Interior Design Engineer Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

Life at PE:

Perkins Eastman is a global architectural design practice with expertise in all aspects of the built environment, working at all scales, and at every level of detail. With studios in 26 locations worldwide, we design for people, to leave a lasting and positive impact on the human experience and the world we inhabit. This is captured in our ethos "human by design".

We believe design is a collaborative art and we are structured as an integrated practice of passionate professionals committed to delivering the best design for our clients. Our team of diverse and complementary talents work together in studios, that can draw from relevant expertise and points of view from across the whole practice to analyze and solve the specific design challenges they are working on. Within the firm we have 18 practice areas, cores of expertise, that focus as centers of knowledge and analysis, that are both an essential foundation and fuel for the creative design work. Sustainability is intrinsic to our design approach. It is an essential ingredient for the design teams throughout the process, adding valuable insights, ideas, and research to the process. For us all good design is sustainable.

The Opportunity:

The Senior Interior Designer is responsible for project design quality, including FF&E and interior architecture. The Senior Interior Designer will lead teams to conceptualize the project, develop the initial design direction, oversee documentation, and make critical aesthetic decisions throughout the project while integrating input from clients and operators with a focus on Workplace / Corporate Interiors K-12, and Hospitality.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Lead/assist the project team in the development of the aesthetic design and the preparation of the interior design, including drawings and specifications.
• Serve as the Project Designer for the design of the project.
• Develop space plans per Client programmatic requirements.
• Ability to present ideas clearly.
• Competent in architectural interior detailing.
• Develop, present, and execute a design concept through all phases of project design, including pre-schematic design, programming, schematic design, design development, construction documents, and furniture specification/bid packages.
• Develops design presentations including rendered plans, elevations and 3D views
• Participates in client meetings including interviews, visioning sessions, information gathering, and presentations
• Follows established standards for project production and review.
• Keeps Project Manager, Studio Leaders, and Principal in Charge informed of progress or need for assistance.
• Designs, directs, and mentors junior staff in the design and documentation of the interior workplace design.
• Prepare program and schematic proposals and project layouts and develop designs in 3D using Revit or other 3D modeling software for client review/approval.
• Prepare finish and FF&E material palettes and graphic presentations for client approval.
• Ensure deliverables meet Perkins Eastman’s design quality standards.
• Supports business development efforts within the corporate real estate community, helping to cultivate relationships and promote the PE brand to generate new project opportunities
• Lead/assist the project team in the completion of FF&E design & documentation based on the project program, budget, and standards. Provide a final review of FF&E specifications.
• Consultant Coordination.
• Oversee the review of furniture installation plans for conformance to specifications and brand standards.
• Reviews architectural and furniture installation plans and shop drawings for content and accuracy and ensure that they are fully coordinated with all pertinent consultant drawings
• Ensure all consultant drawings and related physical elements are coordinated with Interior Design and FF&E and applicable building codes.
• Attend and/or direct on-site meetings with the owner, consultants, and contractor, inclusive of construction review and FF&E installation, as necessary.
• Participates in activities related to construction administration, including shop drawings, field observations, response to RFI’s, and punchlist
• Implement and manage Perkins Eastman’s design and documentation standards to ensure project delivery success.
• Assist the studio and leaders with generating Design Services Proposals.
• Ability to prioritize and manage the design of multiple projects.
• Ensure all deliverables, deadlines and budgets are met.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree from a 4-year CIDA-accredited Interior Design program or equivalent
• Minimum of 8 + years of related industry experience required
• NCIDQ certified or pursuing certification preferred or willing to pursue within next 6 monthsCPHD, LEED, and/or WELL accreditations are a plus or willing to pursue within next 12 months

Core Expertise

• Must have experience in Workplace / Corporate Interiors
• Experience in K-12, and Hospitality projects a plus
• Passion for and understanding of sustainable design
• Working knowledge of Brand Standards and ability to execute them
• Thorough understanding of architectural interior design and building/ADA codes
• Ability to produce and coordinate a complete set of construction documents for permit and bid
• Possesses knowledge of building and ADA codes
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and meet deadlines

Technical Proficiency

• Strong proficiency with design software: Revit, AutoCAD, Photoshop, Illustrator, SketchUp, Affinity Suite / Adobe Suite, MS Office, and 3D software such as Enscape

Soft Skills

• Excellent organization, time management, and problem-solving skills
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and meet deadlines
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in teams
• Detail-oriented and able to multi-task
• Strong interpersonal, verbal, written, and graphic communication skills
• Excellent graphic presentation skills
• Self-starter, passionate about design
• Ability to mentor team members and support growth through knowledge sharing

Additional Experience (Preferred)

• Design team leadership
• Writing FF&E specifications and FF&E budgeting
• Ability to develop Design Narratives and FF&E schemes
• Space planning; hand sketching ability a plus
• Ability to think and articulate interior architectural design in 3D
• Understanding and managing detailed construction documents, including:
  • Floor plans
  • Furniture floor plans
  • Reflected ceiling plans (RCP)
  • Power plans
  • Elevations, details, and sections
  • Finish schedules

What we offer you:

• Robust medical, dental and vision coverage
• 401k Options
• PTO
• Company Paid Holidays
• Life Insurance
• Pre-tax commuter benefits
• Professional Development
• Competitive salary

PE has a hybrid policy that allows flexibility for our employees in managing their working days and hours to cater to their diverse needs.

Compensation may vary based on the job level and your geographical work location.

Salary Range: $88k to $94k

Perkins Eastman is an affirmative action, equal opportunity employer and a participant in the U.S. Federal E-Verify program. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.