Ecological Landscape Designer

About Us

Mariposa Gardening & Design is a women-led design build landscaping company known for building beautiful, ecologically inspired gardens that bring the natural world into the built environment. We are a mission-driven, collaborative company, and we value teamwork, communication, and craftsmanship. Our employees are encouraged to grow with us and have the opportunity to become Worker-Owners in our cooperative business model.

Role Description

Seeking a highly motivated individual to join our team as an Ecological Landscape Designer (Designer) and collaborate in growing the design department working on residential and small commercial landscape construction projects. The position will be semi-remote, requiring the Designer to work mostly from home with visits to job sites throughout the design process. This role involves a diverse set of responsibilities outlined below. The Designer will be reporting to the Lead Designer and will be working closely with the Senior Designer and Design Assistant. The ideal candidate will have a passion for ecological design, possess strong communication skills, and demonstrate proficiency in various design software and methodologies. The Designer should also be open to learning Mariposa methods of installation through observing and working alongside our installation team.

Key Responsibilities

Client Engagement & Early-Phase Design

• Conduct and participate in client consultations, capturing detailed notes that guide design direction.
• Attend and contribute to concept presentations, documenting revisions and next steps.
• Support clear communication with clients, team members, and installers throughout the design process.

Site Assessments & Basemap Development

• Perform comprehensive site assessments with the Design Team, using standard surveying techniques to gather accurate field data.
• Produce accurate basemaps in SketchUp and LayOut, following Mariposa drafting standards.

Concept Development & Ecological Design

• Participate in collaborative design charrettes to develop 2–3 distinct, ecologically focused, site-responsive concepts that address client needs and offer a broad range of cost options.
• Develop concepts with the design team that incorporate water-harvesting principles and regenerative strategies to create resilient landscape designs.
• Use SketchUp to trace conceptual designs and calculate square footage for estimating collaboration with the Project Manager.
• Refine concept drafts in Notability with high-quality graphics and annotations in alignment with Mariposa’s graphic style.
• Produce sections, elevations, and perspective drawings that clearly express design intent.

Presentation Development

• Utilize Mariposa’s design templates to assemble polished concept presentations.
• Integrate relevant photos and precedent imagery from the Mariposa Google Drive database.
• Update presentations based on team and client feedback to support clear communication and decision-making.

Construction Documentation & Material Selection

• Under the Lead Designer’s guidance, produce comprehensive final landscape plans with polished graphics and concise annotations.
• Prepare construction documents using SketchUp, LayOut, Notability, and field notes.
• Complete permit applications and produce permit-ready drawings as required.
• Research materials and visit vendors to assist with material selection.

Field Coordination & Collaboration

• Observe and collaborate with installation crews to deepen understanding of construction methods and Mariposa’s standards.
• Lead design layout in the field and ensure accurate implementation.
• Communicate clearly with crew leaders to address questions, resolve issues, and provide clarifications.
• Assist with plant layout under the direction of the Senior Designer.
• Prepare for and participate in onsite project meetings throughout all project phases, recording field notes and punch lists and completing follow-up actions.

Standards, Systems & Department Development

• Contribute to the refinement and expansion of Mariposa’s Design Standards of Practice.
• Receive relevant trainings and attend workshops and networking events.
• Observe and work alongside the installation crew to gain a hands-on understanding of Mariposa’s installation standards.
• Collaborate with the design team to improve workflows, documentation, templates, and internal quality standards.
• Support the growth and evolution of the design department through shared leadership and consistent professional communication.

Required Qualifications

• Portfolio demonstrating strong ecological design sensibilities and experience with residential landscape design.
• 3–7 years of experience at a design-build firm or landscape architecture office.
• Bachelor’s degree in Landscape Architecture or related field preferred.
• Proficiency in SketchUp, LayOut, Notability, and iPad hand-sketching.
• Ability to produce clear construction documents with strong graphic and technical skills.
• Strong field knowledge of planting design, soil science, irrigation, grading, and construction methods.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with exceptional attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively in a dynamic, multidisciplinary setting.
• Highly organized, reliable, and capable of managing multiple concurrent design tasks.

Compensation, Benefits and Perks:

• Full-time
• $34-$44/hour depending on experience
• Accrued sick leave and PTO
• Opportunity to co-own in profitable business
• Opportunities for training and skill development
• Matching IRA
• Health and Wellness stipend
• Cell phone stipend
• Meaningful work creating regenerative, ecological landscapes

If you love collaboration, problem-solving, and building beautiful outdoor spaces, we’d love to have you grow with Mariposa Gardening & Design.

Pay: $34.00 - $44.00 per hour

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Oakland, CA 94612