Studio Director

About Speedboat

SPEEDBOAT is a Hollywood-based atelier established in 2019. At the heart of our practice is an authentic, unmediated connection to history, theory, labor, and materiality, and the broader context of the city. Bootstrapped from the start, we maintain architecture, design, and construction divisions, managing residential, commercial, and cultural projects in Los Angeles and beyond. We combine the best of a boutique firm and a corporate company—recognized by our peers as one of the most organized and structured studios in our class.

We maintain the highest standards for our clients and for each other. Mentorship and upward mobility are core to our practice, and our culture emphasizes direct feedback, sustained professional growth, and creating an environment where colleagues learn from one another and thrive.

Location:

Los Angeles, CA, USA. Full-time.

We are seeking a Studio Director to lead our architecture and design division. We're looking for an accomplished architect or designer with 10-15 years of residential and commercial experience who can balance creative design excellence with business development, bring an existing network and new project types, and deliver results. This role is for someone in the mid stages of their career who remains hungry and ambitious, with a resume demonstrating academic and professional excellence aligned with our brand.

It's ideal for someone who might otherwise start their own studio but is particularly interested in focusing on the work of an architect under a branded studio—designing, building, and developing meaningful projects—rather than dealing with the common pitfalls of sole proprietorship. You'll have the infrastructure and resources of SPEEDBOAT behind you, the opportunity to work across architecture, design, and construction divisions, and growing decision‑making authority as you build the team.

We're looking for someone who thrives in a fast‑paced studio environment, who brings momentum to managing multiple concurrent projects in a busy urban context, and who is energized rather than drained by the pace of the work.

• Generating new business through your existing network and new relationships
• Cultivating and maintaining client relationships
• Leading client presentations, proposals, and negotiations
• Leading design production and project delivery across all phases
• Overseeing project scheduling, staffing, and resource allocation
• Managing project financials, budgets, and cost controls
• Mentoring junior designers and fostering professional development
• Collaborating with construction and other divisions

• 10-15 years of experience in architecture and design
• Strong portfolio of residential and commercial built work demonstrating design excellence
• Proven track record of business development and bringing in new work
• Existing professional network in Los Angeles, other markets a plus
• Architectural license (California preferred; NY or TX a plus)
• Master’s Degree in Architecture preferred

• Strong creative design ability and aesthetic sensibilities
• Interior design skills and experience
• Proficiency in drawing and 3D modeling (Rhino preferred), rendering software (Enscape/D5), Adobe Creative Suite, Revit, and Excel
• Deep technical proficiency and construction knowledge

• Exceptional presentation and communication skills
• Experience working with high‑end clients and delivering premium projects
• Experience managing project financials and maintaining profitability
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously
• Fiscal accountability and business operations understanding
• Entrepreneurial mindset with comfort around accountability and ambitious goals
• Self‑motivated and able to work autonomously
• Deep dedication to the profession of architecture
• Interest in working across architecture, design, and construction disciplines

• Signing bonus
• Competitive compensation commensurate with experience
• Performance‑based incentives tied to business development and revenue generation
• Potential for equity stake based on performance
• Health insurance
• 401(k)
• Professional development stipend
• Dog‑friendly workplace

Please submit the following to info:

• Resume
• Cover letter
• Portfolio (PDF format, 15-20 pages) showing residential and commercial built work