Kaplan Thompson Architects is a Portland, Maine architecture firm prioritizing sustainability, creative design, and technical excellence for every project. We focus on single-family homes (both new and renovations), multi-family residential, educational, and non-profit design projects. We are seeking an
Architectural Designer
with 5 to 8 years of professional experience; those with more experience are also encouraged to apply. This is a unique opportunity to get in the door with a design focused, mission-based, award-winning firm named to the Architect 50: Top 50 Firms in Sustainability in the U.S. We are seeking candidates who currently live or are willing to move within commuting distance of our office in Downtown Portland and are able to work in-person for the first six months of employment. Once this training period concludes (and you have endured enough of our terrible jokes), we offer a flexible environment with options for both in-person and hybrid work. Some members of our team maintain a permanent desk in the office, others take advantage of flex work-stations for several days of in-office time per week. We value your time and a healthy work-life balance. We observe a 40-hour work week, and time spent on project work beyond your weekly obligation is reimbursed quarterly as comp time or a cash bonus. Our workload and commitment to efficiency, project productivity, our clients, and the environment are rigorous, but so is our desire to foster a sense of community amongst our team and our peers. We enjoy monthly company social hours, compete and sometimes not place last in an industry bowling league, and maintain dedicated Slack channels for photos of our canine or feline companions. As if that’s not enough, let’s just say that after hours, we aren’t afraid to push up our sleeves and turn the conference room table into a ping pong court. If you are ready to be dazzled by our stunning assortment of nutritious office snacks (and meet the position requirements below!), we are ready to meet you! Compensation, Timing, and (Excellent) Benefits
We offer competitive salaries in alignment with prescribed AIA rates at or near the top levels for the region. This offer includes
3 weeks of paid vacation / personal / sick time
annually to start. Our benefits package also includes
100% medical coverage
on Health Insurance and 100% coverage on Disability Insurance. Additionally, KTA offers a
401K
benefit plan that allows you to save for retirement. With this plan, KTA will match your contributions up to 4% of your salary. There is no waiting period to receive these benefits. We also offer
10 paid holidays
including 3 paid floating holidays.
A commuting stipend of $60/mo nth will be provided, and may be either spent towards a parking space, bus pass, electric bike, or kept by you if an alternate form of transportation is used.
Bonuses
are distributed in accordance with hours worked and success of the office. Annually, every employee has the opportunity to spend up to $600 and two days pursuing professional development, which might include attending a conference, taking a class, or participating in another approved activity. Designers interested in achieving licensure also enjoy access to company-paid training materials and reimbursement of ARE expenses upon successful completion of tests. We also offer
one paid Community Day
with the entire office and
up to 24 matched hours
over the year for any Community Service or Industry Engagement you would like to pursue. Kaplan Thompson Architects is an equal opportunity employer.
In order to provide equal employment and advancement opportunities to all individuals, employment decisions are based on merit, qualifications, and abilities. We do not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age or disability. We apply the same non-discrimination requirements with respect to the treatment of our customers, vendors, and suppliers. We are proud to be the first architecture firm in Maine to have received the
JUST label
for a socially just and equitable organization. Responsibilities
Design Skill
Participate in conceptual design and provide full support throughout entire projects Coordinate project design, develop creative design concepts for projects, and prepare presentation and design drawings Technical Ability
Assist in preparing project specifications Provide specific technical design aspects of major projects, including BIM, investigation, evaluation, and recommendation of design solutions that best meet the client’s needs Carry out complex or novel assignments requiring the development of new or improved techniques and procedures Coordinate with Principals and more experienced Architectural Staff on appropriate technical solutions and strategies Occasionally provide technical guidance to less experienced architectural staff Project Management
Have full responsibility for managing all aspects of small, simple projects with guidance from Principals and Senior Staff, including estimating scope of work Assist in preparing strategic plans for project success Monitor and assist in coordination of administrative and technical project efforts to ensure the most efficient and cost-effective execution of assigned projects Actively monitor client budgets, schedules, and programs Assist in management of project communications and documentation Understand fee estimation, how to determine scope of work, and how to prepare proposals and contracts on simple projects Communication
Be relied upon to present directly to the client on technical and design solutions Provide management of project communications and documentation pending project-specific role Teamwork
Work in a collaborative team structure with other architects and designers on single-family and multi-family residential projects, restaurants, and sustainability-focused institutions Follow up with junior staff to see if they have any questions or when task load might be light Industry Awareness
Strive to incorporate sustainable solutions throughout your work Produce work that is consistent with the quality and design aesthetic of the firm, and the region Monitor activity in relevant industry organizations Self-development
Proactively participate in office culture Strive for professional and personal development Business Development
Participate in lead nurturing Cultivate relationships with clients and potential clients Leadership
Champion one or more internal initiatives Introduce new initiatives that will benefit the organization Contribute to advancing the skills of others Requirements
Required: BArch or BS in Architecture completed and 5+ years of experience, full competence in all conventional aspects of architecture, location within commuting distance of our office in Portland, and the ability to attend construction site visits within a 3-hour range of Portland, regular in-person client meetings, and in-person office events. Access to the office requires climbing one flight of stairs. Construction Administration requires navigating job sites lacking accessibility features. Preferred: Architectural licensure. Skills
Required: Excellent aesthetic and/or technical design skills, strong written and verbal communication skills, 3D drafting with BIM modeling experience, ability to delegate tasks to less experienced architectural staff Preferred: Education/interest/experience in the field of sustainable design, experience with ArchiCAD, software proficiency with Mac, Microsoft Office, Gsuite, Adobe Creative Suite, Keynote or Powerpoint Expectations
You bring
Affability and a positive attitude Joy and creativity to your projects and your workplace An emerging design vision, drive, and a deep belief in a more sustainable future The ability to push boundaries and think unconventionally You embrace
Working independently and meeting timely goals Adaptability to work on multiple projects with changing project schedules Collaborating with other team members and external partners Active participation in the health and vibrancy of the business Maintaining rigor in quality of work and written communications You are comfortable with
A flexible environment with options for both in-person and remote work An open, collaborative team approach and a collegial studio atmosphere Communicating when you see room for improvement and coming to the table with solutions You can expect from us
The opportunity to work on high-performance, net zero energy, Living Building Challenge, and Passive House projects, with all the rigors and joys they entail Professional development support and resources A portfolio of mission-driven projects Compensation
The expected starting range for this role, based on our 2026 salary bands, is $67,203 to $84,150 base salary for unlicensed professionals and $78,783 to $96,024 base salary for licensed professionals, plus benefits that equal a total compensation package in the range of $80,000 to $109,000. Role and compensation will be commensurate with experience and skill. Timeline
We will be gathering resumes for this position through mid-March. Interviews with qualified candidates will be scheduled from mid-March through mid-April. We will be targeting a starting date for this role in early May. To view some of our work and our philosophy, please view www.kaplanthompson.com.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Architectural Designer
with 5 to 8 years of professional experience; those with more experience are also encouraged to apply. This is a unique opportunity to get in the door with a design focused, mission-based, award-winning firm named to the Architect 50: Top 50 Firms in Sustainability in the U.S. We are seeking candidates who currently live or are willing to move within commuting distance of our office in Downtown Portland and are able to work in-person for the first six months of employment. Once this training period concludes (and you have endured enough of our terrible jokes), we offer a flexible environment with options for both in-person and hybrid work. Some members of our team maintain a permanent desk in the office, others take advantage of flex work-stations for several days of in-office time per week. We value your time and a healthy work-life balance. We observe a 40-hour work week, and time spent on project work beyond your weekly obligation is reimbursed quarterly as comp time or a cash bonus. Our workload and commitment to efficiency, project productivity, our clients, and the environment are rigorous, but so is our desire to foster a sense of community amongst our team and our peers. We enjoy monthly company social hours, compete and sometimes not place last in an industry bowling league, and maintain dedicated Slack channels for photos of our canine or feline companions. As if that’s not enough, let’s just say that after hours, we aren’t afraid to push up our sleeves and turn the conference room table into a ping pong court. If you are ready to be dazzled by our stunning assortment of nutritious office snacks (and meet the position requirements below!), we are ready to meet you! Compensation, Timing, and (Excellent) Benefits
We offer competitive salaries in alignment with prescribed AIA rates at or near the top levels for the region. This offer includes
3 weeks of paid vacation / personal / sick time
annually to start. Our benefits package also includes
100% medical coverage
on Health Insurance and 100% coverage on Disability Insurance. Additionally, KTA offers a
401K
benefit plan that allows you to save for retirement. With this plan, KTA will match your contributions up to 4% of your salary. There is no waiting period to receive these benefits. We also offer
10 paid holidays
including 3 paid floating holidays.
A commuting stipend of $60/mo nth will be provided, and may be either spent towards a parking space, bus pass, electric bike, or kept by you if an alternate form of transportation is used.
Bonuses
are distributed in accordance with hours worked and success of the office. Annually, every employee has the opportunity to spend up to $600 and two days pursuing professional development, which might include attending a conference, taking a class, or participating in another approved activity. Designers interested in achieving licensure also enjoy access to company-paid training materials and reimbursement of ARE expenses upon successful completion of tests. We also offer
one paid Community Day
with the entire office and
up to 24 matched hours
over the year for any Community Service or Industry Engagement you would like to pursue. Kaplan Thompson Architects is an equal opportunity employer.
In order to provide equal employment and advancement opportunities to all individuals, employment decisions are based on merit, qualifications, and abilities. We do not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age or disability. We apply the same non-discrimination requirements with respect to the treatment of our customers, vendors, and suppliers. We are proud to be the first architecture firm in Maine to have received the
JUST label
for a socially just and equitable organization. Responsibilities
Design Skill
Participate in conceptual design and provide full support throughout entire projects Coordinate project design, develop creative design concepts for projects, and prepare presentation and design drawings Technical Ability
Assist in preparing project specifications Provide specific technical design aspects of major projects, including BIM, investigation, evaluation, and recommendation of design solutions that best meet the client’s needs Carry out complex or novel assignments requiring the development of new or improved techniques and procedures Coordinate with Principals and more experienced Architectural Staff on appropriate technical solutions and strategies Occasionally provide technical guidance to less experienced architectural staff Project Management
Have full responsibility for managing all aspects of small, simple projects with guidance from Principals and Senior Staff, including estimating scope of work Assist in preparing strategic plans for project success Monitor and assist in coordination of administrative and technical project efforts to ensure the most efficient and cost-effective execution of assigned projects Actively monitor client budgets, schedules, and programs Assist in management of project communications and documentation Understand fee estimation, how to determine scope of work, and how to prepare proposals and contracts on simple projects Communication
Be relied upon to present directly to the client on technical and design solutions Provide management of project communications and documentation pending project-specific role Teamwork
Work in a collaborative team structure with other architects and designers on single-family and multi-family residential projects, restaurants, and sustainability-focused institutions Follow up with junior staff to see if they have any questions or when task load might be light Industry Awareness
Strive to incorporate sustainable solutions throughout your work Produce work that is consistent with the quality and design aesthetic of the firm, and the region Monitor activity in relevant industry organizations Self-development
Proactively participate in office culture Strive for professional and personal development Business Development
Participate in lead nurturing Cultivate relationships with clients and potential clients Leadership
Champion one or more internal initiatives Introduce new initiatives that will benefit the organization Contribute to advancing the skills of others Requirements
Required: BArch or BS in Architecture completed and 5+ years of experience, full competence in all conventional aspects of architecture, location within commuting distance of our office in Portland, and the ability to attend construction site visits within a 3-hour range of Portland, regular in-person client meetings, and in-person office events. Access to the office requires climbing one flight of stairs. Construction Administration requires navigating job sites lacking accessibility features. Preferred: Architectural licensure. Skills
Required: Excellent aesthetic and/or technical design skills, strong written and verbal communication skills, 3D drafting with BIM modeling experience, ability to delegate tasks to less experienced architectural staff Preferred: Education/interest/experience in the field of sustainable design, experience with ArchiCAD, software proficiency with Mac, Microsoft Office, Gsuite, Adobe Creative Suite, Keynote or Powerpoint Expectations
You bring
Affability and a positive attitude Joy and creativity to your projects and your workplace An emerging design vision, drive, and a deep belief in a more sustainable future The ability to push boundaries and think unconventionally You embrace
Working independently and meeting timely goals Adaptability to work on multiple projects with changing project schedules Collaborating with other team members and external partners Active participation in the health and vibrancy of the business Maintaining rigor in quality of work and written communications You are comfortable with
A flexible environment with options for both in-person and remote work An open, collaborative team approach and a collegial studio atmosphere Communicating when you see room for improvement and coming to the table with solutions You can expect from us
The opportunity to work on high-performance, net zero energy, Living Building Challenge, and Passive House projects, with all the rigors and joys they entail Professional development support and resources A portfolio of mission-driven projects Compensation
The expected starting range for this role, based on our 2026 salary bands, is $67,203 to $84,150 base salary for unlicensed professionals and $78,783 to $96,024 base salary for licensed professionals, plus benefits that equal a total compensation package in the range of $80,000 to $109,000. Role and compensation will be commensurate with experience and skill. Timeline
We will be gathering resumes for this position through mid-March. Interviews with qualified candidates will be scheduled from mid-March through mid-April. We will be targeting a starting date for this role in early May. To view some of our work and our philosophy, please view www.kaplanthompson.com.
#J-18808-Ljbffr