Architectural Designer – High-End Residential Remodeling

This is a full-time, in-person position on Hilton Head Island. You must live within reasonable driving distance or be actively planning to relocate to the area. HHI Builders does not provide relocation assistance.

You Know the Difference Between a Drawing That Looks Good and One That Actually Builds Well

You have probably seen it before.

A drawing gets approved, makes it into the field, and suddenly the questions start.

A wall does not line up. A structural condition was overlooked. A detail is missing. A trade has to stop and wait for clarification.

That is not how you like to work.

You believe good residential design requires more than drafting. It requires thinking ahead, understanding how a home actually comes apart and goes back together, and producing documents that give the people in the field the information they need to execute.

If that sounds like you, HHI Builders may be a place where you can do some of your best work.

We are a growing design-build remodeling company on Hilton Head Island specializing in high-end residential renovations, additions, and whole-home transformations.

We are looking for an Architectural Designer who wants ownership of the architectural side of the process and wants to see their work carried all the way from existing conditions through construction.

What You Will Get to Do Here

You will not sit in a drafting department receiving markups from people you rarely speak with.

You will work directly with the people responsible for selling, designing, estimating, and building the project.

You Will Collaborate With

Project Directors who understand the client's goals and scopeInterior Designers developing selections and interior detailsEstimators determining what the project will actually costProject Managers responsible for building what you drawEngineers and outside consultants when structural expertise is required

And you will have the opportunity to see your drawings become real homes.

That feedback loop matters to us.

When something works well in the field, you will see it.

When something could have been documented better, you will see that too.

And you will have the ability to improve the process.

Compensation: $70,000 - $90,000 yearly

Qualifications

What We Are Looking ForOur ideal candidate will have:Approximately 4–8+ years of residential architectural design or drafting experienceStrong experience producing residential construction documentsRemodeling and addition experience strongly preferredA solid understanding of residential construction and building codesExperience coordinating structural engineers and outside consultantsStrong attention to dimensional accuracy and drawing coordinationAbility to manage multiple projects and deadlinesStrong communication and problem-solving skillsComfort visiting active residential construction sitesA collaborative, team-oriented mindsetExperience with Chief Architect is strongly preferred.Experience with Revit, AutoCAD, SketchUp, or similar residential design software is also valuable.What Success Looks Like HereSuccess is not measured by how quickly you can push drawings out the door.It means:The estimator understands exactly what is being priced.The Interior Designer understands what needs to be selected.The Project Manager understands what needs to be built.The trades are not constantly calling for clarification.The permitting process moves efficiently.The client receives what they were expecting.Problems are identified during design instead of during construction.That is the standard we are working toward.Why HHI Builders?We are not a volume builder.We specialize in complex, high-end residential remodeling on Hilton Head Island, where thoughtful planning matters.Our philosophy is:Plan Slow. Execute Fast.We believe the best opportunity to protect schedule, margin, craftsmanship, and the client experience happens before construction begins.That means architectural design is not a support function here.It is one of the most important parts of our process.As HHI Builders continues to grow, you will have the opportunity to help improve standards, refine processes, influence how we document projects, and become an important part of the company's design-build team.

Responsibilities

What You Will OwnTurn Existing Homes Into Accurate Existing-Condition DrawingsYou will help capture and document existing conditions, including coordinating LiDAR scans, field measurements, site information, and other documentation required to accurately model the home before design begins.Remodeling requires understanding what is already there—not just designing what comes next.Develop Residential Design SolutionsYou will work with the Project Director and design team to turn a client's goals into thoughtful, functional layouts for high-end remodels and additions.That may include:Kitchen and primary-suite reconfigurationsWhole-home renovationsAdditionsStructural modificationsInterior layout changesExterior modificationsComplex remodel conditions unique to existing homesProduce Construction Documents That Can Actually Be BuiltYou will develop complete drawing sets that communicate design intent clearly to permitting authorities, estimators, Project Managers, subcontractors, and trades.Our expectation is not simply that the plans pass permitting.They need to work in the field.Coordinate Structural and Technical InformationWhen engineering is required, you will help coordinate structural consultants and ensure their information is properly incorporated into the final construction documents.You will also help identify conflicts before they become expensive field problems.Work as Part of the Entire Design-Build TeamYou will participate in design reviews, redline meetings, estimating coordination, and project handoffs.You will be expected to ask questions, challenge assumptions when necessary, and help the team solve problems before construction begins.You May Be a Great Fit If...You are the type of designer who naturally asks:“How are they actually going to build this?”You enjoy solving complicated remodeling conditions.You care about dimensions, details, constructability, and documentation.You are comfortable walking a job site instead of designing exclusively from behind a computer.You would rather ask a question early than allow an assumption to turn into a field problem later.You enjoy working with other disciplines and do not view architecture, interiors, estimating, and construction as separate silos.And when something in your drawings is wrong, you take ownership of it, fix it, and improve the process.