Architecture Design Jobs in Silver Spring, MD (NOW HIRING)

Department: Building Science

Lerch Bates is seeking a Design Studio Architect to join our Architectural Design team. This role is ideal for an architect with strong technical design expertise, building enclosure knowledge, and a passion for solving complex building performance challenges.

As a Design Studio Architect, you will lead architectural consulting and design projects involving building enclosure systems, restoration, rehabilitation, new construction consulting, enclosure commissioning (BECx), and other building science services. You'll manage projects from concept through construction administration while collaborating with consultants, engineers, clients, and project teams to deliver practical, code-compliant, and constructable design solutions.

This position combines technical project leadership with opportunities to support practice growth, mentor team members, and contribute to the continued advancement of Lerch Bates' Design Studio.

About Lerch Bates:

Lerch Bates (LB) is a global technical consulting firm focused on improving how buildings perform for owners, designers, and the people who use them every day. For more than 75 years we’ve partnered on some of the world’s most complex and high-profile projects. Today we provide Total Building Performance expertise that integrates Building Science and Building Flow into a unified delivery model.

Our work spans design, construction, investigation, repair, rehabilitation, management, and modernization with one consistent goal: helping clients make confident, well-informed decisions in an increasingly complex built environment.

We are 100% employee-owned through our ESOP, which fosters an ownership mindset and accountability in everything we do. At Lerch Bates, your expertise matters, your voice carries weight, and your work directly contributes to our shared success as OneLB. 

What You’ll Do:

The duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed in this position. They are not intended to prescribe or restrict the assignments that management may make.

Project Management & Client Leadership

• Manage architectural consulting and design projects from initial investigation through construction completion
• Define project scope, schedules, budgets, and technical objectives while coordinating project teams and deliverables
• Serve as the primary client contact for assigned projects, providing technical guidance, presenting design solutions, and managing project communications
• Coordinate multiple projects while maintaining quality, responsiveness, and schedule commitments
• Support bidding activities, construction administration, and project closeout

Architectural Design & Building Science

• Develop high-quality construction documents, architectural drawings, specifications, and technical reports
• Design and coordinate building enclosure systems for restoration, rehabilitation, new construction, and building science consulting projects
• Apply expertise in roofing, waterproofing, curtain wall systems, glazing, air barriers, vapor barriers, thermal performance, and other enclosure systems
• Conduct building code research and coordinate product selection with manufacturers and industry partners
• Utilize AutoCAD, Revit, and specification development tools to produce accurate, constructable, and code-compliant deliverables
• Perform technical and quality control reviews throughout the design process

Collaboration & Technical Leadership

• Collaborate with architects, engineers, consultants, contractors, and internal project teams to develop integrated design solutions
• Mentor junior staff and provide technical guidance to support professional development
• Contribute to technical standards, specification libraries, design details, and best practices within the Design Studio
• Assist with workflow planning, project staffing, and continuous process improvement initiatives

Business Development & Practice Growth

• Support proposal preparation, fee development, and project planning activities
• Participate in client meetings, presentations, and business development efforts
• Build and maintain strong client relationships while identifying opportunities to expand services
• Pursue ongoing professional development to enhance technical expertise and support emerging service offerings

What You’ll Bring:

• Bachelor's degree in Architecture or Architectural Engineering
• Licensed Architect preferred; candidates actively pursuing architectural licensure through NCARB AXP/ARE completion are encouraged to apply
• 4–8 years of experience in architectural design, construction documentation, project management, building enclosure consulting, or building science
• Experience developing construction documents from schematic design through construction administration
• Knowledge of building enclosure systems, including roofing, waterproofing, curtain walls, glazing systems, exterior cladding, air barriers, vapor barriers, and thermal performance
• Experience with restoration, rehabilitation, building enclosure consulting, or enclosure commissioning (BECx) preferred
• Strong understanding of applicable building codes and construction practices
• Proficiency with AutoCAD, Revit, Microsoft Office, and specification development software
• Excellent technical writing, communication, presentation, and client relationship skills
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously
• Ability to work collaboratively while exercising sound technical judgment and independent decision-making
• Professional certifications related to building science, building enclosure systems, sustainability, or architectural practice (such as LEED AP, IIBEC, AIA, Passive House, WELL AP, or similar) are a plus
• Valid driver's license and willingness to travel to project sites as needed

Why Work with Lerch Bates?

• Competitive compensation
• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• Paid time off (starting at 17 days annually)
• 9 paid holidays
• 401(k) with employer match
• Employee Stock Ownership Program (ESOP)
• Paid parental leave
• Professional development and tuition reimbursement
• Performance-based incentives and bonuses
• Employee assistance and wellness programs

Be more than just an employee…

Lerch Bates is 100% employee-owned! Our employee-owners bring a distinct “we own what we do” brand of technical consulting to every project and partnership. When you work with us, you join a company with an ownership mindset. Expect responsibility, service, and performance in everything we do. So, what does that mean for you? After a certain service time, you are eligible for stock ownership, which essentially works as an additional wealth accumulation and/or retirement account! 

Core Values

Ownership • Community • Integrity • Respect • Optimism

Working Environment:

This position is primarily performed in a professional office environment and requires regular interaction with employees, clients, vendors, and visitors. The role involves supporting daily office operations, coordinating administrative activities, and managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced setting.

Physical Demands:

While performing the duties of this position, an employee is regularly required to sit; talk or hear, in meetings, in person and via telephone; crawl through tight spaces to access elevator pits and elevator car tops; climb ladders; move around construction sites to conduct inspection; stretch, reach or other physical motions to take measurements and observe project requirements; travel via car, air or rail to visit customer sites; work at extreme heights; use fingers, hands and arms for functions such as typing, operating elevators from top of car, controlling and reaching interlock switches, prying elevator doors; work in confined spaces; see details at within a few feet of the observer.

Mental Demands:

While performing the duties of this position, an employee is are regularly required to use written and oral communication skills; read and interpret complex data, information and documents; analyze and solve problems; use math and mathematical reasoning; arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g. patterns of numbers, objects, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations); apply general rules to specific problems to produce sensible answers (deductive reasoning); combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (inductive reasoning; observe and interpret people and situations; learn and apply new skills and information rapidly; perform highly detailed work on multiple, concurrent tasks with frequently changing deadlines and interruptions; and interact with LB Executives, Project Managers and Administrative Assistants as well as clients, members of governmental agencies, professional and community organizations and committees, the media and the public.

Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a pre-employment background check and drug test. The drug test includes screening for marijuana, regardless of state or local laws permitting its use. A conditional offer of employment will be rescinded if a candidate fails either the background check or the drug test. This requirement is mandated by federal regulations applicable to our government contracting obligations.

We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by law.