Hamann Construction
Director of Architecture
El Cajon, CA | Full-Time | In Person
About Hamann Construction
Hamann Construction is a San Diego-based commercial and industrial contractor/ developer with over 50 years of experience delivering high-quality projects throughout Southern California. We are driven by a heart to serve our clients including non-profit organizations, churches, schools, and community-focused businesses alongside corporate and industrial accounts. Our team is built on long-term relationships, accountability, and craftsmanship. A large proportion of our work is Design-Build or Design-Assist. We use Autodesk Construction Cloud and MS365 across our project teams. Our in-house architect is primarily CAD based, but we are interested in moving into a BIM environment if the market justifies it.
The Opportunity
Hamann Construction is seeking a licensed Director of Architecture to lead our architectural function and serve as a key partner across preconstruction and construction operations. This role is ideal for a mid-career architect with strong commercial and tilt-up construction experience who thrives in a collaborative, client-facing environment.
You will work closely with ownership and project management teams to coordinate with our preferred outside architectural firms, manage the design and permitting process, and serve as the architectural voice of Hamann with clients and government agencies. You will oversee two direct reports — a Land Development Permit Technician and an Architect in Training — and play a visible role in representing Hamann's quality and values on every project.
Key Responsibilities
Preconstruction & Design Coordination
- Manage and coordinate the work of outside architectural firms through design development, construction documents, and permit submittals.
- Review and redline drawings; produce sketches, markups, and design edits in AutoCAD and Revit.
- Oversee permit submittals, agency responses, and resubmittals in coordination with the Land Development Permit Technician.
Client & Project Team Engagement
- Work closely with clients and our development team to prepare site plans, schematic building plans and in some cases elevations for projects in our core areas of expertise: commercial, industrial, religious and educational construction.
- Design and manage in-house production of complete drawings for smaller Tenant Improvement Projects.
- Serve as a primary client-facing architectural representative — attending meetings, presenting design concepts verbally and graphically, and building trusted relationships.
- Coordinate the project team including clients, consultants, subcontractors, and government agencies to deliver projects on time and within budget.
- Support construction teams with RFIs, finish selections, design changes, and architectural questions during the construction phase.
- The ability to create “Sketch-up” Style elevations (or better) in some circumstances would be considered a plus.
Leadership & Operations
- Directly manage two team members: a Land Development Permit Technician and an Architect in Training.
- Maintain Hamann's architectural standards, drawing quality, and documentation practices for in-house projects.
- Collaborate with the COO and project management team on workload planning and project priorities.
Qualifications
Required
- Licensed Architect — California
- 8–10+ years of experience in commercial architecture with a strong background in concrete tilt-up construction
- Proficiency in AutoCAD and Revit — hands-on production capability required
- Demonstrated experience managing outside design consultants on multiple projects and coordinating multi-discipline project teams
- Strong client / team communication skills — comfortable presenting design concepts and managing client expectations
- Familiarity with the Southern California Code, permitting process and working with local jurisdictions
Preferred
- Experience with Autodesk Construction Cloud
- Background in industrial, warehouse, office, or institutional project types
- Prior experience managing direct reports or junior staff
Compensation & Benefits
- Base salary: $TBD
- Annual performance bonus: TBD% of base, tied to company profitability
- Health, dental insurance
- 401(k)
- Paid time off
- In-person role based in El Cajon, CA
If you are a licensed architect who values quality work, long-term relationships, and being part of a team that serves the community — we would love to hear from you.
Pay: $105,000.00 - $135,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
Work Location: In person
