Senior Architect, Retail Store Design, Innovation Design Studio
Imagine what you could do here! The people here at Apple don’t just create products — they build the kind of wonder that’s revolutionized entire industries. It’s the diversity of those people and their ideas that inspires the innovation that runs through everything we do, from amazing technology to industry-leading environmental efforts. At Apple, inclusion is a shared responsibility, and we work together to foster a culture where everyone belongs and is inspired to do their best work.
We’re a diverse collective of thinkers and doers, continuously reimagining our products and practices to help people do what they love in new ways. That innovation is inspired by a shared commitment to great work and to each other. Learning from our people here means we're learning from the best! Apple’s Real Estate, Design, and Merchandising team (RDM) designs Apple Stores that look, feel, and function as beautifully as our products. We do this by obsessing over details, harmonizing beauty with function, and elevating Apple’s customer and store teams’ experience.
Apple’s Innovation Studio is a dedicated team of Architects, Industrial, Graphic, Furniture and Fixture Designers responsible for creating the future of Apple Retail stores worldwide. We are a passionate team with deep expertise in architectural and product design, 3D modeling, AR and VR visualization, physical mockups and prototyping. Our experience extends to architecture, material science, environmental research, biomechanics, color theory, lighting, universal design, engineering, ergonomics, manufacturing, and product testing.
We are looking for a Senior Architect with a passion for discovery and the ability to create extraordinary design solutions that bring surprise and delight throughout the Apple Retail experience.
Every aspect of an Apple Retail store is designed. From tables, to storefronts, ceilings to avenues, each element reflects decades of development, cross-functional commitments, research, testing, review and reinvention. Apple Retail obsesses over design, quality, experience, and delight.
In this role you will be responsible for leading the design of new store prototypes and developing bespoke architectural components and systems. You will work with multiple cross-functional stakeholders and integrate a variety design initiatives into new and existing store designs. You will oversee the development of design documentation, specifications, material testing and submittal requirements to ensure the highest quality in every aspect of Apple Retail store design.
The Apple Retail design team relies on a variety of formats to convey design ideas. You will oversee the creation of drawings, renderings, animations, AR and VR spatial constructs, as well as physical mockups and prototypes. You will work with a variety of vendors, create pilots, and review in-situ designs as they are integrated into new and existing stores worldwide. You will present your ideas to Apple Senior Leadership and guide a team of architects, industrial designers and vendors to create design documentation for Apple Retail Standards including: prototypical, schematic and construction drawings, specifications, design guidance, product standards, shop drawings, BIM deliverables, renderings, and supporting documentation.
- 10+ years of architecture and construction experience leading the design of multiple, complex, interdisciplinary architectural projects
- Professional degree in architecture (licensure a plus, but not required)
- Portfolio PDF or web link to body of work
- Deep appreciation for aesthetics with a passion for materials and material exploration
- Self-motivated and agile learner
- Healthy obsession with how things are made and how they work
- Appreciation for human factors in design
- Design intelligence: mechanical intuition, creative problem solving, spatial reasoning, devotion to detail
- Excellent communication skills and the ability to develop meaningful partnerships with internal design and technical team members, cross-functional experts and outside vendors to optimize designs for function, aesthetics, and fabrication
- Agility, and the ability to develop necessary technical knowledge in areas outside your realm of expertise to understand other teams’ design constraints, craft creative solutions to technical problems, and develop elevated customer journeys and experiences
- Ability to manage time and workflow across multiple, simultaneous projects
- Exceptional designer with the ability to create and convey compelling designs and describe program and implementation strategies in internal and executive reviews
- Ability to manage the production of a variety of visualization tools including renderings, animations, mockups, prototypes, and AR / VR constructs. Self-performance not required, but an understanding of 3D visualization tools such as Revit, Rhino, SolidWorks, KeyShot, Reality Composer Pro, Unity, Unreal Engine, etc. is a bonus
- Understanding and appreciation of hands-on mockups / prototyping, and their relationship to virtual design tools
- Radical creativity
Apple is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to inclusion and diversity. We seek to promote equal opportunity for all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, Veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics. Learn more about your EEO rights as an applicant.