Designer

About Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM)

SOM is a global firm consisting of over 1,200 architects, designers, engineers, and planners spread across studios in London, Chicago, New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Washington D.C., Hong Kong, Melbourne, Riyadh, and Dubai. The London studio leads in transformative, design-driven architecture focused on excellence, sustainability, and innovation through a collaborative culture across disciplines.

Role Impact and Responsibilities

As a senior design leader, you will play a pivotal role in shaping projects from concept through to completion, integrating strategic vision with exceptional design quality. Your leadership will guide interdisciplinary teams to deliver groundbreaking, forward-thinking architectural solutions.

• Lead the design process from initial concepts to delivery, ensuring high buildability, optimal performance, and superior quality.
• Conduct cross-disciplinary design reviews, addressing complex challenges with innovative and clear solutions.
• Mentor emerging talent and foster a vibrant, design-focused studio environment.
• Develop and communicate compelling design narratives to clients and collaborators, enhancing SOM’s global reputation.

Candidate Profile

• Minimum seven years experience managing extensive, complex architectural projects; licensure preferred.
• Strong commitment to creating impactful and sustainable architectural designs.
• Proven leadership skills that inspire and mobilize interdisciplinary teams towards design excellence.
• Excellent communication skills for articulating design intentions through documentation, dialogue, and publishing. Ability to promote thought leadership and mentorship within the studio and the wider firm community.

Why Join SOM?

Being part of SOM's global network provides exposure to diverse offices, disciplines, and cultural perspectives, all collaborating to achieve design excellence internationally. The firm supports career development through mentorship, leadership access, and opportunities to influence the built environment at multiple scales. Diversity and inclusion are core values at SOM, fostering a workplace that enriches firm thinking and community impact.

Application Requirements

Submissions must include a portfolio and CV. Portfolios should be one PDF file, 10-20 pages, and no more than 5 MB. Portfolios without work samples will not be reviewed.