Mead Quin, Inc. INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE SPECIALIST Emeryville, CA · Full time Company website

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Mead Quin is a high-end residential design firm based in the San Francisco Bay Area, known for a signature aesthetic of refined minimalism and calming, human-centered interiors that prioritize wellness and a connection to nature. Founded in 2013 by Principal Designer Mead Quin, our studio operates on a philosophy of "beauty simplified," collaboration, and high standards.

We are a fast-paced, mentorship-driven environment that values open dialogue, professional growth, and an acute attention to detail.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develop and produce space plans, architectural design drawings and design intent documents for interior architecture scopes
• Prepare reflected ceiling plans, lighting layouts, and power and A/V locations as needed
• Develop detailed drawings for interior architectural elements, including built-ins, millwork, cabinetry and custom architectural features
• Produce elevation drawings and section details as required
• Coordinate with contractors, consultants and fabricators on interior architecture scope execution
• Support construction administration for active interior architecture scopes, including RFIs, submittals and site visits as needed
• Develop custom furniture concepts in coordination with the design teams which are aligned with project design direction and MQ aesthetics/standards
• Produce detailed fabrication drawings for custom furniture pieces
• Source and manage relationships with fabricators, craftspeople and specialty vendors. Manage vendor communication and production milestones for all custom work as needed in coordination with the MQI project leads
• Oversee the development of interior architectural components  from concept through delivery, maintaining quality and timeline
• Coordinate with the project team on integration of custom furniture within the broader FF&E scope
• Support installation coordination for interior architectural design related components requiring specialist oversight
• Provide creative problem-solving for technically complex design challenges
• Ensure all interior architectural design and  and custom furniture documentation meets MQ quality standards before delivery to the project team
• Maintain organized, complete and current project files. Ensure all deliverables are clearly labeled, version-controlled and accessible to the project team
• Track time daily and accurately against the correct project in Studio Designer
• Communicate proactively with the Project Lead on timeline, scope or capacity concerns
• Participate in the Monday Morning Meeting and monthly Design Director check-ins
• Coordinate with the project leads to obtain drawings from outside partners such as architects, lighting designers and others and set up the drawings internally for use by the teams according to MQ standards as needed

SCOPE AND ENGAGEMENT

• Supports projects; does not own them. Project management and delivery timelines, client communication and relationships, overall project direction and scope decisions, budget ownership and financial coordination, and team management remain with the Project Lead and studio leadership
• All work requests are coordinated through the Design Director, not directly between team members and the Specialist. This protects the Specialist’s utilization, balances workload and prevents competing demands
• Request: Senior Designer or Project Lead identifies an interior architecture or custom furniture need and submits a request to the Design Director
• Prioritization: Design Director reviews active requests and workload, then confirms availability, scope and timeline with the Specialist
• Briefing: Senior Designer or Project Lead provides project context, design direction and specific deliverables
• Execution: Specialist completes the defined scope (drawings, designs, documentation or fabrication coordination) within the agreed timeline
• Delivery: Specialist returns completed work to the Project Lead for integration into the broader project deliverables and coordinates any updates necessary for the work produced directly with the Senior Designer/Project lead
• Time Tracking: Specialist logs all time against the relevant project in Studio Designer the same day
• Utilization: 85% billable across active projects (interior architecture drawings, custom furniture design, construction coordination, vendor management and project deliverables). The remaining 15% covers internal coordination, Monday Morning Meeting, professional development, studio involvement and administrative tasks. The Design Director reviews utilization monthly

PERFORMANCE EXPECTATIONS

• Technical Quality: Drawings, details and documents are accurate, complete, reflect MQ design standards and require minimal revision
• Reliability: Deliverables are completed within agreed timelines, and capacity concerns are raised early so the team is never surprised by gaps or delays
• Utilization: Consistently at or near 85% billable, with time tracked daily and accurately
• Collaboration: Works effectively with the project team within the defined scope and communicates clearly with the Design Director and Project Leads on workload and priorities
• Vendor Relationships: Builds strong, reliable relationships with fabricators and IA vendors, with consistent follow-through, professional representation and vendor issues raised promptly

QUALIFICATIONS

• 7+ years experience in interior architecture and/or custom furniture design
• Strong proficiency in AutoCAD (construction documents, elevations and details) and Adobe Creative Suite
• Experience producing fabrication drawings for custom furniture and millwork
• Demonstrated knowledge of construction methods, materials and detailing
• Experience coordinating with contractors, fabricators and specialty vendors
• Design Sensibility: Deep creative design sensibility, particularly in the luxury residential market, aligned with the MQ aesthetic and design standard
• Detail Oriented: Exceptional attention to detail and documentation standards
• Self-Directed: Reliable and organized within a defined scope
• Relational: Strong vendor relationship management and follow-through
• Team Contributor: Comfortable working as a specialist contributor within a team structure

Location: 

East Bay (near Bay Bridge)

Hours:  Full-time M-F 9am-5:30pm (in office Mon-Thurs, remote Fri)

Benefits:  Full health benefits, matching 401k, 15 days PTO, holiday time off package, profit sharing

FLSA Determination:  Exempt

Reporting Relationship:  This position functions under the direct supervision of the Design Director