Building Architect Jobs in Minnesota (NOW HIRING)

Department: New Building Engineering, Design, and Consulting

Build Better Buildings. Deliver High-Performance Enclosures.

Lerch Bates is seeking a Senior Building Envelope Engineer / Consultant to join our Building Science team. In this role, you will lead the planning, evaluation, and delivery of complex building enclosure consulting projects for new construction and major renovation developments.

As a senior technical leader, you will partner with architects, owners, developers, contractors, and project teams throughout every phase of project delivery—from design review and enclosure commissioning planning through construction quality assurance, field testing, and project closeout. You'll also mentor consultants, provide technical leadership, and help expand client relationships while ensuring exceptional project execution.

This role is ideal for an experienced building envelope professional who enjoys solving complex technical challenges, improving building performance, and helping clients reduce long-term risk through thoughtful design and quality construction.

Please Note: The internal title for this position is Senior Consultant within our New Building Engineering, Design, and Consulting department

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.

Building Envelope Consulting & Design Review

• Lead building enclosure consulting projects for new construction and major renovations.
• Perform third-party design reviews of architectural drawings with emphasis on air, water, thermal, and vapor control systems.
• Evaluate roofing, waterproofing, curtain walls, glazing, storefront systems, exterior wall assemblies, fenestration, and cladding systems.
• Develop building enclosure Basis of Design (BOD) documents, Building Enclosure Commissioning (BECx) plans, specifications, and technical recommendations.
• Participate in design workshops, charrettes, and peer review meetings while presenting technical findings and performance recommendations.

Construction Phase Services

• Lead pre-construction meetings focused on enclosure sequencing, constructability, and performance risks.
• Review construction documents, shop drawings, RFIs, and submittals for compliance with project intent.
• Conduct construction quality assurance observations throughout installation.
• Perform and oversee building envelope field testing, including ASTM E783, ASTM E1105, ASTM E779, AAMA 501.2, and related testing protocols.
• Prepare clear technical reports documenting observations, deficiencies, and recommendations.

Project Management & Client Leadership

• Manage multiple projects simultaneously, including scope, schedules, budgets, deliverables, and client communication.
• Serve as the primary technical advisor for owners, architects, contractors, and project teams.
• Build and maintain strong client relationships while identifying opportunities to expand services.
• Prepare proposals, scopes of work, and technical budgets for new opportunities.
• Coordinate project activities with internal consultants and external stakeholders to ensure successful delivery.

Technical Leadership

• Mentor Consultants, Associate Consultants, Specialists, and technical staff.
• Provide technical review of reports, drawings, testing procedures, and project documentation.
• Support continuous improvement of technical standards, QA/QC processes, and best practices.
• Contribute to knowledge sharing and professional development across the Building Science team.

What You’ll Bring:

• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering, Structural Engineering, Construction Engineering, Architecture, Architectural Engineering, Building Science, or a related discipline.
• 8+ years of experience in building envelope consulting, building science, enclosure commissioning, façade engineering, roofing, waterproofing, or related disciplines.
• Professional licensure (PE, RA/AIA, or equivalent) preferred.
• Industry certifications such as IIBEC (RRO, RRC, REWC, RBECxP), BECx, Fenestration, Waterproofing, or related credentials are preferred.
• Extensive knowledge of building enclosure systems, including roofing, waterproofing, air barriers, vapor barriers, thermal control, cladding systems, glazing, curtain walls, and fenestration.
• Experience conducting design reviews, construction observations, enclosure commissioning, and field performance testing.
• Strong understanding of enclosure installation sequencing and its impact on project performance.
• Demonstrated experience managing project budgets, schedules, and multiple concurrent assignments.
• Excellent technical writing, presentation, communication, and client relationship management skills.
• Ability to mentor technical staff and contribute to a collaborative team environment.
• Experience with AutoCAD, Bluebeam, WUFI, THERM, or similar building science software preferred.
• Ability to travel as needed for project work, field observations, and client meetings.

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 performed in a combination of office, remote, client, and field environments. Regular travel to project sites is required and may include commercial buildings, occupied facilities, active construction sites, industrial locations, rooftops, and other environments where building evaluations, testing, or construction observations are performed. Work may occur indoors and outdoors in varying weather conditions.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

Physical Demands:

This position requires the ability to sit, stand, walk, bend, kneel, crouch, climb stairs and ladders, and navigate active construction sites and existing buildings. Employees may be required to access rooftops, traverse uneven terrain, work at elevated heights, and enter confined or restricted spaces as project conditions require. Frequent use of computers, keyboards, measuring equipment, and handheld devices is required.

Occasional lifting, carrying, pushing, or pulling of equipment and materials weighing up to 40 pounds may be required. Employees must be able to wear required personal protective equipment (PPE), including hard hats, safety glasses, high-visibility clothing, gloves, safety footwear, hearing protection, and fall protection when applicable.

Travel by automobile and occasional air travel may be required.

Mental Demands:

This position requires strong analytical, technical, and problem-solving skills. Employees must be able to interpret construction documents, building codes, technical specifications, engineering data, and field observations while exercising sound professional judgment.

The role requires managing multiple projects, balancing competing priorities, meeting deadlines, and adapting to changing project conditions. Effective written and verbal communication, technical report writing, client presentations, collaboration with multidisciplinary teams, and attention to detail are essential.

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.