Senior Architect

“We Power the Magic!” That’s our motto at Disney Experiences (DX) At Disney, you’ll help inspire magic by enabling our teams to push the limits of entertainment and create innovative built environments. You will collaborate to develop ideas/thoughts into physical reality! Architecture & Facilities Engineering (A&FE) is looking for an Architect to support the development and sustainment of assets and projects we support throughout the Disneyland Resort. You will provide technical expertise, problem solving, and QA/QC for projects we support throughout the Disneyland Resort.  Our department supports a wide range of project types that include shops, attractions, hotels, entertainment, maintenance facilities, offices, and nearly any facility and area development found on our property. Projects range from preliminary research, full facility assessments to minor renovations or new facilities. You will also support immediate response efforts. You will work in close collaboration with other engineering disciplines and multiple internal Disney project teams. As an Architect in A&FE, you will act as an Architectural Owner’s Representative for the Disneyland Resort on projects from concept through construction. While drawings are seldomly produced in house, the majority of our construction drawings are produced by external Architects/Engineers hired for their services. Our role is to provide design management of these outside resources ensuring projects are designed to Disney standards, fully coordinated with other disciplines, and compliant with codes. You will be leading the design team ensuring all project partners and stakeholders are updated on project developments.

You will report to the Sr. Manager – Architecture.

What You Will Do

City Liaison

• Act as a liaison with local Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJs) including the City of Anaheim for projects at the Disneyland Resort to represent Disney’s interests in addressing questions with external regulatory agencies in conjunction with Resort partners including D&E, Government Relations, Public Affairs, Operations, and others.
• Works with relevant AHJs Building, Planning, Public Works, Public Utilities, and Anaheim Fire Departments to secure permits to construct and schedule related inspections.
• Lead the permitting process, coordinate project priorities with teams including WDI, FAM, Entertainment, and others.
• This role involves collaboration with various Disney project teams including FAM Project Management, WDI, Entertainment, and Operations to submit plan check packages and obtain building permits.
• Maintain database log of all active permits and ensures permits are closed out following the final inspection.

Owners Rep

• Review project concepts with internal team members and partners
• Resolve team required to fully implement project
• Develop project scopes of work and create RFP’s (Request for Proposals) for external Architects/Engineers/Consultants
• Coordinate with Facility Assessment Management (FAM) partners to review scope, schedule and budgets
• Provide internal cost estimates for project support and review budget throughout the project schedule
• Handle the design and development of project construction drawings and specifications with internal and external resources
• During design, coordinate schedule, meeting agendas, meeting participants to get results
• Lead design reviews and meetings throughout the design process
• Review drawings and specifications at each design landmark to align with applicable codes, standards, and statutes.
• Ensure that the overall project design intent is achieved by successfully integrating facility design with partner design fields and components of the supporting development such as: infrastructure, area development, grading/drainage, area lighting, graphics, structural, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing engineering, showset, ride engineering, etc.
• Review for scope completeness based on project requirements with a focus on constructability, efficiency, and long-term maintainability
• Update team members of all project developments throughout the project schedule (design and construction)
• Partner with internal teams to develop, maintain, communicate, and carry out Walt Disney Company design guidelines, standards, master specifications, and details
• Provide guidance and concise decision matrices to support executive decisions
• Demonstrate your technical expertise and lessons learned when reviewing all projects
• Liason with City officials and external agencies to ensure project scope and implementation is coordinated and aligned with external requirements
• Coordinate responses to city plan check comments and questions with the AOR/EOR
• Coordinate constructability issues with project partners
• Coordinate responses of all RFI’s and submittals with AOR/EOR
• Coordinate all internal team member feedback with the AOR/EOR/GC
• Provide punch walk feedback
• Gather all project documentation for closeout

Architect

• Influence the Architectural direction of the Walt Disney Company
• Develop varied facility design project work at all stages of assigned projects from concept, feasibility or schematic design through the preparation of construction documentation in accordance with established Disney quality standards
• Develop project concepts with internal team members and partners
• Resolve team required to fully implement project
• Develop project scopes of work for internal Architects/Engineers/Project Partners
• Resolve design issues creatively and thoroughly coordinating design with other subject areas
• Manage and execute the design and development of project construction drawings and specifications with internal resources as the Architect of Record
• Create drawings and specifications that comply with applicable codes, standards, and statutes.
• Coordinate all subject areas within each project
• Leverage your technical expertise and lessons learned when creating all projects
• Respond to city plan check comments and questions
• Respond to all RFI’s and submittals with AOR/EOR
• Provide punch walk list to the GC and FAM partners
• Prepare and gather all project documentation for closeout
• Work with team members to provide architectural resources, both technical and aesthetic, to develop project scope including design, planning and code compliance for estimation and feasibility

What We Look For

• Professional design experience in a wide range of project types and construction types
• Demonstrate familiarity with all phases of design and construction practices and standards
• Construction Administration experience including site observation visits and review of RFIs and Submittals
• Direct experience in the preparation of architectural contract drawings and specifications
• Knowledge and experience with creating code analysis summaries including life safety plans
• Collaborate and endeavor in a team environment to guarantee a successful product.
• Proficiency in AutoCAD, Revit, Bluebeam, Airtable, and Microsoft Office Suite is required
• Demonstrate familiarity with the California Building Code, health codes, CalOSHA, and the American with Disabilities Act
• Experience developing custom details to support unique facility design conditions
• Demonstrate leadership, team building skills, and mentoring energetic professionals
• Developing strong problem solving/analytical skills and time management/social skills
• Developing strong written, verbal, and graphical social skills with the ability to present complex analyses and issues to all levels of executive management
• Demonstrate the ability to respond effectively to wide-ranging situations and personalities
• Must be capable of working independently on programs and projects but must have the maturity to seek guidance/approval and communicate as appropriate.
• Ability to direct and motivate work efforts of others and handle stressful situations
• Ability to work well under pressure, prioritize and lead multiple projects simultaneously, often against tight deadlines

Required Education

• Bachelor’s of Architecture or Master's of Architecture from an NAAB accredited school
• Minimum of 9+ years professional experience working in Architecture
• Architectural License in the State of California is required
• Experience in plan check/ permitting / inspection process with AHJs

Preferred Qualifications

• Use of Airtable
• Master Planning Experience
• CASp Certification
• Experience with Conditional Use Permits (CP) with AHJ
• Experience with Request for Modification (RFM) with AHJ

The hiring range for this position in Anaheim, CA is $102,000.00-$136,700.00 per year. The base pay actually offered will take into account internal equity and also may vary depending on the candidate’s geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors. A bonus and/or long-term incentive units may be provided as part of the compensation package, in addition to the full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, dependent on the level and position offered.