Senior Residential Designer

About Alto Builders

Alto Builders is a premium construction and remodeling firm based in Agoura Hills, serving Los Angeles and the surrounding communities. We're a licensed and fully insured California general contractor (CSLB #1118841) with an A rating from the BBB, specializing in custom homes, ADUs, kitchen and bath remodels, and ground-up new construction.

Since the January 2025 Eaton and Palisades fires, we've become one of the most active rebuild partners in the region, with 16 homes currently under construction across Altadena, Pacific Palisades, and Malibu. We work in close partnership with leading architects, designers, and rebuild collectives to deliver construction that lives up to the design vision, handling everything from design coordination and permitting through to move-in.

Our work is built on craftsmanship, transparent communication, and a genuine partnership with every client. If that's the kind of team you want to build with, read on.

Job Overview

We're seeking a Senior Residential Designer to join our team and work alongside our Principal Designer on the design and finish selections for our custom homes, ADUs, whole-home remodels, and active fire rebuilds. Reporting to the Principal Designer, you'll translate design intent into beautifully detailed, build-ready plans and material packages, working directly with clients, architects, and our construction team. This is an in-house role for someone with strong taste, sharp technical skills, and the maturity to own individual projects from concept through construction under the direction of our design lead.

Responsibilities

• Develop design from initial concept through construction documents, space planning, elevations, sections, and detailed millwork drawings, under the direction of the Principal Designer.
• Develop full finished materials lists and finish schedules for kitchens, baths, flooring, lighting, plumbing, hardware, tile, and exterior finishes.
• Build presentation boards, mood boards, and 3D renderings to communicate design intent to clients.
• Coordinate directly with architects of record on plan integration, structural conflicts, and design revisions.
• Source and specify materials, fixtures, and finishes from approved vendors and to-the-trade showrooms; manage samples, lead times, and procurement.
• Run client design meetings alongside the Principal Designer, document selections and approvals, and keep selection schedules on track.
• Partner with Project Managers and Site Superintendents on submittals, RFIs, and field decisions to protect design intent through construction.
• Help build Alto's internal design library, standards, and templates.
• Maintain strong relationships with showrooms, fabricators, and trades to keep our spec book current and our pricing sharp.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Interior Design, Architecture, or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience in high-end residential design, with a portfolio of completed custom home, remodel, or new-construction projects.
• Refined aesthetic sensibility with a confident point of view across architectural styles common in Los Angeles, including Mediterranean, Spanish Colonial, modern Tudor, traditional, and contemporary.
• Strong technical skills in space planning, millwork detailing, kitchen and bath design, and custom finish specification.
• Proficiency in Chief Architect, AutoCAD, or equivalent design software; comfort with SketchUp, Revit, and the Adobe Creative Suite for client-facing renderings and presentation boards.
• Working knowledge of California building codes, Title 24, and LA-area jurisdictional requirements (LADBS, LA County, Pasadena, Malibu).
• Strong understanding of construction documentation and how design decisions translate to the field; experience producing permit-ready and construction-ready drawing sets.
• Proven track record taking projects from concept through construction, ideally within a design-build or custom builder environment.
• Excellent communicator, able to present, defend, and refine design decisions with clients, architects, and trades.
• Highly organized and detail-oriented, able to manage multiple active projects without dropping balls.
• Established relationships with LA-area showrooms, vendors, and to-the-trade resources are a strong plus.

If you have strong taste, sharp technical skills, and want to grow your craft alongside a strong design team at one of LA's most active residential builders, we'd love to see your portfolio. Please include a portfolio link or PDF with your application.

Pay: $80,000.00 - $90,000.00 per year

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Agoura Hills, CA 91301