Intern Document Designer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Description

As a Senior Designer for Unisource Solutions, your focus is on large-scale and high-complexity projects. This includes bids, legacy accounts, business development opportunities, mentoring junior and mid-level designers, and serving as a strategic design partner to the Unisource team. Your work drives the technical and creative standard for the design team's deliverables. Expanded design skillsets such as architectural interiors specifications, LEED, NCIDQ are also recognized and leveraged at this level.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Pre-Design & Needs Assessment

• Lead complex site walkthroughs and discovery sessions with clients, A&D partners, and internal teams.
• Drive development scope of work details for large or multi-phase accounts; headcount, organizational culture, storage, adjacencies, departmental flow, and design intent.
• Set expectations on scope, schedule, and design deliverables at project kickoff.

Conceptual Design & Preliminary (ROM) Budget

• Direct conceptual design strategy; block layouts, test fits, and product narratives that align to client culture and budget.
• Validate ROM budgets and pressure-test assumptions before they reach the client.
• Site visits; dimensioning, progress check-ins specifically when being strategically positioned for a solution such as walls or interior design services.

Design Development, Revisions & Refinement

• Lead design development on the most complex deliverables; review junior and mid-level work and provide direct, actionable feedback.
• Approve product selections, manufacturer choices, finishes, and fabrics. Resolve cross-discipline conflicts between architecture, MEP, IT, and furniture.
• Champion alternative design solutions when needed and present them with clear trade-offs to clients and account teams.

Approvals & Finalization of Proposal

• Own final specification accuracy for assigned accounts in Spec (.sif)
• Lead client presentations through the design process and final sign-off.
• Coordinate the design timeline with the broader project schedule including GC, IT, and move management.

Procurement, Project Management & Installation

• Oversee installation drawing packages, J-box/data plans, and as-built documentation across assigned projects.
• Walk installs of high-visibility projects; lead punch-list resolution with the Project Manager and installation team.
• Serve as escalation point for field issues, manufacturer defects, and scope changes.

Team Leadership & Standards

• Mentor Intern, Junior, and Dealer Designers; conduct design reviews and provide quality control on outgoing deliverables.
• Help define and evolve team standards for CET Designer use, file management, specification accuracy, and AI-assisted workflow adoption.
• Partner with the Design Department Leader on workload allocation, training needs, and hiring input.

Code Compliance, Product Knowledge & Communication

• Apply expert-level knowledge of building and furniture plan code requirements; serve as the team's go-to resource on compliance questions.
• Deep Haworth product knowledge across product lines and applications; recognized expertise across open-line manufacturers with strong comparative analysis on price, function, and lead time.
• Maintain daily updates in project status software; model honest, proactive communication about availability, blockers, and shifting priorities.
• Manage project folders to the team's labeling standard and hold others accountable to the same.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Interior Design, Architecture, or related field.
• 9+ years of experience in contract furniture, commercial interiors, or A&D, including ownership of large or complex projects.
• Expert in CET Designer, Spec and Microsoft 365; proficient in AutoCAD, SketchUp, AI rendering and Canva
• Deep Haworth product knowledge plus broad fluency across non-Haworth open-line manufacturers.
• Strong working knowledge of applicable building and furniture plan code requirements.
• Active adopter of AI tools for design, documentation, specification QA, and client communication.
• Demonstrated ability to mentor, review, and elevate the work of junior designers.
• Excellent client-facing communication and presentation skills.
• Outstanding time management; proven calm under deadline pressure.
• Detail-oriented, self-sufficient, accountable, and a steady standard-bearer for design quality.