Lighting Designer

Dark Light Design (DLD), an award-winning architectural lighting design practice, is looking for a Lighting Designer to join our collaborative team in Seattle.

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We are looking for a thoughtful designer who is curious about light, cares about the quality of their work, and wants to continue developing their skills through hands-on project experience, collaboration, and mentorship.

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This position is based in our Seattle office.

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The Role

As a Lighting Designer at DLD, you will be an active member of project teams, contributing to both the creative and technical development of lighting designs from early concepts through construction.

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You will work closely with Project Managers and Senior Lighting Designers while taking increasing ownership of your work as your skills and experience develop. This is an opportunity to build a strong foundation in architectural lighting design while contributing ideas and having a meaningful role in the projects you work on.

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You will have the opportunity to work across a broad range of project types and scales, from intimate hospitality and workplace environments to airports, cultural projects, public spaces, and city-scale infrastructure.

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Your responsibilities will include:​

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• As a Lighting Designer at DLD, you will be an active member of project teams, contributing to both the creative and technical development of lighting designs from early concepts through construction.

• You will work closely with Project Managers and Senior Lighting Designers while taking increasing ownership of your work as your skills and experience develop. This is an opportunity to build a strong foundation in architectural lighting design while contributing ideas and having a meaningful role in the projects you work on.

• You will have the opportunity to work across a broad range of project types and scales, from intimate hospitality and workplace environments to airports, cultural projects, public spaces, and city-scale infrastructure.

• Your responsibilities will include:

• Contributing ideas to lighting concepts and design discussions

• Helping develop design concepts from early ideas through documentation and construction

• Preparing lighting layouts, calculations, details, schedules, and other project documentation

• Using Revit and other design tools to accurately communicate lighting design intent

• Supporting fixture selection, controls coordination, code compliance, and technical research

• Attending client and consultant meetings and clearly documenting decisions, feedback, and next steps

• Coordinating with architects, interior designers, landscape architects, engineers, manufacturers, and other members of the project team

• Communicating clearly about task progress, questions, and information needed to keep work moving

• Managing your own workload and deadlines across multiple projects

• Reviewing your work carefully for accuracy, consistency, and completeness before it is issued for review

• Seeking and incorporating feedback from more experienced team members

• Contributing to internal knowledge sharing, team initiatives, and the continued development of DLD's design practice

 

About You

You have a strong design foundation and want to continue developing your expertise in architectural lighting.

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You understand that lighting is more than selecting fixtures. You are interested in how light interacts with architecture, materials, surfaces, and people, and how it can shape the way a space is experienced.

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You enjoy both the creative and technical sides of design. You are interested in developing concepts and communicating ideas visually, but you also understand that successful design requires careful calculations, coordination, documentation, and attention to detail.

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You are organized, curious, and accountable. You communicate clearly, ask questions when something isn't clear, and take responsibility for following through on your work. You value feedback and see it as an important part of becoming a stronger designer.

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Most importantly, you enjoy working collaboratively. We believe great design comes from people who bring ideas to the table, listen to others, and work together without ego.

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Skills & Qualifications

Required:

• 1–5 years of professional lighting design experience

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Architecture, Interior Design, Architectural Engineering, Theatrical Lighting, Lighting Design, or a related design discipline

• A portfolio demonstrating strong design thinking and an interest in architectural lighting

• Proficiency in Revit

• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office

• Experience with lighting calculation software

• Working knowledge of lighting design fundamentals, calculations, controls, codes, construction documentation, and detailing appropriate to your level of experience

• Strong verbal, written, visual, and interpersonal communication skills

• Ability to manage multiple assignments, priorities, and deadlines

• Strong attention to detail and a commitment to producing accurate, well-coordinated work

 

A plus:

• IALD membership

• Experience with AutoCAD

• Experience working with multidisciplinary architectural or design teams

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About Dark Light Design​

At DLD, we believe great lighting design starts with understanding what a project is trying to become. We use light to shape experience, reinforce architecture, reveal materiality, support people, and create places that feel memorable and intentional.

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Our work spans a wide range of project types, including transportation, civic and public realm, hospitality, workplace, cultural, healthcare, education, and infrastructure projects. That diversity keeps our work interesting and gives designers opportunities to learn, stretch, and work at very different scales.

We are a small, independent design practice, which means you won't be limited to one narrow piece of a project. Our designers have opportunities to participate in the design process, learn directly from experienced team members, interact with clients and collaborators, and see how ideas develop from concept through construction.

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We value curiosity, humility, ingenuity, accountability, empathy, and collaboration. We also recognize that people bring different strengths to their work, and our career path is designed to help team members build on those strengths while developing the skills needed to take on increasing responsibility over time.

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Whether your goals ultimately lead toward project management, senior design leadership, technical expertise, firm leadership, or another area of the practice, we want to help you build a career that plays to your strengths and continues to challenge you.

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What We Offer

• Competitive salary and benefits

• Flexible hybrid work environment

• A collaborative, creative studio culture

• Diverse and challenging projects across the country

• Hands-on experience across all phases of the design process

• Meaningful mentorship and professional development

• Opportunities to take on increasing responsibility as your skills develop

• Support for professional and industry involvement

• A clear path for continued career growth within DLD

 

Applicants must be authorized to work legally in the U.S. We do not offer visa sponsorship.

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To Apply

Please send a cover letter, resume, and portfolio (PDF or link) to careers@darklight-design.com.

We would especially like to hear not only about the projects you have worked on, but what kind of lighting designer you want to become next.