Lead Designer at Blue Star in Washington, DC, USA

Job description

• Blue Star
• Washington, DC | Full-Time | Onsite
• Blue Star is seeking an experienced and technically strong Lead Designer to support our high-end residential remodeling and custom home projects from early concept through construction-ready documentation.
• This is not a traditional interior design role. We are looking for someone who understands residential construction, design documentation, space planning, building details, permit requirements, and the preconstruction process. The right person will play a key role in transforming client ideas, field conditions, and construction realities into clear, buildable design solutions.
• The ideal candidate has experience working within high-end residential remodeling or custom home construction environments and understands how design integrates directly with production, estimating, permitting, and project execution.
• You are technical, organized, collaborative, and solutions-oriented. You care about great design, but you also care about whether the design can actually be built well.
• You are comfortable working with both clients and construction teams and understand that successful residential projects require strong communication, clean documentation, practical problem-solving, and teamwork across design and production.

Responsibilities

• In this role, you will work closely with ownership, project managers, superintendents, architects, engineers, trade partners, and clients to move projects from concept into construction.
• Develop residential design concepts, layouts, plans, elevations, and detailed construction drawings
• Translate client goals and existing site conditions into practical and buildable design solutions
• Support preconstruction through design development, scope clarification, selections coordination, and documentation
• Prepare permit drawings and design packages for pricing, permitting, client review, and construction
• Coordinate with architects, engineers, consultants, vendors, and trade partners
• Assist with site verification, field measurements, and existing-condition documentation
• Help identify constructability issues before projects move into production
• Collaborate directly with project managers, superintendents, and field teams throughout the project lifecycle
• Maintain organized project files, specifications, drawings, and design notes
• Help ensure the final design aligns with budget, schedule, client expectations, and buildability

Requirements

• The ideal candidate has a strong technical design background and understands how high-end residential projects are actually built.
• 3-5 years of experience in residential design, architecture, drafting, design-build, remodeling, or custom home construction
• Strong understanding of construction drawings, detailing, specifications, and residential building systems
• Ability to create clear, accurate, and buildable design documents
• Working knowledge of permitting processes, code basics, and residential construction methods
• Experience with field measuring and existing-condition documentation
• Strong communication and collaboration skills with clients, consultants, project managers, superintendents, and trade partners
• Ability to balance design intent with budget, schedule, and construction realities
• Highly organized with strong attention to detail and a practical, solutions-focused mindset
• Proficiency in AutoCAD(rquired)
• Revit
• Chief Architect
• SketchUp
• 2020 Design
• Design-build project delivery
• Selections coordination
• Permit drawing preparation
• Google Workspace and Microsoft skills
• JobTread, Buildertrend, CoConstruct, or similar construction management software
• High-end residential remodeling or custom home construction experience
• Licensed Residential Architect (preferred but not required)

Skills

Required

• AutoCAD (required)
• Practical, solutions-focused mindset

Preferred

• Revit
• Chief Architect
• SketchUp
• 2020 Design
• Design-build project delivery
• Selections coordination
• Permit drawing preparation
• Google Workspace and Microsoft skills

Benefits

• Salary range: $85,000 - $95,000, depending on experience and qualifications
• 2 weeks PTO, increasing with tenure
• 14 paid holidays
• 50% company-paid health insurance for employees
• 401(k) with company match after one year
• Opportunity to work on high-end residential remodeling and custom home projects
• Collaborative and team-oriented environment
• Long-term growth opportunity within an established design-build company