Full-Time
Job Captain
Education
HKS
1,001-5,000 employees
Global architecture, interior design, planning, advisory
No salary listed
Dallas, TX, USA
In Person
Bachelor's
 Architecture & Civil Engineering (1) |
|---|
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- An accredited professional degree in Architecture or a related field is required.
- The candidate must be actively pursuing Architectural Registration.
- Typically, 4+ years of experience are required.
- The candidate must understand sustainability and integrated design guidelines.
- The candidate must have strong knowledge of architectural building systems.
- The candidate must know quality assurance/quality control and the specification process.
- The candidate must know building codes and be able to research and apply or incorporate them into technical documents.
- The candidate must have strong organizational skills and be able to work on multiple projects simultaneously.
- The candidate must be able to communicate and present ideas clearly, concisely, and professionally, verbally and in writing.
- Modify or create implementation documents and complex drawings with limited guidance, applying architectural techniques and procedures that require independent judgment.
- Coordinate design group interaction internally and externally, including assisting with consultant team work sessions.
- Manage project work of the architectural team as appropriate.
- Perform design computations and document preparation, maintain information flow to the project team, reflect design intent in implementation documents, and coordinate with consultants to confirm that systems work.
- Assist with reviewing, modifying, and coordinating implementation documents before issue, including collaborating to validate that code and zoning requirements for the assigned project segment are met.
- Complete higher-level assignments for training and development purposes when assigned.
- Execute deliverables according to the scope of services and HKS standards, best practices, and quality expectations.
- Attend client or consultant meetings when required.
- Participate in team meetings to discuss project, technical, and interdisciplinary coordination issues.
- Recognize the financial aspects of projects and the basic accounting principles involved in project and firm profitability.
- Be accountable for the financial implications of overhead and chargeable time, the project plan, and the planned utilization rate.
- Understand the importance of growing and maintaining client relationships and the basic concept of business development.
- Assist in pursuing new project opportunities through relationship development or by identifying additional work from existing clients.
- Sustainable design accreditation is preferred.
- Proficiency in architectural software such as Revit, AutoCAD, Navisworks, and 3D modeling software, including Rhino and Grasshopper, is preferred.
- Experience with Photoshop, Illustrator, SketchUp, and InDesign graphic software is preferred.
- Familiarity with computational design and parametric modeling is preferred.
- Familiarity with energy modeling is preferred.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite is preferred.
HKS delivers architecture, interior design, planning, and advisory services for clients across commercial, healthcare, sports, and cultural sectors. Projects are based on client needs, combining high-performance design with sustainability and leveraging technologies like artificial intelligence and modular construction to improve outcomes, as seen in The Arena in Diriyah. The firm differentiates itself through a strong focus on sustainability, carbon-neutral status, award-winning work, and a collaborative leadership culture that emphasizes employee development. The goal is to shape the future of architecture and design by delivering client-focused, sustainable, high-performing spaces and expanding the use of advanced technology and sustainable practices across its portfolio.
Company Size
1,001-5,000
Company Stage
N/A
Total Funding
N/A
Headquarters
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Founded
1939
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Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- HKS launched a Mexico City Commercial Interiors practice on June 8, 2026.
- HKS appointed Julian Cross on August 4, 2026 to grow hospitality across EMEA.
- HKS leads the Washington Commanders’ $3.8 billion stadium, unveiled in January 2026.
What critics are saying
- July 2026 reports said HKS cut about 80 jobs and closed one U.S. office.
- HKS depends on cyclical mixed-use and residential clients facing tight financing in 2026.
- Office closures and client concentration threaten HKS’s partnership model and specialist recruiting engine.
What makes HKS unique
- HKS won Fast Company’s #1 Most Innovative Architecture Firm in 2026 for Astra Tower.
- HKS spans 1,800 professionals across 29 offices, pairing architecture, interiors, planning, and advisory.
- HKS’s carbon-neutral status since 2023 and Regenerative Design team reinforce sustainability leadership.
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Benefits
Health Insurance
Dental Insurance
Vision Insurance
401(k) Retirement Plan
401(k) Company Match
Paid Vacation
Paid Sick Leave
Parental Leave
Company News
Cleveland Clinic breaks ground on Avon campus expansion. August 19, 2026 3 Mins Read AVON, Ohio | Cleveland Clinic leaders, caregivers, elected officials and community members gathered recently to celebrate the groundbreaking of a transformative $322 million expansion of Cleveland Clinic Avon Hospital and the Richard E. Jacobs Health Center. The multi-phase project will significantly increase the size of the campus and enhance access to advanced, patient-centered care for Lorain County's growing population. The expansion reflects Cleveland Clinic's continued commitment to meeting the region's healthcare needs by increasing capacity across emergency, inpatient and outpatient services while introducing new capabilities and modernized facilities. "This marks an important milestone for the future of healthcare in Lorain County," said Rebecca Starck, M.D., vice president and chief medical officer of Cleveland Clinic Avon Hospital. "As the community continues to grow, this investment ensures we can provide greater access to the high-quality care our patients deserve. This project will enhance nearly every aspect of the patient experience while supporting the needs of our caregivers and the communities we serve." Key components of the project include: * Expansion of the Emergency Department to increase capacity and improve patient flow. * Expansion of imaging services, including advanced MRI, CT, and other diagnostic capabilities. * An expanded Cancer Center with enhanced treatment and infusion space and the addition of two new external beam radiation oncology machines. * Growth of surgical services, including additional operating rooms at Avon Hospital. * Expansion of the Richard E. Jacobs Health Center to support increased outpatient care. * Increased medical-surgical capacity with additional inpatient beds. * Growth of the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) to support higher-acuity patients. * Construction of a parking garage Upon completion, the project will add approximately 250,000 square feet of clinical space across the hospital and health center, along with a new parking garage to accommodate increased patient and visitor demand. Together, these enhancements will strengthen Cleveland Clinic's ability to deliver seamless care across emergency, inpatient and outpatient settings while improving access, efficiency and the overall patient experience. "We are proud to be investing in our west submarket," said Neil P. Smith, D.O., president of Cleveland Clinic's West Submarket. "We have seen sustained growth in demand in this area, and this project will support complex and high-quality care that's convenient for patients in these communities to access." Avon Hospital opened in 2016 as a five-story, 126-bed facility and has seen sustained growth in demand for its services. There has also been a growing need for outpatient services at the Richard E. Jacobs Health Center. Opened in 2011, the facility currently provides advanced specialty and primary care, an outpatient surgery center, a chemotherapy infusion center, an imaging center, and a large physical therapy area with two pools for aquatic therapy. The expansion is expected to be complete in 2029. The buildings were designed by HKS architects in collaboration with Cleveland Clinic Buildings + Design and key clinical stakeholders. The construction manager on the project is Gilbane Building.
HKS Hospitality appoints Julian Cross as principal and Regional director of hospitality EMEA. WORDS BY Pauline Brettell * August 4, 2026 Interdisciplinary global design firm HKS Hospitality, a leading authority in global hospitality design, has announced the appointment of Julian Cross as Principal and Regional Director of Hospitality EME... A registered architect accredited by the ARB and RIBA with over 30 years of experience in architecture and design, Cross will lead HKS Hospitality from its London studio, driving the creative vision, strategic growth, and execution of hotel, resort, and branded residences across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Cross brings award-winning expertise, adding to a strong bench of talent currently designing high profile projects in Egypt, the Maldives, and Saudi Arabia's Red Sea. Highly experienced in leading the delivery of residential, hospitality, high-end mixed-use developments, and large-scale urban masterplans from inception through to completion, Cross' portfolio spans complex, design-led projects for leading international clients including PIF, Aldar, Kerzner International, Pafilia, and British Land. His London portfolio includes landmark developments such as The Knightsbridge, the Bvlgari Hotel, the Earls Court Masterplan, and Kings Court in Covent Garden. His work for St. Mary's School Library in Wiltshire was shortlisted for a WAF award, AJ Award, and Building Award in 2021. "It's a real privilege to be joining HKS's London Hospitality studio, working alongside such a talented team whose designs are making an impact both in London and internationally. I'm looking forward to bringing my own hospitality experience to the studio, combining it with the team's design prowess, and helping to grow something truly special across Europe and the Middle East." - Julian Cross, Regional Practice Leader, HKS Hospitality "Julian's appointment reinforces the world-class expertise in hospitality design that we have in our Fitzrovia studio. Julian will lead our outstanding team of designers in London, building on our reputation for delivering exceptional projects while driving continued growth across London, Europe, and the Middle East. We are excited to welcome his leadership as we expand our impact in these key markets." - Luis Zapiain, Global Practice Leader, HKS Hospitality Since 2000, HKS has been shaping hospitality design through a combination of deep expertise and creative vision, consistently delivering innovative projects that set a new benchmark for the world's leading brands. HKS Hospitality draws on decades of expertise and the collective insight of its international teams to deliver a portfolio of inspiring spaces for global brands and independent owners. Main image credit: HKS Hospitality
HKS improves specification coordination and process with VisiSpecs(R). Portland, Maine (August 4, 2026) - HKS, a globally recognized architecture and design firm, evaluated and chose VisiSpecs(R), the Visual Specification System, developed by Chalkline, Inc., to improve specification coordination, streamline documentation workflows, and support project delivery across its diverse portfolio. With offices around the world and expertise spanning healthcare, sports, hospitality, education, data centers, and commercial projects, HKS relies on coordinated documentation to support multidisciplinary design teams. By using VisiSpecs, HKS can integrate construction specifications with BIM workflows while working within the familiar Microsoft Word environment. VisiSpecs's intelligent Doc Key Filtering gave HKS the ability to create a simple checklist with linked paragraphs and optional text to automate the editing process. This facilitates consistency and higher quality across the organization on the various projects HKS designs. Then, the familiar Word interface, QA reporting, collaboration, and publishing streamline the spec editing process. Next, HKS is evaluating the BIM integration with their specs to further coordinate the models and specifications to improve quality and design. "VisiSpecs has helped us improve consistency throughout our specification process while allowing our teams to continue working in Microsoft Word," said Karl Sonnier, Principal Architect at HKS. "The Doc Key Filtering functionality has streamlined specification editing, making it easier to produce accurate, coordinated documents and establish a more efficient workflow across our projects." "We're proud to support industry-leading firms like HKS as they continue to advance innovation across the AECO industry," said Seamus McGrady, COO of Chalkline, Inc. "HKS is a leader in the market and look forward to their continued design integrated process using VisiSpecs. Founded in 1939, HKS is one of the world's leading architecture, design, and planning firms. With more than 1,400 professionals across offices in the United States, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, HKS delivers award-winning projects in healthcare, sports and entertainment, hospitality, education, commercial, aviation, and civic markets. The firm is recognized for its commitment to design excellence, sustainability, and innovation, consistently ranking among the world's top architecture firms. About Chalkline, Inc. Chalkline is a developer of architectural and engineering specification software designed to visually document, coordinate, and verify BIM models and project specifications. VisiSpecs(R) is a suite of applications that includes VisiWord, VisiRevit, and VisiWeb. VisiSpecs is a software as a service (SaaS) cloud solution where its desktop and mobile applications store and access the model and specification data on the company's cloud servers for easy access and collaboration among distributed team members. Built on familiar applications already in use by most in the market, VisiSpecs requires minimal training and setup time. Users can easily integrate their own masters and project documents with the project models to accomplish true BIM integration without learning to use complicated model applications and without a lengthy integration process. Chalkline also developed the VisiSpecs BPM Program to enable easier research, selection, and collaboration with manufacturers while in the project design process. For more information, visit www.chalklineinc.com.
HKS appoints Sean Tan as Principal and Studio Head for MEA commercial & mixed-use. * June 8, 2026 The appointment marks a significant milestone in HKS's continued expansion and growing portfolio. Global design firm HKS has appointed Sean Tan as Principal and Studio Head - Middle East & Africa (Commercial Mixed-Use), marking a significant leadership addition as the practice continues to expand its regional footprint. In his new role, Sean will lead the strategic direction, design vision, and delivery of commercial and mixed-use developments across the Middle East and Africa. His appointment reflects HKS's continued investment in strengthening leadership capabilities in high-growth markets, particularly as the region experiences increasing demand for integrated, experience-driven urban environments. Sean brings a multidisciplinary approach that bridges design ambition with commercial viability. His work focuses on translating complex development goals into coherent architectural strategies that respond to market realities while maintaining strong design integrity. With experience spanning large-scale urban developments and mixed-use environments, he is known for aligning creative vision with long-term operational and financial performance. At the core of Sean's design philosophy is a fundamental exploration of shelter - the most basic yet profound condition of architecture. He is driven by the idea of defining the boundary between inside and outside, and how this threshold shapes human experience. For him, architecture is not only about form or function, but about creating environments where people feel a sense of belonging, protection, and connection. He joins HKS at a time of continued momentum for the firm in the region, with a growing portfolio that reflects its commitment to transformative, future-focused developments. Key projects across the Middle East include One Residence in Dubai, AMAALA Yacht Club, The Arena in Diriyah, and the Skyiera Mixed-Use Master Plan. These developments highlight the firm's engagement with large-scale urban destinations that combine hospitality, lifestyle, residential, and commercial components. As the Middle East continues to evolve as a global hub for ambitious urban development, Sean's leadership is expected to play a key role in shaping projects that balance design excellence with contextual relevance and economic performance. His appointment reinforces HKS's long-term strategy of delivering architecture that is both visionary and grounded in the realities of place, purpose, and people. caption: Sean Tan joins HKS to lead design strategy and delivery across commercial and mixed-use projects in the Middle East and Africa, strengthening the firm's regional growth.
Sergio Saenz named Global Sector Director at HKS. May 19, 2026 Miami-based partner will help drive growth, innovation and cross-practice collaboration across the global Place sector. Global design firm HKS has named Sergio Saenz as Global Sector Director of its Place sector, reinforcing the firm's integrated leadership approach and continued focus on growth, innovation and client value. Based in HKS's Miami office, Saenz will lead the Place sector, which includes the firm's hospitality, mixed-use, mission critical, multifamily residential and senior living practices. Discover more Home Alarm & Security Systems Architecture Fire & Security Services "We have an incredible opportunity to unlock new growth and expand the value HKS brings to clients worldwide through deeper collaboration across the Place sector," Saenz said. "When we connect knowledge, research and ideas across practices and markets, we create stronger solutions and open new possibilities for innovation. For our clients, that means deeper partnerships, better outcomes and ideas that translate vision into value. For our people, it means working together across disciplines to imagine what's possible and make it real." Saenz approaches design with architectural longevity in mind, creating landmark, resilient projects that help clients future-proof their assets against climate change, evolving environments, and natural disasters. Born in Texas and raised in Mexico, he brings a global perspective shaped by work across diverse regions and strong relationships throughout HKS. He was named to the Design Futures Council's 40 Under 40 and received the Luis Barragan Design Media Award. His appointment reflects HKS's belief that placemaking is essential to the success of any region, city or neighborhood. Through a collaborative, cross-practice approach, the Place sector is positioned to deliver economically, socially and environmentally sustainable solutions that help clients and communities thrive. Previously, as the global leader of hospitality, Saenz led one of HKS's most visible practices, helping expand its global reach and reputation. He is recognized for guiding complex, high-profile projects with clarity and creativity, bringing multidisciplinary teams together to deliver innovation and performance at every scale. He is also respected for bridging creativity and strategy so that design decisions advance both vision and value. The Place sector's collaborative model continues to strengthen partnerships and create new opportunities across markets by connecting design, delivery and advisory expertise. This integrated approach enables HKS to deliver high-performing solutions tailored to evolving client needs and market opportunities. Notable upcoming projects under the Place sector include AMAALA Yacht Club on the Red Sea coast of Saudi Arabia, Four Seasons Jacksonville, The Setai St. Maarten and The Eastpoint development in Nashville. Legacy work includes Rosewood's Las Ventanas al Paraiso, Astra Tower, Conrad Orlando, Querencia at Barton Creek, Aligned Data Centers, and Pier Sixty-Six. Saenz's appointment underscores HKS's commitment to evolving its leadership in ways that build momentum, deepen collaboration and expand opportunities for impact across the built environment. HKS is an interdisciplinary global design firm. Our team of 1,800 architects, designers, planners and advisors across 29 offices partner with clients to design and develop elegant solutions to complex challenges. From iconic gathering places to healing environments, our designs enhance experiences and elevate outcomes for all stakeholders. Our work is inspired by curiosity, driven by research and technology and informed by a deep understanding of human and environmental needs. Proud to be a carbon neutral firm since 2023, HKS was named #1 Most Innovative Architecture Firm by Fast Company in 2026. Discover more Lang Architecture Interior Design Visual Art & Design S9 Architecture