About Us

Clayco is a full-service, turnkey real estate development, master planning, architecture, engineering, and construction firm that safely delivers clients across North America the highest quality solutions on time, on budget, and above and beyond expectations. With $7.6 billion in revenue for 2024, Clayco specializes in the "art and science of building," providing fast track, efficient solutions for industrial, commercial, institutional, and residential related building projects.

About LJC
LJC Design & Engineering is a full-service architecture, engineering, and design firm committed to enhancing the quality of the human experience through integrated design. We are a team of high-energy professionals who share a passion for design, a collaborative approach, and a casual culture. We solve challenges by leveraging the collective expertise and ingenuity of the best and brightest minds across development, design, and construction.

The Role We Want You For

The Architectural Designer 1, will provide architectural design and drafting services in support of the Principal in Charge, Project Managers, Project Architects, and Design Architects on a wide range of commercial and industrial construction projects.

The Specifics of the Role

• Support project efforts as architectural projects move through the phases of design/construction from Master Planning, Schematic Design, Design Development, Bidding and Construction Administration.
• Assist in all phases, including health, safety and welfare of buildings, through an understanding and application of the theories of design, balance and aesthetics.
• Research and analyze building codes, zoning requirements and other technical documents to incorporate requirements in the architectural designs.
• Interpret codes and their design intent on projects regarding life safety, function, aesthetics and cost.
• Identify walls needing to be fire rated, number of exits required in case of fire and travel distances to exits, and allowable building size based on building use, construction type and effects of sprinklers.
• Understand building setbacks from property lines, easements, parking requirements and ADA requirements.
• Assist in the preparation of predesign services, such as master planning documents, feasibility studies, concept plans, and be able to present options using computer software for 3D design reviews.
• Collect and analyze data for a project, and determine types of spaces, quantity of each and size of each based on information provided by owner.
• Based on this information, develop options and alternative for client review.
• Work with Project Architect to coordinate Structural, Electrical, Mechanical, Plumbing, Fire Protection and Low Voltage requirements into the design.
• Work with engineers and understand their systems enough to coordinate and make sure it is the most appropriate system for the building/owner with regard to function and cost.
• Work with the team to coordinate, checks and revise drawings during the QC process to avoid errors and omissions as set forth in the contract.
• Assist the Project Architect during the bidding process to answer contractor questions and issues supplemental drawings for addendums.
• Work quickly to answer questions and provide clear drawings when requested.
• Assist the Project Architect in the review of shop drawings during construction and visit the site as needed to observe construction.
• Review shop drawings from subcontractors and confirm they meet with design intent of the construction documents.
• Meet with clients and present the firm in a professional and educated manner to make the client comfortable about their ability to do the project.
  

Requirements:

• Position requires a Bachelor’s degree (Architecture or a related field) or foreign degree equivalent, and 5 years of relevant experience.
• At least 5 years of experience with computer-based drafting tools with any combination of the following: AutoCAD and Revit.
• At least 5 years of experience with Adobe Creative Cloud with any combination of the following: Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign.
• At least 5 years of experience with developing construction documents.
• At least 3 years of experience with creating realistic and immersive renderings, providing solutions for Architects, Landscapers, Urban Planners, and Interior Designers using Lumion and Enscape.
• At least 3 years of experience with GIS and 3D modeling tools with any combination of the following: Sketch-up, Rhino and Enscape.
• Domestic travel required less than 5% of work schedule to attend meetings and conduct site visits related to projects.

Some Things You Should Know

• Our clients and projects are nationwide – occasional travel will be part of the job.
• No other builder can offer the collaborative design-build approach that Clayco does.
• We work on creative, complex, award-winning, high-profile jobs.
• The pace is fast!
  

Why Clayco and LJC?

• 2025 Best Places to Work – St. Louis Business Journal, Los Angeles Business Journal, and Phoenix Business Journal.
• 2025 ENR Midwest – Midwest Contractor (#1).
• 2025 ENR Top 100 Design-Build Firms – Design-Build Contractor (Top 5).
• 2025 ENR Top 100 Green Contractors – Green Contractor (Top 3).
• 2025 ENR Top 25 Data Center Builders - Data Center Contractor (Top 3).
  

Benefits

• Discretionary Annual Bonus: Subject to company performance and individual contribution.
• Comprehensive Benefits Package Including: medical, dental and vision plans, 401k, generous PTO and paid company holidays, employee assistance program, flexible spending accounts, life insurance, disability coverage, learning & development programs and more!

Compensation

• The salary for this position considers a wide range of factors in making compensation decisions including but not limited to: Education, qualifications, skills, training, experience, certifications, internal equity, and location.