Careers in Architecture

By Willy Franzen

Looking for an entry level job or internship in architecture? Here's an overview of how to approach the search and a list of companies that might have entry level and internship opportunities that will interest you.

See companies with architecture careers or search the latest architecture jobs and internships.

Photo Credit: Flickr user Will Scullin

If buildings grab your interest and you ponder over the specifics of their design, you might be prime material for the field of architecture.

One of the clearest job paths in architecture is that of an architect, who designs buildings–both inside and out–for others to build or renovate. An architect has to keep many things in mind while designing a building such as sustainability, accessibility, and the surrounding buildings.

But the road to becoming an architect is a long one. Potential architects must complete a bachelor’s degree in architecture followed by a fifth year of study (or a master’s degree in architecture), then complete a training period before passing a licensing exam.

When you do pass the licensing exam (which varies from state to state), you can practice architecture. Here are a few places you might work:

Preservation society
Design firm
Urban planning
Real estate firm

Since architecture is both an art and a science, courses in art and the sciences are useful, particularly in drawing, photography, computer science, and physics. An understanding of spatial relationships will only help you in developing your skills. Sharpen your computer skills as well, as computer-aided drawing programs are used on a day to day basis.

Companies with Entry Level Jobs and Internships in Architecture

Chicago Architecture Foundation - Chicago Architecture Foundation is a non-profit organization that is “devoted to celebrating and promoting Chicago as a center of architectural innovation.”

See the complete Chicago Architecture Foundation profile

Job Title	Location
Senior .NET Developer (North of Chicago)	Chicago, IL
Senior DBA - Oracle	Chicago, IL
Senior Java/Web Developer	Chicago, IL
Enterprise Architecture Student Internship	Chicago, IL
Fall 2013 - Spring 2014_NY Campus Recruiting _OSL	New York, NY

See all 147 job postings

Vedere - Vedere is a New York, NY based company that offers “an online design community and global marketplace unlike any other.”

See the complete Vedere profile

Job Title	Location
Sales and Marketing Intern	New York, NY
Social Media Marketing Intern	New York, NY
Programmer - Entry Level	New York, NY
Freelance Sales Agents	New York, NY
ȘEF PRODUCȚIE FERMĂ BOVINE	Bovine, MI

See all 5 job postings

Design Within Reach - Design Within Reach is a Stamford, CT based furniture retailer that makes authentic modern design accessible with stores across the country.

See the complete Design Within Reach profile

Job Title	Location
Full-Time Faculty Advertising and Marketing Communications	New York, NY
Transportation-Environmental Planner - Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN	Eagan, MN
Project Engineer	Oviedo, FL
Software Engineer	Oviedo, FL
Lead Hardware Engineer	Oviedo, FL

See all 6,529 job postings

General Growth Properties - GGP is a Chicago, IL based real estate trust that owns and operates shopping centers all across the United States.

See the complete General Growth Properties profile

Job Title	Location
Commercial Real Estate Lender/Commercial Relationship Officer	New York, NY
COMMERCIAL LENDER/COMMERCIAL RELATIONSHIP OFFICER	New York, NY
Commercial Lender / Relationship Officer	New York, NY
Digital Growth Hacker / SEO Specialist	Santa Monica, CA
Strategic Project Manager	Lehi, UT

See all 5,718 job postings

Institute for Transportation and Development Policy - If you're excited by the intersection of transportation and international development, then consider a career with ITDP.

See the complete Institute for Transportation and Development Policy profile

Job Title	Location
Physical Therapist	Munster, IN
Freight Conductor	Philadelphia, PA
Account Manager - Energy Efficiency for New Homes / Maryland	Columbia, MD
Physician Recruitment Manager	Monrovia, CA
Coordinator, Communications	Los Angeles, CA

See all 254 job postings

Chicago History Museum - If you find that Chicago history speaks to you, then you’ll want to take a look at the Chicago History Museum’s Jobs page.

See the complete Chicago History Museum profile

Job Title	Location
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner in IL	Bloomington, IL
Postdoctoral Research Associate, Art History and Archeaology	St. Louis, MO
Nanny Needed in Old Town	Chicago, IL
Pick Me, Pick Me - Your Dream Position Awaits!!	Wisconsin
GREAT NP Opportunity surrounding Chicago!	Illinois

See all 63 job postings

Perkins+Will - I’m not much of an architectural critic, but Perkins+Will's projects look great and so do their entry level jobs for recent college grads.

See the complete Perkins+Will profile

Job Title	Location
Marketing Coordinator	Chicago, IL
Intern - Interiors	Chicago, IL
Construction Field Representative Manhattan, KS	St. Louis, MO
Interior Designer	Boston, MA
Financial Analyst	Chicago, IL

See all 39 job postings

Sapphos Environmental - Sapphos Environmental is a Pasadena, CA based environmental consulting company that specializes in planning, resource management, and environmental compliance.

See the complete Sapphos Environmental profile

Job Title	Location
Environmental Compliance Project Manager	Pasadena, CA
Environmental Compliance Manager	Pasadena, CA

See all 2 job postings

Populous - Populous' work goes well beyond architecture and design, so I’d imagine that they offer all kinds of jobs; however, right now the options are pretty limited.

See the complete Populous profile

Job Title	Location
Physician - Neurology Opportunity in Cheyenne, WY	Wyoming
Inpatient Acute Care Physical Therapist	Bronxville, NY
Vice President and Assistant General Counsel	Tampa, FL
Operating Room Operating Room Technician	New York, NY
3 Family Practice Physicians Needed in San Antonio	San Antonio, TX

See all 211 job postings

Rockwell Group - Rockwell Group doesn’t list jobs, but they do say “if you are passionate, creative, smart, hardworking, and looking for your next challenge,” you should apply.

See the complete Rockwell Group profile

Job Title	Location
Mazak Machinists	Cedar Rapids, IA
Assembly Project Engineer	Princeton, IN
Database Analyst	Milwaukee, WI
Manager, Industrial Eng & Tech Support	Cedar Rapids, IA
Maintenance Manager	Denmark, SC

See all 318 job postings

National Building Museum - If you have a passion for buildings, then a job with National Building Museum will lay the perfect foundation for your career.

See the complete National Building Museum profile

Job Title	Location
Research Analyst - Small Cap	Chicago, IL
Certified Industrial Hygientist	Reston, VA
Product Specialist II - Domestic	Chicago, IL
Vice President and Assistant General Counsel	Tampa, FL
Spring 2014 Student Volunteer	Washington, DC

See all 300 job postings

Public Architecture - Public Architecture a very cool non-profit, and certainly one that an architecturally minded new grad might want to work for.

See the complete Public Architecture profile

Job Title	Location
Business Intelligence Solutions Developer	Chevy Chase, MD
Business Process (BPMN) Analyst	Chevy Chase, MD
Data Warehouse BI Architect	Chelmsford, MA
Data Architect	Chevy Chase, MD
ASP.NET MVC Developer	Bethesda, MD

See all 6,896 job postings

National Park Service - If you love Memorial Day as much as I do, then a job with the National Park Service might be something worth thinking about.

See the complete National Park Service profile

Job Title	Location
Service Manager	Kirkland, WA
Food Service Attendant	Lenexa, KS
Vehicle Service Agent	Des Moines, IA
Account Manager / Field Technician $60K-$80K+	Paramus, NJ
Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant (COTA)- Perm Skilled Nursing in Virginia!	Farmville, VA

See all 5,254 job postings

Starwood - Starwood gets hospitality. They also get entry level recruiting. They make it dead simple for college students and new grads to find jobs with them.

See the complete Starwood profile

Job Title	Location
Engineering Manager	Orlando, FL
Board Relations Specialist	Orlando, FL
Internship: Performance Specialist (Winter/Spring 2013)	Venice, CA
Host (PT)	New York, NY
Host	New York, NY

See all 958 job postings

Department of Veterans Affairs - Finding jobs with the Federal Government can be tough, but we’ll guide you through the process of finding opportunities with the Department of Veterans\' Affairs

See the complete Department of Veterans Affairs profile

Job Title	Location
Vice President, Global Medical Affairs - Multiple Myeloma Job	Summit, NJ
Vice President, Global Medical Affairs - Melanoma Job	Summit, NJ
Vice President, Global Medical Affairs - Breast Disease Lead Job	Summit, NJ
Physician, Chief of Surgery	East Orange, NJ
PHYSICIAN (Associate Chief of Staff (Primary/Ambulatory Care)	Wilmington, DE

See all 4,953 job postings

Rumsey Engineers - Rumsey is hiring new engineering graduates for jobs such as Energy Modeler, Energy Analyst, HVAC Design Engineer, and Plumbing Engineer.

See the complete Rumsey Engineers profile

Job Title	Location
Civil-Highway Engineer	Columbia, MD
Relay Panel Assembler	Conshohocken, PA
Project Coordinator / Project Controls	Conshohocken, PA
Account Manager	Conshohocken, PA

See all 4 job postings

National Trust for Historic Preservation - The National Trust for Historic Preservation, an organization that saves America's historic places, is headquartered in Washington, D.C.

See the complete National Trust for Historic Preservation profile

Job Title	Location
Restaurant Host/Hostess	Chapel Hill, NC
Construction Asset Manager	Columbus, OH
Bellperson/ Valet- Full-Time	Chapel Hill, NC
Bellperson/ Valet- Part-Time	Chapel Hill, NC
Restaurant Manager	Chapel Hill, NC

See all 46 job postings

J.P. Franzen Associates Architects - Franzen Architects is looking to hire an Intern Architect (intern has a different meaning in architecture) who is driven to become a licensed architect.

See the complete J.P. Franzen Associates Architects profile

No current job openings.

WET Design - WET Design is the industry leader in creating water-based environments and experiences, and they are looking for top performers to join their team.

See the complete WET Design profile

Job Title	Location
Fire Protection Estimator with Fire Protection Design Experience Necessary	Hillside, NJ
UI Designer	Baltimore, MD
Model Maker	Winston-Salem, NC
Need a Landscape Designer & Installer	Concord, NC
Senior Chemical Process Engineer	Fridley, MN

See all 1,174 job postings

Check out the latest job and internship postings in architecture.

See more companies with entry level jobs and internships in architecture:

jobs by

Relevant Career Recommendations

Find similar career opportunities

Careers in Architecture

Companies with Entry Level Jobs and Internships in Architecture

See more companies with entry level jobs and internships in architecture: