Design Associate I - Federal Planning

Michael Baker International is seeking a Design Associate I to join our Federal Planning team. This is an excellent opportunity for an early-career design professional interested in supporting planning and design projects for federal and military clients across the country.

In this role, you’ll work alongside planners, architects, engineers, and other technical professionals to support master planning, site planning, facility and asset assessments, and planning-level design. You’ll contribute to site analysis, development of concept and site plans, technical graphics, mapping, reports, and presentations while gaining hands-on experience working on complex and meaningful federal projects.

This position is well suited for someone with a foundation in design and strong technical software skills who is interested in applying those skills within a planning-focused environment. Federal planning experience is not required.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Support federal master planning, site planning, concept planning, and facility and asset assessment projects.
• Assist with the development of site plans and planning-level design concepts using AutoCAD and other design software.
• Support projects from master planning through approximately 10% design, focusing on site layout, planning concepts, and early-stage design rather than detailed architectural design.
• Assist with field assessments and site visits to document existing conditions and gather information used in planning and design efforts.
• Conduct site analysis related to existing conditions, land use, development constraints, circulation, infrastructure, topography, and other planning considerations.
• Prepare maps, diagrams, graphics, renderings, presentation materials, and other visual communication tools.
• Assist with research, data collection, technical documentation, and development of planning reports.
• Support planning workshops, client meetings, and other collaborative project activities.
• Coordinate with planners, architects, engineers, and other disciplines to support project delivery.
• Assist with project documentation, quality control, and other technical project needs.
• Travel to project sites and client locations as needed, approximately 25%.

PROFESSIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor’s degree in Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Urban Planning, Urban Design, or a related design or planning discipline.
• 0–3 years of related professional, internship, co-op, or relevant academic experience.
• Working knowledge of AutoCAD and ability to develop and modify site plans and planning-level drawings.
• Experience with or exposure to Adobe Creative Cloud applications used for graphics and presentation development.
• Strong visual communication and graphic presentation skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively within multidisciplinary project teams.
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to manage multiple assignments.
• Willingness and ability to travel approximately 25%.
• U.S. Citizenship is required.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Internship, academic, or professional experience involving master planning, site planning, urban design, architecture, landscape architecture, or community planning.
• Experience with SketchUp, ArcGIS, or similar visualization and mapping tools.
• Experience preparing site analyses, maps, diagrams, renderings, or planning graphics.
• Exposure to field assessments, facility planning, or existing-condition documentation.
• Familiarity with federal, military, or Department of Defense projects is a plus, but is not required.

Compensation

The salary range for this position is $70,000-$80,000 annually. Actual compensation will be based on the successful candidate's experience, qualifications, and overall expertise.