Associate (Interior Designer)

About the Company

Michael Hsu Office of Architecture is a recognized architecture and interior design studio with offices in Austin and Houston. The practice focuses on hospitality and placemaking, and its portfolio spans mixed-use developments, adaptive reuse, public realm design, architectural branding, single-family homes, hotels, restaurants, workspaces, and custom furniture. The team works across Texas and also on projects in cities including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, and Denver.

About the Role

The Austin office is looking for an accomplished Interior Designer to step into an Associate-level position. This role suits someone who likes to both lead and stay hands-on, guiding projects from concept to completion while remaining involved in the design and technical details. Associates are expected to direct clients and teams, shape project direction, and contribute to documentation, problem-solving, and delivery throughout the full project lifecycle.

The right candidate will bring a strong portfolio of built work, proven experience running interior design projects end to end, and the confidence to manage clients, coordinate teams, and resolve project challenges with limited supervision. This person should be equally comfortable presenting to clients, mentoring designers, reviewing drawings, and jumping into the work to move the project forward.

Responsibilities

• Steer interior design assignments from early concept through construction while staying actively involved in the creative process
• Balance design quality with client expectations, timelines, and budgets to deliver successful outcomes
• Lead design teams and coordinate with consultants across disciplines
• Offer clear design direction, constructive feedback, and mentorship while remaining close to day-to-day project work
• Handle complex, high-profile interior projects with little oversight and contribute directly to design development, documentation, detailing, and issue resolution when needed
• Represent the office professionally with clients and in the wider market
• Build and maintain trusted client relationships and serve as the main contact for vision, scope, budget, and schedule discussions
• Coordinate architectural, engineering, and specialty consultant input, while supporting code compliance and the technical quality of deliverables
• Help strengthen the studio’s interior design portfolio and contribute to office-wide initiatives

Requirements

• At least 8 years of professional interior design experience, including leadership responsibility and management of multiple projects and teams
• A bachelor’s degree in Interior Design or Interior Architecture from a CIDA-accredited institution; a master’s degree or NCIDQ certification is not mandatory, though it is preferred
• Ability to work from the Austin office at least three days per week
• Demonstrated success leading projects and teams through every phase of design
• Experience functioning as both a design leader and client-facing lead on interior design work
• Solid knowledge of building codes, health and safety rules, and environmental sustainability, with the ability to apply them in design solutions
• Working proficiency in Revit, SketchUp, Adobe Creative Suite, and AutoCAD
• Strong communication, presentation, and leadership abilities
• Capability to manage several projects at once across different scales, typologies, and design phases
• Positive, collaborative approach and willingness to work as part of a team

Work Environment & Physical Requirements

This role is primarily office-based, with occasional travel to project locations, construction sites, client meetings, vendor showrooms, and other job-related destinations.

• Remain at a workstation and use a computer for long periods during the workday
• Regularly use a computer and other standard office equipment
• Communicate effectively with clients, consultants, contractors, vendors, and teammates in person, over the phone, and electronically
• Travel to project sites, client meetings, construction locations, and vendor facilities as required
• Move around active construction sites, existing buildings, project areas, and showrooms, including walking, standing, climbing stairs, bending, reaching, and navigating uneven surfaces
• Assess site conditions, construction progress, design details, and installed work
• Occasionally carry project materials, samples, presentation items, or equipment weighing up to 25 pounds
• Review drawings, specifications, project records, and digital design tools visually for extended periods

Additional Information

This is a hybrid position based in Austin, Texas, with a minimum in-office presence of three days per week. Reasonable accommodations may be provided to qualified individuals with disabilities to support performance of the essential duties.