Director, Architecture Product Design

The Director, Architecture Design (Architecture Design Leader), is responsible for elevating design excellence across the organization. This role ensures all architectural designs achieve high levels of aesthetic quality, technical feasibility, customer desirability, and business viability. The position leads the creation and stewardship of scalable design systems, including reusable modules, pattern libraries, guardrails, and standards that integrate buyer insights, field feedback, and market expectations. The Architecture Design Leader partners closely with the Architecture Product Operations Leader and with cross-functional teams to lead the team to create beautiful, buildable, profitable homes aligned with company strategy.

Responsibilities

Defines and communicates a compelling architectural design vision; Ensures designs balance aesthetics, technical feasibility, and lifestyle relevance for luxury buyers; Protects design integrity throughout all project phases; Drives consistency, clarity, and innovation across all design outputs; Develops and maintains scalable design systems including reusable modules, pattern libraries, and layout frameworks; Codifies principles, rules, and standards that reduce rework and improve consistency; Translates customer insights, homeowner feedback, and luxury-buyer lifestyle patterns into design direction; Collaborates with Sales, CX, and Home Experience teams to identify design opportunities; Ensures conceptual designs are technically feasible, buildable, and aligned with structural, code, and site-fit constraints; Partners with Architecture Operations, Construction, Interior Design, Land, Sales, and CX teams; Leads a team of architects (approximately 6-9) and coaches them; Owns the full employee lifecycle for their team; Performs other related duties as necessary or assigned

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in architecture; Must possess licensure for WA; 12+ years of architectural experience in residential construction or homebuilding; 7+ years leading architecture, design, product development, and/or engineering/drafting teams; Ability to demonstrate architectural design principles; Structural systems; Housing code compliance (local & national); Construction documentation and detailing; Land planning fundamentals; Demonstrated proficiency in architectural software (AutoCAD, Revit, BIM tools); Proven experience influencing executives and leading cross-functional initiatives; Strong understanding of cost drivers and value-engineering techniques; Ability to occasionally walk lots and job sites; Frequent use of computer including keyboard functions and visual acuity of 20 inches or fewer; Ability to lift up to 10 lbs occasionally; Must be able to work in office Monday-Friday within core business hours of 8AM-5PM; Must possess a valid WA State driver's license and vehicle insurance

Nice to have

Strong architectural design portfolio demonstrating aesthetic judgement, technical capabilities and system thinking; Ability to balance feasibility, desirability, and viability in design decisions; Experience developing reusable design assets, standards, or scalable pattern libraries; Excellent communication and storytelling skills; Proficiency with drafting/BIM workflows and how design systems translate into technical documentation; Proficiency with MS suite of products including Outlook, Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Co-Pilot and/or other AI tools; Ability to clearly communicate technical and non-technical information; Curiosity, continuous learning, agility, adaptability, and emphasis on developing team capabilities; Coaching, active listening, motivating, empowering, and effective delegation; Empathy, genuine care, self-awareness, seeking and providing feedback and clarity, trust-building; Vision, change management principles, strategic alignment, innovation, big picture, embracing cutting-edge technology; Welcomes diverse viewpoints, market awareness, systems thinking, challenging status quo, collaboration; Initiative, aligning personal and company goals, follow-through, integrity; Leadership grounded in clarity, accountability, humility and collaboration; Strong understanding of architectural process, structural logic, building codes, and construction feasibility; Master's degree preferred; AZ licensure

Benefits

100% covered employee premiums for medical and dental self-coverage; 100% employer-paid life insurance; 100% employer-paid long term disability insurance; Paid medical and family leave; Critical illness insurance; 401(K) with generous company match, no vesting schedule, and access to professional financial advisors; Lifestyle reimbursement account; 20 days of PTO & 9 holidays; New iPhone for personal and business use; Free onsite parking; Company paid events; Complimentary snacks & beverages; Discretionary bonus