Full-Time

Project Architect

Technical, Themed Entertainment & Attraction Design

Cuningham Group

Cuningham Group

201-500 employees

Architecture and design for complex environments

Compensation Overview

$100k - $145k/yr

Orlando, FL, USA

Hybrid

Hybrid role with on-site days in Orlando.

Category
Architecture & Civil Engineering (1)
Required Skills
Adobe Creative Suite

Get referred to Cuningham Group

See people who can refer or advise you

Requirements
  • Bachelor’s or master's degree in architecture or related field
  • 8–15 years of professional architectural experience, with significant exposure to themed entertainment, hospitality, experiential design, attraction design, retail entertainment, cultural projects, or immersive environments
  • Direct themed entertainment and attraction design experience is required
  • Strong understanding of story-driven design and how architecture supports guest experience, emotional engagement, operational flow, and immersive placemaking
  • Experience collaborating closely with creative directors, show set designers, producers, and technical disciplines to translate narrative concepts into buildable environment
  • Proven ability to lead projects through all phases of design and delivery, including concept development, design documentation, consultant coordination, QA/QC, permitting, and construction administration
  • Strong technical knowledge of building systems, constructability, envelope detailing, consultant coordination, and code compliance
  • Experience coordinating with specialty vendors, fabricators, scenic elements, lighting, media integration, and show systems
  • Proficiency in Revit/BIM 360, Bluebeam, Adobe Creative Suite, and MS Office; working knowledge of Rhino, Enscape, and Lumion preferred
  • Strong communication, presentation, and team leadership skills with the ability to work effectively in highly collaborative, multidisciplinary environments
  • Experience mentoring junior staff and contributing to a positive, design-driven office culture
  • Ability to manage multiple fast-paced projects while maintaining high design quality and attention to detail
  • Passion for themed entertainment, immersive storytelling, guest experience, and experiential design innovation
Responsibilities
  • Lead the architectural design process across all project phases
  • Develop and document creative, technically sound design solutions aligned with project goals and governing codes
  • Lead medium to large-scale project scopes and support teams with varying experience levels
  • Collaborate closely with clients, creatives, consultants, contractors, and internal project teams
  • Coordinate multidisciplinary efforts to achieve the best design outcomes
  • Lead technical coordination, code review, QA/QC processes, and construction documentation
  • Support envelope design validation and technical detailing
  • Participate in construction administration activities, site observations, and issue resolution
  • Help identify project risks and communicate proactively with project leadership
  • Participate in project pursuits, proposals, interviews, and presentations
  • Mentor and support the growth of team members through thoughtful leadership and collaboration
  • Maintain responsible control over technical submissions and signed/sealed documents where required
Desired Qualifications
  • Working knowledge of Rhino, Enscape, and Lumion preferred
  • Experience coordinating with specialty vendors, fabricators, scenic elements, lighting, media integration, and show systems preferred

Cuningham Group provides architecture and design services for complex, high-stakes built environments across multiple sectors. Teams partner with clients through planning, design, and construction to translate requirements into architectural and interior design solutions, focusing on risk reduction, schedule certainty, and value-driven decisions. They emphasize pragmatic creativity paired with rigorous project delivery and lifecycle engagement, not just aesthetics. The goal is to deliver bold, precise architecture that meets real-world constraints and delivers enduring value for clients and communities.

Company Size

201-500

Company Stage

N/A

Total Funding

N/A

Headquarters

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Founded

1968

Get referred to Cuningham Group

See people who can refer or advise you

Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • New CEO Jacqueline Dompe accelerates growth in seniors housing and integrated design sectors.
  • The Spokane Tribe $1.2B master plan expands Cuningham's footprint in hospitality and tribal development.
  • Multi-regional offices in San Diego, Phoenix, Denver, and Minneapolis enable diverse project delivery.

What critics are saying

  • Senior living demand contracts 45-60% by 2027 due to interest rates and shrinking Medicaid margins.
  • Spokane Tribe contract renegotiation could cancel the $1.2B plan within 12-18 months.
  • Arcadis poaches human-centered research clients from Cuningham within 9-15 months after Amy Frye's departure.

What makes Cuningham Group unique

  • Cuningham integrates human-centered research via Amy Frye from Arcadis to strengthen evidence-based design.
  • The firm leads in seniors housing with CEO Jacqueline Dompe and market leader Jill Schroeder.
  • Cuningham delivers multi-sector projects including tribal economic plans, casinos, and hospitality across four regions.

Help us improve and share your feedback! Did you find this helpful?

Company News

InPark Magazine
Jun 26th, 2025
Cuningham names Amy Frye as National Research Director

Frye joins Cuningham from Arcadis, where she served as Global Human-Centric Research Director, leading human-centered research initiatives and organizational transformations for clients worldwide across a wide array of market sectors.