Principal Architect

About Mason & Hanger, A Day & Zimmermann Company 

At Mason & Hanger, you could call us a pioneer in the production of next generation, high-performance facilities! We provide architectural and engineering (A/E) services specializing in the worldwide design of secure, mission-driven facilities. Our staff is dedicated to finding innovative ways to create dynamic spaces. Think that’s cool? We’ve worked on thousands of projects in over 165 countries as a trusted partner of the U.S. federal government for more than two centuries. We’re building a more secure world. ® Come join in on our purpose – We put people to work, we protect American freedoms, and we help our customers power and improve the world! https://www.masonandhanger.com

Position Description

We’re looking for a full-time, Principal Architect to join our Mason & Hanger team.

An independent frontline leader for the architectural department and multidisciplinary teams, responsible for guiding design direction to ensure department, company, and client success. Leads and directs production staff on the firm's most complex, high-stakes projects, often serving as the primary client-facing representative. Drives business development efforts including pursuing new projects, defining scopes, writing proposals, and managing contract changes. Ensures all projects are delivered on time, within budget, and with high constructability. Leverages industry relationships and strategic problem-solving, particularly in international contexts, to create award worthy, innovative designs aligned with market sector and firm wide objectives. Cultivates a professional, collaborative environment by working closely with project managers, market leaders, and business development teams.

As the Principal Architect, here’s the work you’ll do:

• Serve as the primary client-facing representative for the firm's architecture department. Act as the main point of contact for all architectural responsibilities on assigned projects, including attending meetings, leading conference calls, and managing comment reviews and responses. Ensure client satisfaction by delivering projects that are on time, within budget, well-coordinated, and constructible. Leverage a strong industry network to cultivate client relationships and support successful project acquisition.
• Lead and manage production teams, overseeing the design and execution of the firm’s most significant and complex architectural projects. Responsibilities include directing drawing production (CAD/BIM), reviewing and editing specifications, and ensuring the quality of supporting documents such as the Basis of Design. Review and validate work completed by other architects and designers to ensure accurate documentation of project scope. Lead construction-phase contract administration, including management of submittals, RFIs, and construction support for architectural components.
• Play an active role in business development efforts, including identifying and pursuing new project opportunities. Develop and validate scopes of work, prepare fee proposals, and contribute to contract modifications and negotiations.  Represent architecture in professional organizations, industry events and conferences.  Ability to perform speaking roles to enhance M&H exposure and subject matter expertise
• Drive the firm's architectural design direction and lead the development of projects that have a significant impact on company programs. Engage in exploration of project subject matter, scope definition, and the creation of innovative design solutions. Consistently strive to elevate project outcomes to award-winning standards and achieve industry recognition.
• Collaborate effectively with Market Sector Leaders, Project Managers, and Business Development teams. Lead by example, fostering a respectful, professional, and collaborative working environment across departments.

This role is for you if you have these skills:

• Independently makes decisions on significant architectural design problems and methods. Carries out complex or novel assignments requiring the development of new or improved techniques and procedures.  Proactive exploration of subject area, scope definition, selection of items for investigation, and development of innovative concepts and methods.
• Generates project vision, design and work plan capable of meeting (or exceeding) owner’s requirements; maintains successful trajectory of deliverables; seeks out innovative solutions in collaboration with others; exercises critical and independent thinking to generate solutions for unique and challenging problems; and