Project Architect, Civic + Public Safety; Revit | Riverside​/Ontario, CA

A well-established civic architecture firm in the Inland Empire is adding a Project Architect with real depth: someone who has seen projects through the full lifecycle and is ready to step into ownership on day one.

Pave Talent is hiring on behalf of our client, a 35-year civic architecture firm specializing in public safety and community facilities across Southern California. Their portfolio includes fire stations, police stations, libraries, community centers, and schools. The team is approximately 10 people, organized flat, with a horizontal structure that gives every person direct access to real decisions and real clients. A senior architect with 20+ years of experience recently joined and is available to mentor the new hire directly.

If you have close to 10 years in and you have actually seen projects through from schematic design to construction closeout, this firm will notice the difference immediately. They have placed two previous hires from larger firms who both accelerated faster than expected. One of them said after one month he had learned more than he had in a full year at his prior firm.

That is not unusual here. When you are on a flat team with 22 active projects ranging from $200K to $100M in construction value, you are plugged into everything.

The principal put it simply: if your path is blocked at a large firm and you are ready to make significant contributions within a smaller team, the timing is right.

You will report directly to the Principal and work alongside a flat team of experienced architects. Active projects right now include two large police stations heading to bid this spring with construction starting summer 2026, a Riverside police station currently one-third through design, multiple fire stations in progress, and a Palm Desert library commencing design soon. A senior architect mentor with 20+ years is available as much or as little as needed.

The office is currently in Riverside with a move to Ontario expected spring 2026. On-site presence is preferred, especially in year one.

• Work across 22 active projects ranging from $200K to $100M in construction value, with real exposure to every phase and project type
• Carry projects from schematic design through construction administration, with ownership over your work from day one
• Produce and manage Revit models and construction documentation across concurrent public sector projects
• Prepare bid packages and documents for public sector plan check submittals using Bluebeam
• Coordinate directly with the Principal, clients, consultants, and public agency stakeholders
• Take initiative on what needs to get done, not just what you have been assigned

This is a small office and that is by design. There is less structure here than at a larger firm. The candidates who succeed here are the ones who walk in and immediately look for what they can take off someone else's plate. The principal described the ideal candidate this way: someone who says "tell me where the problems are, what can I do to help the team get prepared."

If you need to be told what to do, this is the wrong move. If you have been waiting to actually run something, this is it.

• 8 to 10 years of architectural experience with demonstrated involvement through construction administration
• Verifiable tenure: candidates who have moved every one to two years across multiple firms are unlikely to have the full-cycle project depth this role requires
• Strong Revit production capability; years of Revit experience should track closely with years in the profession
• Public sector project experience: fire stations, police stations, libraries, schools, or similar civic work
• Ability to work on-site in Riverside (relocating to Ontario spring 2026), especially during year one
• Direct experience with fire station or law enforcement facility projects
• Architecture license (not required, but an advantage)
• Master's degree in architecture
• Advanced detailing or specification writing experience
• Deep municipal client relationships

Apply via Linked In and we'll reach out to schedule a conversation. Confidential search; your application is fully private.