Senior Architect (Engineer IV)

Fairfax County, VA

$88K — $155K *
Real Estate & Construction
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in architecture or a related field
  • 4 years of progressively responsible experience in architecture or engineering
  • Valid Virginia Professional Engineer or Architect license (or valid license in another state with a temporary exemption)
  • Experience producing contract documents and working with construction projects
  • Proficiency in architectural design software like Revit or AutoCAD

Responsibilities

  • Oversee architectural design and space management activities
  • Supervise team members and ensure project quality standards
  • Lead interior retrofit projects for commercial buildings
  • Develop and review reports, drawings, and project specifications
  • Ensure timely completion of projects adhering to budget and quality guidelines

Benefits

  • $5,000 signing bonus for new merit county employees
  • Professional development opportunities
  • Comprehensive health and retirement benefits
  • Work-life balance with a structured schedule
  • Job stability as a designated essential employee
Full Job Description
Salary : $88,765.46 - $155,339.60 Annually
Location : FX. CTY. GOVERNMENT CENTER, 12000 GOVERNMENT CENTER PKWY., FAIRFAX (EJ32), VA
Job Type: FT Salary W BN
Job Number: 26-01132
Department: Facilities Management
Opening Date: 08/01/2026
Closing Date: 9/11/2026 11:59 PM Eastern
Pay Grade: S29
Posting Type: Open to General Public

Job Announcement

$5,000 Signing Bonus
*This position includes a signing bonus for new merit county employees.


This position serves as a technical expert overseeing a wide range of architectural design and space management activities. Leads and guides design professionals in planning, designing, and delivering interior retrofit projects for commercial buildings, including producing and stamping architectural drawings. Also supervises a team of 2 or more employees. This position works under the principal architect of the department.

Provides professional support across more than 230 county-owned and designated leased facilities totaling over 11 million square feet. Leveraging deep technical expertise, strong design capabilities, attention to detail, and a commitment to quality control, develops and reviews reports, contract drawings, specifications, schedules, and budgets for space management and architectural projects.

Ensures timely completion of assigned projects while maintaining the department's quality standards and adhering to industry best practices. Also ensures that designs and projects are financially and operationally viable, delivered efficiently, and aligned with the strategic needs of the department. Additionally, a successful candidate may need to demonstrate years of experience producing contract documents.

Note: This position is designated an essential employee.
Employment Standards

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
(Click on the aforementioned link to learn how Fairfax County interprets equivalencies for "Any combination, experience, and training equivalent to")
Graduation from a four-year college or university accredited by the Accreditation Board of Engineering and Technologies with a bachelor's degree in the appropriate engineering or architectural field; plus, four years of progressively responsible professional experience in the appropriate engineering or architectural field.
CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES REQUIRED:
  • Valid driver's license
  • Possession of a valid Virginia Professional Engineer or Architect license is required. An individual who possesses a valid Registered Architect license in another state will be granted a temporary exemption of a maximum of six months to this requirement pending the Virginia Board for Architects decision regarding that individual's application for reciprocity.

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
The appointee to this position will be required to complete a criminal background check and driving record check to the satisfaction of the employer.

BONUS ELIGIBILITY:
Positions within this classification that are general merit may be eligible for a one-time hiring incentive bonus for new county employees only. This bonus program requires a signed payback agreement between the department and employee.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
  • Seven or more years of demonstrated history directly responsible and accountable for management and supervision of full performance space planning design and construction projects in occupied buildings greater than 100,000 gross sq. ft., per building to include low rise and high rise (5 stories or more) buildings with individual project budgets over $500,000 involving multiple trades.
  • Seven or more years of demonstrated history in interpreting and applying building codes and regulations. Proficient in reading building architectural and engineering plans.
  • Seven or more years of project management experience as a licensed architect for a complex portfolio of commercial buildings that include but not limited to: development of contracts using Revit or AutoCad, authoring scope of work, financial oversight, design development, submittal approval, RFI responses, construction quality, safety performance, oversight of quality metrics and quality performance, firm/contractor selection and oversight, oversight of project documentation and project schedule, and risk mitigation.
  • Five years of experience stamping drawings for commercial building complex building interior retrofits.
  • Seven or more years demonstrated history of responding to permit comments, code related comments or AHJ related comments with written responses.
  • Seven or more years as a supervisor or manager overseeing other team members.
  • Graduated from a four-year college or university with a recognized accredited professional degree program and received a bachelor's degree in architecture or master's degree in architecture.
  • Registered with NCARB is preferred.
  • Proficient in reading architectural, structural, and engineering plans.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
Access facility equipment and equipment rooms. Mobile to access active construction sites. Wear personal safety equipment to include safety shoes, ear protection, safety glasses, and hardhat. Ability to climb ladders, access tight spaces, crawl, reach, lift 25 lbs., push 25lbs, etc. Dexterity to use hand tools. Vision to see detail drawings, construction and discern color. Drive a motor vehicle. Communicate with others verbally and in writing. All duties performed with or without reasonable accommodations.

SELECTION PROCEDURE:
Panel interview and may include exercise.

Note: This job announcement is listed with a closing date of 9/11/26, and interested applicants are advised to submit their applications as soon as possible. Interviews will be conducted on a regular basis throughout the recruitment with candidates whose qualifications best fit our needs. If your application is received later in the recruitment process, it may not be reviewed or considered. The application process may close prior to the currently advertised closing date when the position has been filled.

01

What is the highest level of education that you have completed?
  • Less than 12th grade
  • High school diploma or GED
  • Some college
  • Associate's degree
  • Bachelor's degree
  • Master's degree
  • Doctorate degree

02

If you answered "Some college" for the highest level of education completed, please indicate the number of quarter or semester hours you have completed towards a degree.
  • Less than 45 quarter hours
  • 45 to less than 90 quarter hours
  • 90 to less than 135 quarter hours
  • 135 to less than 180 quarter hours
  • 180 or more quarter hours
  • Less than 30 semester hours
  • 30 to less than 60 semester hours
  • 60 to less than 90 semester hours
  • 90 to less than 120 semester hours
  • 120 or more semester hours
  • Not applicable

03

Please indicate all major(s) or minor(s) for your completed degree(s). Check all that apply.
  • Architecture
  • Engineering
  • Other (related field)
  • Other (non-related field)
  • Not applicable

04

If you answered "Other (related field)" or "Other (non-related field)" for the previous question, please list all of your majors and minors. If this question does not pertain to you, or you do not have a degree, enter "Not applicable".
05

Did you graduate from a college or university accredited by the Accreditation Board of Engineering and Technologies?
  • Yes
  • No

06

Which of the following types of licenses do you possess?
  • Professional Engineer (PE) in Virginia
  • Registered Architect (RA) in Virginia
  • PE or RA license in another state
  • None of the above

07

If you possess a valid Professional Engineer (PE) or Registered Architect (RA) license, please list your license number, the expiration date, and the state in which you are licensed. If this is not applicable to you, enter "Not applicable."
08

Do you currently possess a valid driver's license?
  • Yes
  • No

09

How many years of full-time equivalent professional progressively responsible experience in the appropriate engineering or architectural field do you possess?
  • None
  • Less than one year
  • One to less than two years
  • Two to less than three years
  • Three to less than four years
  • Four to less than five years
  • Five to less than six years
  • Six to less than seven years
  • Seven to less than eight years
  • Eight or more years

10

How many years of full-time equivalent professional progressively responsible experience do you have in the supervision and management of full performance space planning design and space planning design and construction projects in occupied buildings greater than 100,000 gross sq. ft., per building to include low rise and high rise (5 stories or more) buildings with individual project budgets over $500,000 involving multiple trades?
  • None
  • Less than one year
  • One to less than two years
  • Two to less than three years
  • Three to less than four years
  • Four to less than five years
  • Five to less than six years
  • Six to less than seven years
  • Seven to less than eight years
  • Eight to less than nine years
  • Nine to less than ten years
  • Ten or more years

11

How many years of full-time equivalent professional experience do you have interpreting and applying building codes and regulations?
  • None
  • Less than one year
  • One to less than two years
  • Two to less than three years
  • Three to less than four years
  • Four to less than five years
  • Five to less than six years
  • Six to less than seven years
  • Seven to less than eight years
  • Eight to less than nine years
  • Nine to less than ten years
  • Ten or more years

12

How many years of full-time equivalent professional project management experience do you have as a licensed architect for a complex portfolio of commercial buildings?
  • None
  • Less than one year
  • One to less than two years
  • Two to less than three years
  • Three to less than four years
  • Four to less than five years
  • Five to less than six years
  • Six to less than seven years
  • Seven to less than eight years
  • Eight to less than nine years
  • Nine to less than ten years
  • Ten or more years

13

Please indicate all of the following project management duties you have experience with as an Architect. Check all that apply.
  • Development of contracts using Revit or AutoCad
  • Authoring scope of work
  • Financial oversight
  • Design development
  • Submittal approval
  • RFI responses
  • Construction quality
  • Safety performance
  • Oversight of quality metrics and quality performance
  • Firm/contractor selection and oversight
  • Oversight of project documentation and project schedule
  • Risk mitigation
  • None of the above

14

How many years of full-time equivalent professional experience do you have stamping drawings for commercial building complex building interior retrofits?
  • None
  • Less than one year
  • One to less than two years
  • Two to less than three years
  • Three to less than four years
  • Four to less than five years
  • Five to less than six years
  • Six to less than seven years
  • Seven to less than eight years
  • Eight to less than nine years
  • Nine to less than ten years
  • Ten or more years

15

How many years of full-time equivalent professional experience do you have responding to permit comments, code related comments or AHJ related comments with written responses?
  • None
  • Less than one year
  • One to less than two years
  • Two to less than three years</

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