Senior Residential Architectural Designer / Job Captain

About Dokken Built

Dokken Built is a Denver-based residential design and construction company specializing in new homes, and custom residential projects.

We are a small, builder-led team that handles projects from early planning and design through permitting, construction, and completion. Because we build what we draw, our architectural work is closely connected to what actually happens in the field.

We are a remote-first company. Our team is based in the Denver area but generally works from individual home offices, with in-person meetings and site visits as needed.

The Role

We are looking for an experienced Residential Architectural Designer / Job Captain who can take a well-developed design approach and turn it into a coordinated, permit-ready and construction-ready drawing set.

This is not primarily a conceptual design position. Most projects will already have a solid design direction established before they reach you.

We're looking for someone who enjoys getting into the details: resolving plans, coordinating consultants, understanding code requirements, developing construction details, and making sure a drawing set works as a complete package.

A major part of this position will be successfully navigating Denver residential permitting and plan review.

What You'll Do

You will take projects from developed design through permit submission and construction documentation. Responsibilities will include:

Develop complete residential permit and construction drawing sets.
Refine and document established floor plans and exterior designs.
Coordinate architectural drawings with structural engineering, HVAC/Manual J, energy compliance, civil/site work, surveys, and other consultants.
Identify and resolve conflicts between disciplines before drawings reach the field.
Prepare projects for Denver permit submission.
Review and respond to City of Denver plan review comments.
Revise drawing sets through subsequent review cycles and help drive projects toward permit approval.
Develop and maintain construction details and drawing standards.
Incorporate lessons from active construction projects into future drawing sets.
Coordinate architectural details with interior finish selections.
Visit job sites when useful to understand existing conditions, resolve design questions, or see how details are being constructed.

Who You'll Work With

This position will report directly to the owner, who oversees operations and pre-construction, and will work closely with the rest of the Dokken Built team.

You'll regularly coordinate with our:

Construction Manager
Project / Interior Finish Designer
Ownership and pre-construction team
Structural engineers
Mechanical and energy consultants
Surveyors and other outside professionals
Trade partners and field personnel when appropriate

We're a small company, so there aren't multiple layers between the person drawing something and the person building it. You'll have direct access to the people making decisions and to the field team executing the work.

What We're Looking For

We are less concerned with a particular title and more interested in finding someone who can independently own the technical development of a residential project.

The ideal candidate will have:

Approximately 5–10+ years of residential architectural experience
Strong experience producing complete permit and construction document sets
Excellent residential construction knowledge
Experience coordinating multiple engineering and consultant disciplines
Strong understanding of residential building codes
Experience with Denver permitting and residential plan review strongly preferred
Ability to work independently and manage projects with limited day-to-day supervision
Strong attention to detail and an ability to spot coordination problems
Practical problem-solving skills
Clear written and verbal communication
Comfort working in a small, fast-moving organization
Ability to attend weekly meetings and visit projects throughout the Denver metro area

ArchiCAD experience is strongly preferred.

Architectural licensure is welcome but not required. This role is much more about technical ability, residential construction knowledge, coordination, and execution than having an architectural license.

The Type of Person Who Will Do Well Here

You enjoy figuring out how things are actually going to be built. You notice when a structural detail doesn't align with the architecture. You care whether dimensions, sections, elevations, details, engineering, and specifications tell the same story.

You are comfortable making decisions and bringing questions forward when something needs input rather than waiting for someone to mark up every drawing.

And ideally, you like seeing the projects you draw become actual buildings.

Why Dokken Built

This role offers something that's difficult to get in a traditional architecture office: a very short feedback loop between design, documentation, permitting, and construction.

You'll have the opportunity to:

Receive direct feedback from the construction team.
Visit projects throughout construction.
Help improve the details and standards used on future homes.
Work with significant autonomy.
Work remotely without a daily commute.
Help develop a repeatable architectural documentation system as Dokken Built grows.
Have direct access to company ownership and project decision-makers.

We're looking for someone who wants to become an important part of the process of designing and building high-quality new construction homes and who takes real pride in the finished product. This is a role for someone who cares about the details, values thoughtful execution, and wants to help produce homes that the entire team is proud to put its name on.

Pay: $90,000.00 - $115,000.00 per year

Benefits:

401(k) matching
Professional development assistance

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Denver, CO 80210