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

Houzz - Houzz is a Palo Alto, CA based company that offers “a collaborative platform for home remodeling and design."

See the complete Houzz profile

Job Title	Location
Social Media, Copywriting, Blogging Specialist	Staten Island, NY
Kitchen & Bath Sales Designer	Rockville, MD
Marketing Associate	Palo Alto, CA
Showroom sales associate	Lindon, UT
Digital Marketing Internship	Houston, TX

See all 43 job postings

American Conservatory Theater - American Conservatory Theater is a San Francisco based non-profit that aims to "renew, and reinvent the rich theatrical traditions that are our collective legacy."

See the complete American Conservatory Theater profile

Job Title	Location
Drama/Theater Arts Associate (Part-time) Instructor Pool	Oceanside, CA
ARTS MANAGER 2455	Los Angeles, CA
President & CEO	New Brunswick, NJ
Public Relations Intern	San Francisco, CA
President & CEO, Arts Center	New Jersey

See all 4 job postings

Hanley Wood - Washington, DC based Hanley Wood is “the premier media, event, information and strategic marketing services company serving the residential and commercial design and construction industries.”

See the complete Hanley Wood profile

Job Title	Location
Analyst - Published Research	Irvine, CA
Content Producer	Washington, DC
Director of Business Development - Opportunities Nationwide	Washington, DC
Ad Production Coordinator	Washington, DC
Field Researcher - Northern Virginia	Chantilly, VA

See all 22 job postings

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
Digital Learning Intern	Chicago, IL
Membership Intern	Chicago, IL
Regulatory Specialist	Chicago, IL
Regulatory Specialist	Chicago, IL
Regulatory Specialist	Chicago, IL

See all 127 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

No current job openings.

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
Digital Video Creative Director	New York, NY
Data Analyst	Charlotte, NC
Piping Designer	Blue Bell, PA
Sr.Continuous Delivery Engineer (DevOps)	Santa Clara, CA
Sales Manager - Digital & Print Media Company	Anchorage, AK

See all 8,385 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
Manager of Tax Compliance	Denver, CO
Project Manager - Commercial Hi Rise Construction	Philadelphia, PA
Director / Senior Director of Product Management	San Francisco, CA
Admin Assistant/Recruiter	Woodinville, WA
Physical Therapist- York Hospital- weekend option	York, PA

See all 5,393 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
Research RN - Cancer Center - FT (Days)	Des Moines, IA
Research Analyst	Danville, VA
Research Analyst in Ft Sam Houston, Texas	Texas
Director of Safety - GS - - 15 (Open to U.S. Citizens) - BP	Washington, DC
Research Analyst	Fort Sam Houston, TX

See all 394 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
Sr. User Researchers	San Jose, CA
Sr. User Experience Designers	San Jose, CA
Andrew W. Mellon Academic Curator	Chicago, IL
Andrew W. Mellon Academic Curator	Chicago, IL
Collections Assistant, Hoffman Conservation Project	Chicago, IL

See all 62 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
Receptionist	Washington, DC
Receptionist	Washington, DC
Design App Intern	Chicago, IL
Project Manager	New York, NY
Interior Designer II	New York, NY

See all 28 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

No current job openings.

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
Home Health Occupational Therapist	New York, NY
Operating Room in Syracuse New York	Oldsmar, FL
Cardiovascular Operating Room in Bangor Maine	Bangor, ME
L&D Registered Nurse	New York, NY
Intensive Care Unit Registered Nurse	New York, NY

See all 293 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
Lab Project Manager / Producer	New York, NY
Marketing and Digital Communications Specialist	Corning, NY
Manager, IMS International Compliance	Annapolis, MD
Pr Labor Relations Specialist	Cedar Rapids, IA
Principal Manager, Product Assurance	Cedar Rapids, IA

See all 352 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
Child Psychiatrist - Vermont	Rutland, VT
ADULT PSYCHIATRIST - VERMONT	Rutland, VT
Medical Director - Psychiatrist	Rutland, VT
Administrative Assistant	Chicago, IL
Visitor Services Assistant, Term, M-W, Sa-Su, 1-5:30	Cambridge, MA

See all 311 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
Director of Advisory Services - State & Local Government Practice (Boston/New England)	Boston, MA
Mobile Architect	King of Prussia, PA
Intern Architect	Lawrenceville, GA
Cloud Technical Writer	Chelmsford, MA
Acquisition Analyst #DOD071405	Arlington, VA

See all 7,925 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
DevOps Lead (San Francisco, CA)	San Francisco, CA
Software Engineering Manager	New York, NY
Oracle HCM Experienced Associate	Philadelphia, PA
Survey Methodologist	Durham, NC
General Dentist	North Buffalo, PA

See all 7,693 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
Regional Director of Field Sales & Marketing	Minneapolis, MN
Hotel Hourly Staff - Entry Level - Restaurant	Atlanta, GA
Intern	New York, NY
Facilities Manager	San Francisco, CA
Specialty Leasing Manager	Toledo, OH

See all 1,206 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
Director, Regulatory Affairs - Regulatory Policy & Intelligence	Lake County, IL
Quality Dossier Program Associate Director/Director	Lake County, IL
Manager, CMC Submissions	Lake County, IL
Mechanical Engineer PE (licensed in KY)	Louisville, KY
Principal Regulatory Affairs Associate Devices	Waltham, MA

See all 7,703 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
Power Systems Project Manager	Cherry Hill, NJ
CONSTRUCTION SERVICES DIRECTOR	Columbia, MD

See all 2 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
Sales/Catering Intern	Chapel Hill, NC
Supervisory Environmental Protection Specialist	Atlanta, GA
Supervisory Environmental Protection Specialist, GS-0028 13	Gallup, NM
Chief Marketing Officer	Washington, DC
Chief Marketing Officer	Washington, DC

See all 35 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
Machine Field Service Tech. (Odessa)	Odessa, TX
Engine Tech II - Evening Shift	Tulsa, OK
SEO/SEM Marketing Specialist	Woburn, MA
Mine Engineer	Winnemucca, NV
Category Insights Manager	Nashville, TN

See all 1,435 job postings

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