Senior Architect

We're Hiring: Senior Architect

Location: United Arab Emirates (Remote)

Employment Type: Full-Time

Experience Level: Mid-Level to Senior

Work Arrangement: Fully Remote

About Us

We are a globally focused organization committed to delivering innovative, functional, sustainable, and high-quality built environments across diverse markets. Our multidisciplinary teams collaborate across Architecture, Interior Design, Urban Planning, Engineering, Real Estate, Construction, Sustainability, Procurement, and specialist consultants to deliver projects from concept through completion.

The Role

We are seeking an experienced Senior Architect to lead architectural projects across concept design, planning, technical development, documentation, coordination, approvals, construction, and project completion.

The ideal candidate will combine strong architectural design capability with technical expertise, project leadership, stakeholder management, and a thorough understanding of building regulations, construction methodologies, materials, and multidisciplinary coordination.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead architectural projects from initial brief and concept development through detailed design, construction, and handover.
• Develop architectural strategies, concepts, design principles, and project approaches aligned with client and business objectives.
• Translate client requirements, site conditions, planning requirements, operational needs, and project constraints into effective architectural solutions.
• Conduct site analysis, context studies, existing-condition assessments, and architectural feasibility reviews.
• Develop conceptual, schematic, design-development, and technical architectural packages.
• Prepare and review plans, elevations, sections, details, schedules, specifications, and construction documentation.
• Develop building layouts, massing, circulation, spatial organization, access, and functional planning.
• Coordinate architectural design with structural, MEP, civil, landscape, interior, lighting, acoustics, security, technology, and other specialist disciplines.
• Ensure multidisciplinary coordination is reflected accurately in architectural documentation.
• Lead design reviews, coordination workshops, technical meetings, and project presentations.
• Prepare architectural presentations, design narratives, diagrams, drawings, visualizations, and client approval materials.
• Present design concepts, technical solutions, project updates, and recommendations to clients and senior stakeholders.
• Incorporate client and stakeholder feedback while maintaining design quality and project objectives.
• Develop architectural details, material strategies, façade concepts, interior interfaces, and building-envelope solutions.
• Select and specify appropriate architectural materials, finishes, systems, and products.
• Evaluate materials based on aesthetics, durability, performance, sustainability, cost, availability, and constructability.
• Review building systems and architectural interfaces for functionality, performance, and coordination.
• Support development of façade, envelope, waterproofing, thermal, acoustic, and environmental-performance strategies.
• Ensure designs comply with applicable building codes, planning requirements, fire and life-safety regulations, accessibility standards, and project-specific requirements.
• Coordinate planning applications, building approvals, authority submissions, and regulatory requirements.
• Prepare or review technical documentation required by authorities and approval bodies.
• Liaise with government authorities, municipalities, clients, developers, consultants, contractors, and other stakeholders.
• Review site conditions and assess their implications for design development and construction.
• Conduct site inspections and monitor architectural works against approved drawings, specifications, and design intent.
• Identify construction discrepancies, design conflicts, quality issues, and non-conforming work.
• Provide architectural responses and practical solutions to site and construction issues.
• Review contractor submissions, shop drawings, material samples, mock-ups, method statements, and technical proposals.
• Review proposed substitutions and alternative design solutions for compliance with project requirements.
• Evaluate value-engineering proposals while protecting critical architectural, functional, and performance objectives.
• Support tender documentation, contractor selection, procurement, and construction-stage design services.
• Coordinate with project managers on design schedules, deliverables, milestones, risks, budgets, and dependencies.
• Manage architectural deliverables and ensure they are completed accurately and on schedule.
• Establish project-specific architectural standards, design guidelines, documentation protocols, and quality requirements.
• Conduct design quality reviews and technical audits of architectural deliverables.
• Maintain accurate drawing registers, specifications, schedules, approvals, design records, and revision histories.
• Implement effective document and revision control throughout the architectural process.
• Support BIM coordination and maintain appropriate architectural models and information requirements.
• Use BIM, CAD, visualization, rendering, and digital collaboration tools to develop and communicate architectural solutions.
• Coordinate model reviews, clash detection, design coordination, and information exchanges with multidisciplinary teams.
• Integrate sustainability, energy efficiency, climate resilience, resource efficiency, and low-carbon principles into architectural design.
• Consider passive design, daylighting, natural ventilation, thermal performance, material efficiency, and occupant wellbeing.
• Incorporate universal accessibility, inclusive design, and user-focused planning principles.
• Coordinate architectural requirements with smart-building, digital, security, audiovisual, and building-technology systems where applicable.
• Evaluate emerging architectural technologies, construction methods, materials, digital design tools, and sustainable solutions.
• Benchmark architectural practices, design trends, building systems, and relevant international standards.
• Manage relationships with specialist consultants, suppliers, manufacturers, contractors, and external design partners.
• Review consultant deliverables and ensure consistency with overall architectural objectives.
• Provide technical leadership, guidance, and mentoring to junior and intermediate architects and designers.
• Support project risk management by identifying design, regulatory, technical, cost, schedule, and constructability risks.
• Develop mitigation strategies for architectural risks and coordinate their resolution.
• Support project closeout, snagging, defect resolution, final inspections, as-built documentation, and handover.
• Capture lessons learned and implement improvements to architectural processes and project delivery.
• Support business development through proposals, fee estimates, design competitions, presentations, project interviews, and client pitches.

Key Performance Indicators

• Architectural project delivery rate
• Design milestone adherence
• Project schedule performance
• Architectural deliverable quality
• Design approval rate
• Authority approval performance
• Regulatory compliance
• Client satisfaction
• Design revision rate
• Design coordination issue rate
• Construction-related design issue rate
• Drawing and documentation accuracy
• BIM coordination performance
• Clash-resolution rate
• Technical submission turnaround time
• Shop-drawing review turnaround time
• Material approval performance
• Design intent compliance
• Construction quality
• Non-conformance rate
• Defect and snagging rate
• Value-engineering savings
• Architectural cost performance
• Consultant performance
• Contractor design compliance
• Sustainability target achievement
• Accessibility compliance
• Project closeout performance
• Design rework reduction
• Design team productivity
• Staff development and mentoring
• Design innovation adoption
• Client approval turnaround time
• Project risk closure
• Business development contribution
• Repeat-client engagement

Ideal Candidate

The successful candidate should have strong experience in architecture, building design, architectural project delivery, design development, technical architecture, or multidisciplinary architectural consultancy, preferably within an international architecture practice, real estate developer, construction organization, engineering consultancy, or major project environment.

The candidate should demonstrate:

• Strong understanding of architectural design principles, building systems, construction methods, and technical detailing.
• Proven experience leading architectural projects from concept through construction and completion.
• Strong conceptual, schematic, and design-development capabilities.
• Excellent understanding of spatial planning, building functionality, circulation, and user experience.
• Strong technical knowledge of architectural documentation, specifications, materials, and construction details.
• Experience coordinating architecture with structural, MEP, civil, landscape, interior, lighting, acoustics, and specialist disciplines.
• Strong knowledge of applicable building codes, planning regulations, fire and life-safety requirements, accessibility standards, and authority processes.
• Experience with construction-stage architectural services, site inspections, shop-drawing reviews, and technical submissions.
• Strong understanding of materials, façades, building envelopes, finishes, and constructability.
• Experience with sustainable architecture, energy efficiency, climate resilience, and environmentally responsible design.
• Proficiency in relevant software such as Revit, AutoCAD, BIM platforms, SketchUp, Rhino, Adobe Creative Suite, or comparable tools.
• Strong BIM coordination and digital-design capabilities.
• Excellent presentation, communication, and client-management skills.
• Strong project-management and organizational capabilities.
• Experience managing consultants, contractors, suppliers, manufacturers, and specialist partners.