NBBJ is an award-winning design firm recognized as a TIME100 Most Influential Company, a Fast Company Most Innovative Architecture Firm and a two-time 2025 AIA National Honor Award recipient. These recognitions reflect our purpose-driven approach that, fueled by ideas and a culture of collaboration, creates healthy buildings, strong communities and a resilient environment. That’s where you come in. With leading clients, diverse colleagues and offices in creative capitals around the globe, a career at NBBJ will inspire you to be extraordinary. You can learn more about our firm, see what it’s like to work here and explore recent projects and ideas at NBBJ.com. Join us to make an impact today!
The role at a glance:
NBBJ Shanghai is seeking an Intermediate Architectural Designer, with experience with good conceptual, visual, and communication skills to work in a highly collaborative and design-oriented studio. At NBBJ, an Intermediate Architectural Designer is responsible for supporting design leadership on projects, contributing to setting design quality standards, fostering a collaborative design environment, and advancing the firm’s design reputation through active participation in project work, team mentorship, and client interactions.
In your new role, you will:
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Set Expectations: Define and exemplify quality standards through design reviews, mentoring, and open discussions.
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Inspire: Encourage radical thinking and creativity at all levels, leading the studio toward impactful design.
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Create: Provide hands-on design work for 1-2 projects, ranging in concept to construction, ensuring holistic design continuity.
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Review/Critique: Ensure design quality by reviewing projects and engaging teams in firm-wide peer reviews.
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Present/Communicate: Craft and present compelling design stories to clients and peers.
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Network Internally: Connect with design peers firm-wide, enhancing collaboration and design quality.
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Methodologies: Ensure projects utilize the latest design/visualization methods and technologies.
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Process: Champion proper process design and encourage designers to lead alongside PMs and PAs.
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Expertise: Apply sound design methods across practices, while developing expertise in a single typology.
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Integrated Design Delivery: Collaborate with multiple disciplines to ensure rigorous, integrated project delivery.
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Language: Strong bi-lingual Mandarin/English verbal fluency is preferred. Fluent English skills are required to provide long term success in a geographically diverse studio environment.
What you will need to succeed:
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5–10 years of professional experience; international work experience is preferred.
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Bachelor's or Master's degree in Architecture (B.Arch. or M.Arch.) preferred.
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Architectural licensure is a plus.
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Strong understanding of high-performance building concepts; LEED Accreditation preferred or expected within 18 months of hire.
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Demonstrated conceptual and schematic design skills.
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Excellent verbal, written, and graphic communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with diverse design teams.
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Proficiency in Revit, including 3D modeling; experience with SketchUp and/or Rhino is preferred.
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Working knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite, including Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign.
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Experience with or interest in Grasshopper workflows is a plus.
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Interest in applying AI technologies to advance design practice and develop meaningful, innovative solutions.
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Ability to contribute to multiple projects simultaneously while managing deadlines effectively.
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Ability to thrive in a collaborative and open work environment.
This role requires the individual to be based in the Shanghai, China.
Why choose NBBJ?
We believe that all NBBJ employees should love their work. This means not only loving what you do but having pride in your workplace. We strive to be that irresistible place to work by enhancing your employee experience with customized programs and comprehensive benefits. We offer unique professional development opportunities, volunteer opportunities and access to leading technology and resources to further help you love your work and advance your career.
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NBBJ has been named three times by Fast Company as one of the most innovative architecture firms.
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Founded in 1943, our first office opened over 75 years ago in Seattle, Washington. We now have over 10 office locations around the globe.
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We are a transdisciplinary, cross-practice focused firm with a deep portfolio of Civic & Cultural, Commercial, Corporate, Healthcare, Higher Education, Science and Technology, Sports, and Urban Environment projects. We also have several areas of service expertise including: Architecture, Environmental Graphic Design, Interior Design, Lighting Design, Workplace Consulting and more.
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In the past decade, NBBJ has received more than 300 awards from leading global, national and regional award programs across the business, real estate and design communities.
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We work with 5 of the top global high-tech companies, 14 of the U.S. News and World Report Top Hospitals, and 4 of the top 10 highest-ranked learning institutions.
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Our clients include institutional leaders such as Cambridge University, Google, Samsung, Cleveland Clinic, Tencent, and Stanford University.
NBBJ is an Equal Opportunity Employer. M/F Disabled and Vet EEO/AA Employer.
NBBJ does not accept unsolicited resumes or similar submissions from third party recruiters or employment agencies. Any unsolicited materials received by NBBJ from a source other than an individual candidate will be considered NBBJ property and NBBJ reserves the right to pursue and hire candidates referred to us without any financial obligation to the third party in question. If you are interested in becoming an approved NBBJ external recruiter, please contact a member of the NBBJ Talent Acquisition Team.
