Letter

Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf


Education

Select...
Select...
Select...

Portfolio*

Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf

Select...
Select...

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey. Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiring process or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in a confidential file.

As set forth in Wight & Company’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy, we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

Select...
Select...
Race & Ethnicity Definitions

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection. As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measure the effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categories is as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.

Select...