Interior Design Technical Lead

Interior Design Technical Lead (Location: Chicago, Illinois, US) Curioso is a collective of architects, interior designers, and artists designing meaningful experiences around the world. Our award-winning projects represent a range of industries, including luxury hospitality, lifestyle hospitality, restaurant, wellness, multifamily, and professional spaces. We're a collaborative studio driven by curiosity, empathy, and an entrepreneurial spirit, with a diverse, multicultural team across our studios in Chicago, IL, and Mérida, Yucatán, México. We're looking for an experienced Technical Lead to join our Chicago studio. Position Overview This is a senior technical role for an interior designer or architect who thrives in the details of project delivery without losing sight of design intent. You'll lead construction documentation and technical coordination across disciplines, shepherding projects from schematic design through construction administration — while keeping every project on track, on budget, and on vision. Responsibilities Lead the production and delivery of comprehensive, cohesive contract documents and construction document sets across all project phases (SD, DD, CD, CA)Develop space planning concepts and generate program documentsManage project management, design coordination, and quality control across architecture, ownership, general contractors, and project collaboratorsCoordinate with external partners — architect of record, kitchen designer, lighting consultants, MEP engineers, and general contractor — to ensure design intent is aligned and fully coordinatedOversee FF&E coordination and technical documentation across project phasesOrchestrate and streamline the design documentation process across both Chicago and Mérida studiosLead construction administration services, including RFI responses, shop drawings, and submittal reviews, field visits, punch list reviews, and issue resolutionEnsure conformance with interior architecture and design standards at each project phaseCollaborate with Studio Design Leaders and Project Orchestrators to keep deliverables, scope, and schedules on targetManage and coordinate all consultant communicationsKeep Studio Design Leaders informed on project status, risks, and progress Candidate Requirements 5–8 years of interior design or interior architecture experience, including 2–3 years of hospitality experienceDeep, hands-on involvement across all project phases (SD, DD, CD, CA, and construction)Expert proficiency in Revit (BIM) and AutoCAD, from quick space planning through full technical documentation and construction documentsDeep knowledge of contract documents, shop drawings, and FF&E coordination across all project phasesStrong visualization skills across the full range — concept sketches, 3D modeling (SketchUp, Revit), and rendering (Enscape, Lumion, V-Ray, or equivalent)Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite and BluebeamAccredited degree in Interior Design or ArchitectureStrong project management, quality control, and problem-solving skills with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously under tight timelinesA collaborative leadership style with clear, confident communicationBilingual (English/Spanish) a plus Also in Your Toolkit (Beneficial, but not required) NCIDQ certification, state licensure, or LEED accreditation