David Chipperfield Architects Berlin is looking for experienced design architects for predominantly international projects, specialising in concept development and design management.
Founded in 1998 for the Neues Museum on Berlin’s Museum Island, David Chipperfield Architects Berlin is engaged in many areas of architecture, urban design, and interior design—both in private and public spaces, in Germany and internationally. David Chipperfield Architects Berlin has embraced a generational transition in leadership and has been operating under a collaborative management model in recent years. Today, our dynamic and diverse campus in Berlin-Mitte is home to around 120 employees. We foster an open and inclusive workplace, committed to diversity, environmental responsibility, climate protection, and sustainability.
As design architect, you will work in the early stage of projects within competition or concept teams. You will develop distinctive design schemes that illustrate a strong design identity while translating complex programmatic requirements into clear spatial solutions. Within project teams in the later design stages, will be responsible for managing the design as part of the project team. You refine the project profile by aligning it with the client's objectives and the unique conditions of the project.
You actively shape the architectural discourse by driving the project idea and concept development forward. Using sketches, models, and texts, you communicate your ideas clearly and compellingly, delivering persuasive and engaging presentations.
Our focus remains on projects within the context of existing architecture—whether sensitively integrating a new programme into listed buildings or reinterpreting and expanding existing spatial sequences in existing building fabric.
You thrive in a collaborative team environment, fostering a shared understanding of project objectives and design vision. In your role of design management, you maintain a strong focus on the design idea and quality. You design yourself, while confidently guiding the team step by step through a structured and motivating design process.
Bridging architectural vision and technical feasibility, you will coordinate consultant teams, conduct feasibility studies, and develop detailed implementation strategies. From the outset, your designs thoughtfully integrate heritage considerations and potential for sustainability.
Key responsibilities
Your work includes leading or actively participating in competitions, concept studies, tender or dialogue procedures as well as concept developments for direct commissions in the early project phases. For projects in later stages, you will be responsible for the design within the project leadership team.
- Structuring and guiding the design process
- Distribution of roles and responsibilities
- Establishment of basis for design
- Clear identification and articulation of the task, coupled with the definition of a compelling and strategic project profile.
- Development of the key project concept
- Development of architectural concepts
- Shaping the discourse towards finding a concept within Design Reviews and within the team
- Convincing presentation and communication of designs and concepts
- Compilation of submission documents: drawings, brochures, screen presentations etc.
- Drafting design texts
- Presentation of designs both internally and in front of an external audience, in German and English
Required qualifications
- Degree in architecture or engineering
- At least 5 years’ professional experience with an emphasis on design
- Holistic understanding of architecture, going beyond the concept phase
- Architectural design competence
- Expertise in construction
- Confident writing and convincing presentation skills
- Very good knowledge of CAD (Archicad), rendering programmes would also be an advantage
- Very good written and spoken German and English
Required skills and expertise
- Structured, analytical and result-oriented thinking
- Very high quality standards
- Strong communication skills, eloquence
- High motivation, energy, resilience, will to succeed, tolerance of failure
- Self-initiative, flexibility
- Team player, ability to solve problems
What we offer
- Flat hierarchies in a collaborative leadership model
- Performance-related pay
- Support for personal and professional development
- Deutschlandticket (train and public transport ticket) or subsidised job bike leasing
- Office membership of a gym
- Subsidised canteen meals with mainly plant-based cuisine of organic quality
- Creative and vibrant working environment in Berlin-Mitte with and attractive office campus with garden and roof terrace and excellent public transport links
We look forward to receiving your application with a letter of motivation and CV, stating your salary expectations, as PDF files with a maximum size of 15 MB via our online portal.