Join Blitz

Technical Director

About the Opportunity

The Technical Director (TD) at Blitz works on multiple projects and enables design teams to create exceptional projects by assisting with the technical design, detailing, specification, and documentation of project design decisions.

They own the creation of the project’s PPD (Blitz’s proprietary preliminary project description specification). They own the creation of the project’s specifications (with input from the design team) and are constantly updating the MasterSpec for conformance with best practices, available products, and lessons learned from recently completed projects. They own the QA/QC process at Blitz and ensure that all teams are executing on the documented processes and procedures at the established checkpoints in the project process. They provide feedback to the project team and confirm that any identified issues have been resolved. They provide a final QC review of all drawing sets before they leave the studio. They may also assist teams in cartooning document sets, coordinating with consultants, and interfacing with AHJ’s including Building, Fire, and Health departments.

The TD is also responsible for assisting in the ongoing development and implementation of firm-wide technical processes and procedures as part of the firm’s Quality Assurance Program, the office master specification documents, and the office standard details for incorporation into the firm’s Revit template.

They will assist design teams in the creation of one-off, specialty, or technically significant design details including core/shell/façade details.

The Technical Director will participate in staff interviews and, to the extent that they have oversight over technical staff’s work, they will participate in performance reviews. They do not have a business development role/responsibility but they may be asked to participate in occasional project interviews.

The Technical Director is a member of the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) and attends weekly operations meetings and annual leadership retreats.

Qualifications

Experience

  • 15+ years professional experience.

  • Accredited degree in Architecture or Interior Design

  • Licensed Architect in California. Additional jurisdictions and NCARB Certification a strong plus.

  • LEED and/or WELL Accreditation a plus.

  • REVIT proficiency is required.

  • Experience in commercial interiors.

  • Experience with core/ shell / facade details a strong plus.

  • Experience with workplace, hospitality, and retail a strong plus.

  • Experience coordinating multiple projects across multiple jurisdictions with a distributed workforce.

Design / Technical Design

  • Expert technical and design skills.

  • Expert knowledge of the California Building Code and Local Building Codes.

  • Experience with DSA a strong plus.

  • Experience preparing specifications.

  • Expert knowledge of MasterSpec or equivalent spec writing software.

  • Experience with materials research and selection. Demonstration of self-driven continuing education on latest / greatest materials, assemblies, fixtures as applicable to Blitz’s typical project typologies.

  • Expert knowledge in construction documentation and detailing including ground up projects and tenant improvement projects.

  • Experience coordinating with public agencies and jurisdictions related to planning and building approvals.

  • Experience designing to a construction budget and advising design teams on designing to a construction budget.

  • Applies rigor and elegance to the resolution and execution of their design ideas.

  • Experience with the development and maintenance of technical standards at a firm level.

Soft Skills

  • Demonstrated history of Tenacity (our core value).

  • Ability to work within a team environment.

  • Demonstrated ability to coordinate and collaborate with clients, consultants, and contractors.

  • Ability to work on several projects simultaneously with multiple deadlines.

  • Ability to work with distributed teams in a hybrid role.

  • Experience cultivating and maintaining a positive, inclusive company culture.

  • Ability to advise and facilitate decision making amongst internal design teams and external teams (consultants, contractors, and clients).

  • Influence the future of the design by creating a culture that inspires thought leadership, progressive thinking, innovative design solutions and high-quality execution.

  • Upholds the highest standards of project delivery and professionalism.

  • Tenacious commitment to quality.

  • Operates from a position of ‘yes, and’, not ‘no’. The successful candidate will strive to support the design team in achieving their design goals for a project, including the implementation of unconventional solutions.

Basic Requirements

  • Candidates must currently reside in and have unrestricted authorization to work in the United States.

  • Excellent verbal, written, and graphic communication skills, as well as excellent organizational skills.

  • Candidates must be able to travel to other studios as required.

Benefits

  • Full-time employees receive four weeks PTO (including the week between Christmas and New Years when the firm is closed).

  • Nine paid holiday days.

  • Flexible working hours.

  • Distributed work model.

  • Full medical, dental, and vision coverage.

  • 401(k) with generous matching.

  • Strong continuing education support on both a firm-wide and an individual basis.

  • Salary range 150k to 175k.

How to Apply

Email your cover letter, resume, work samples inclusive of rendering samples, and salary requirements in a single document in PDF format to careers@studioblitz.com. No phone calls or drop-ins please.

About Blitz

Blitz is an award-winning architecture and interior design firm headquartered in San Francisco. From start-ups to Fortune 500 companies, we are privileged to work with some of the best and brightest companies in the world and hope you will join us. The Blitz team works hard and we make sure we take time to have fun and keep learning. We support our industry through a variety of events and enjoy being part of the design and construction community. Blitz is delighted with the attention we get through awards and press, which highlight our workplace, hospitality, bio-tech, retail, higher education, international, and ground-up portfolio. Not to mention, our parties (virtual and in-person) are awesome.

Learn more about Blitz via Instagram (we love photos), LinkedIn, and of course our website.