Would You Take This Job? — Architect - Austin, Texas

Architect
Employer: Moontower
Location: Austin, TX, US
Pay: $75,000 - $90,000 / yr
Type: Full-time

What You’ll Do

  • Lead design and production (SD, DD, CD, permitting) for residential projects and produce high-quality drawing sets and presentations.

  • Serve as primary client contact: manage expectations, present agendas, and follow up with meeting notes.

  • Provide construction administration through biweekly site meetings, RFIs, and punch-list oversight to ensure design intent on build.

  • Coordinate consultants (structural, civil, landscape, pool) and manage project schedules and budgets.

  • Maintain project documentation, BIM/file management, and participate in studio meetings and community events.

Why It Stands Out

  • Design-build studio where architecture, interiors, and construction are integrated—opportunity to see projects through from design to build.

  • Competitive pay range, continuing education support, and performance incentives.

  • Strong studio culture emphasizing craft, collaboration, and community involvement.

Potential Trade-offs

  • In-office, East Austin-based role—commute or relocation may be required.

  • Not an entry-level role: 5+ years’ experience expected and it involves regular site visits and construction oversight.

  • Biweekly meetings and milestone-driven deadlines require consistent organization and time management.

Qualifications / Requirements

  • 5+ years’ residential architecture experience (licensed candidates preferred; strong unlicensed candidates with accredited degrees considered).

  • Proficiency with ArchiCAD, Morpholio, Adobe Suite, and ConstructionOnline (Mac/iPad-based workflows).

  • Strong client communication, project management, and knowledge of local permitting/codes.

  • Comfortable navigating job sites and coordinating consultants; valid driver’s license for site visits.

Perks / Benefits

  • Competitive salary within posted range, paid time off, and continuing-education support.

  • Collaborative, design-forward studio with opportunities for professional growth and community engagement.

  • Construction administration included—chance to champion design through build.

Here is the link to view more job details or apply.

Would you take this job? — How important is regular on-site construction administration to your idea of a rewarding architecture role?

Looks solid for Austin residential; I’d just ask @Moontower how much of the week is real design vs CA/permitting, since tree and watershed reviews here can quietly eat your Fridays… When I led SD–CD on custom homes, a simple post-meeting “client recap” email template saved hours and kept scope creep from sneaking.

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With “primary client contact,” ask about boundaries on after-hours emails and CA mileage; learned that lesson, @Guide.

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Quick tip from running similar Austin res work: set a weekly decision log and a 48-hour cutoff before permit submittals, baked into your client-contact routine — it saved me from Friday redraws and kept CA manageable. Pay looks fair if it’s truly 40–45 hrs; if it trends 50+, I’d ask about comp time. @Moontower do you already use a decision-log template (Revit/Notion)?

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@chawils +1 on clarifying time split; I’d also ask if they expect you to present at the BOA when compatibility or FAR bites — did two of those last year and it’s a different muscle than CDs. Nail down whether specs are full sections or on-sheet notes, because that can quietly add a week. If their Revit template is tight, this looks great; if not, prepare to herd families like cats.

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Clarify whether they cover ProjectDox rounds and AB+C uploads; on my last Austin res, a ‘minor’ tree comment cascaded into Austin Energy service changes and three resubmits, so I’d push for a pre‑submittal consult with Residential Review to front‑load it — saves you from whack‑a‑mole later.

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