Lead Residential Interior Designer

Luxury Residential Interior Design Studio | Mountain View, CA | Salaried, Full Time, In-Office

Supporting the studio in Mountain View, CA, with standard operating hours of 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM PST, with flexibility as needed to support business priorities.

Spectrum Interior Design is seeking an exceptional Lead Interior Designer to lead and elevate the execution of our luxury custom residential estate projects.

This is a senior leadership role for a designer who brings both technical mastery and thoughtful people leadership. You are responsible for translating the Principal Designer’s vision into highly resolved, buildable documentation while mentoring and strengthening the design team that brings that vision to life.

You will play a central role in shaping studio standards, technical excellence, and execution across architecture, landscape, interior architecture, interior design, and custom fabrication. This position offers the opportunity to lead with clarity, precision, and care within a collaborative, detail-driven studio where trust, accountability, and shared ownership define how we work.

The Role:

As Lead Interior Designer, you serve as the studio’s authority on technical design resolution and documentation. You guide how ideas become drawings, how drawings become construction, and how the team consistently delivers exceptional work.

You lead the design team by setting standards, reviewing work, and ensuring accuracy, clarity, and consistency across all project documentation. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys teaching by example, guiding others, and building a high-performing team grounded in shared standards and mutual respect.

You thrive in a leadership role that supports creative direction while owning technical excellence.

Roles and Responsibilities:

Design Leadership & Concept Development

• While the Principal Designer leads concept development and final design approvals, this role serves as the senior technical authority responsible for execution, documentation, team management, and design integrity
• Oversee design concepts, furniture and lighting plans, specifications, elevations, and presentation materials
• Collaborate closely with the Principal and design team to refine concepts and produce detailed design packages with alignment, clarity, and cohesion
• Assist with researching and sourcing materials, finishes, hardware, fabrics, furnishings, window treatments, and accessories with curiosity and a commitment to innovation

Technical Design & Documentation

• Lead technical detailing for complex luxury residential estates from concept through construction
• Produce and oversee expert-level AutoCAD drawing sets, including plans, sections, elevations, and details
• Develop complex construction details for custom millwork, cabinetry, stairs, ceilings, wall systems, stone, metalwork, and specialty finishes
• Direct technical resolution across architecture, interiors, landscape, and custom fabrication with disciplined organization and rigorous attention to detail
• Coordinate documentation with architects, consultants, builders, and fabricators with professionalism and clear communication
• Establish and refine studio-wide technical standards, workflows, and detailing conventions that elevate efficiency, clarity, and consistency across the team

Project Management & Oversight

• Create and manage project budgets, scopes, timelines, schedules, and prep for client presentations with ownership and accountability
• Anticipate construction challenges and support construction administration, site visits, and shop drawing reviews with composure and solution-oriented thinking
• Oversee project installations to ensure design integrity, quality control, and attention to detail that reflects our commitment to excellence

Construction & Site Coordination

• Attend site meetings and clearly communicate design intent
• Coordinate with architects, contractors, subcontractors, vendors, and other external partners

Team Leadership & Studio Culture

• Review and refine team drawings with a discerning, supportive eye
• Mentor designers at varying experience levels with patience, generosity, and high standards
• Foster a collaborative, high-performing studio culture where open communication and shared accountability drive extraordinary outcomes

Client Communication

• Manage ongoing client communication with professionalism, clarity, and responsiveness when needed while upholding discretion and exceptional service

Qualifications:

· Degree in Interior Design, Architecture, or a related field

· 8+ years of experience in high-end luxury residential design or architecture

· Expert in AutoCAD

· Proven experience leading technical design and documentation for estate-level projects larger than 4,000 square feet

· Strong understanding of construction methods and fabrication

· Excellent communication and leadership skills

· Demonstrated ability to lead and develop junior designers

· Ability to multi-task, prioritize multiple simultaneous project elements and work well under critical deadlines

· Knowledge of Asana, Photoshop, and Studio Designer is a plus

· Valid driver’s license, reliable transportation and willingness to drive when necessary

Portfolio & Skills Assessment:

We’re particularly interested in examples of construction documentation and interior elevations that reflect custom millwork, architectural detailing, and thoughtful coordination with contractors and fabricators.

Portfolios may include:

• Plan and elevation drawings
• Custom cabinetry or built-in detailing
• Lighting integration and finish coordination
• Construction notes or material specifications
• Completed, built work

Final candidates will be invited to complete:

· An AutoCAD technical detailing assessment

· A design logic and hand-sketching exercise to demonstrate spatial reasoning, clarity of thought, and technical fluency

· These exercises reflect the real-world rigor and complexity of the work performed in this role

Who We Are & What We Stand For

At Spectrum Interior Design, we design for the extraordinary. Our clients are global leaders with the highest of standards, hiring us to design to the fullest of our imagination. We operate with clarity, creativity, and composure, delivering every project with the highest degree of discretion, execution, and service because we view every project as both a privilege and a responsibility.

Compensation & BenefitsSpectrum Interior Design offers a comprehensive benefits package for full-time employees including 401k, Health Insurance and additional Voluntary Benefits such as dental, vision, short-term and long-term disability, life insurance, and accident insurance. PTO plus paid holidays are an additional benefit.

Pay: $100,000.00 - $150,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off

Application Question(s):

• Do you live within 45 minutes of Mountain View, CA?
• Are you willing to work 5 days in office?
• Applicants will have to submit professional portfolio demonstrating advanced technical experience within high-end residential projects. Is this something you can provide?

Ability to Commute:

• Mountain View, CA 94043 (Required)

Work Location: In person