Architecture Staff 1-2

Firm History

SHKS Architects fosters a culture of conviviality within the practice and with our client, consultant, and community collaborators. Our best work comes from a shared vision of architecture’s potential to improve our social, environmental, and cultural lives.

At SHKS, we are dedicated to improving spaces while embracing the unique perspectives and experiences that each person brings to the table. We value respect, empathy, warmth, and humor, as they foster an environment where diverse viewpoints can coexist and spark meaningful growth. By honoring these differences, we create a culture of productive dissonance that drives innovation and enriches our work. SHKS treasures its studio atmosphere. Lunch has always been important and we’ve kept a lunch table in the center of our work space. We often take a lunch walk to the Center of the Universe. Our space reflects a casual, “come as you are” culture.

Our practice has been shaped to be much like the buildings we design: adaptable, resilient, and comfortable. The studio atmosphere includes a balance of work and life and the flexibility to work from home sometimes, to enjoy other dimensions of life while still making excellent architecture.

Firm Culture

SHKS was formed on the basis of friendship among its founders and friendship still pervades the practice. As a mid-sized practice, everyone knows everyone else in both professional and social ways. Together, we’ll be cleaning up the garden outside; weather provided, we’ll be returning to the volleyball court. In recent years, we’ve helped out Sawhorse Revolution and Furniture Repair Bank.

We’re looking for people to join the fray; professionals deeply committed to making our client’s places and our own workplace more diverse, more comfortable, and more fun. Our practice cultivates growth at all levels. We support continuing education in architecture and all kinds of related action.

We make places to accommodate and enrich people’s lives. That’s how we think about the practice, too. We encourage social, environmental, and professional responsibility and participation: SHKS is a place to grow.

Compensation and Benefits

SHKS offers compensation comparable to our peer architecture firms and have our JUST Label 2.0 certification from the International Living Future Institute. We are looking to fill positions ranging between the Architectural Staff I level (licensed/unlicensed with 3 or more years of experience) up to Architectural Staff II (licensed/unlicensed with over 6 years of experience) in our Seattle office.

• Pay range starting of $33.00 – $44.00 per hour depending on experience. Time and a half over 40 hours per week.
• 100% employer paid health insurance (medical, vision, and dental), disability insurance, and life insurance with no waiting period.
• Simple IRA retirement plan. Employer matching 3%, fully vested immediately
• PTO: 4-5 weeks per year depending on experience. Our paid time off benefit is lumped into a single accrual (including sick and vacation) which can be used at the employee’s discretion.
• 8 paid holidays
• 16 community service hours per year
• Professional development tuition budget of $500 per year and 8 hours per year
• Professional memberships fully paid, including reimbursement for completing ARE tests at SHKS upon licensure
• Flexible work hours, 50% in-office remote work policy
• Summer hours, office closed by noon on Friday between Memorial Day and Labor Day

SHKS Architects provides a supportive and creative work environment. We welcome applicants of any sex, race, color, religion, gender identity, physical ability, sexual orientation, age, and other classes protected by law.

To Apply

To apply, please email your resume, cover letter, and portfolio to employment@shksarchitects.com. 4mb maximum file size. In-person interviews will be conducted following review of resume and/or subsequent information.