Design Associate – Architecture

About This Role

SOM (Skidmore, Owings & Merrill) — one of the world's most influential architecture and engineering firms — is hiring fresh architecture graduates as Design Associates (Architecture) at its Mumbai studio. You will contribute to SOM's iconic portfolio of supertall towers, mixed-use masterplans, corporate campuses, and civic buildings — working within a globally integrated design studio renowned for technical precision and design excellence.

Job Overview

Role Context

SOM's Mumbai studio works on complex, large-scale architectural projects — typically tall buildings, mixed-use masterplans, and large institutional facilities — in collaboration with SOM's global studios in Chicago, New York, London, Hong Kong, and Dubai. Design Associates are embedded in project teams from concept stage, contributing to design development, façade detailing, and construction documentation on projects of iconic architectural scale. SOM's integrated architecture and structural engineering approach means freshers gain unusually direct exposure to how structural systems shape architectural form — a defining characteristic of SOM's design identity.

Key Responsibilities

• Contribute to architectural design development from concept through schematic design using Revit, Rhino, and Grasshopper
• Prepare architectural drawings — floor plans, sections, elevations, façade details, and wall assemblies
• Explore parametric façade geometry and structural form optimization using Rhino + Grasshopper
• Coordinate architectural design with SOM's integrated structural engineering and MEP disciplines
• Create high-quality 3D renderings and presentation materials for client design reviews
• Research building envelope systems, structural systems, and materials appropriate to tall and complex buildings
• Assist in preparing statutory approval drawings and design milestone documentation

Requirements & Skills

• B.Arch — 2024/2025 batch with strong design portfolio
• Revit proficiency; Rhino + Grasshopper for parametric design work is strongly preferred
• High-quality 3D rendering — V-Ray, Lumion, or Enscape
• Adobe Creative Suite at a high level of proficiency for design presentations
• Strong design sensibility — interest in tall buildings, structural expression, and architectural tectonics
• Portfolio demonstrating design ambition, technical drawing quality, and spatial composition ability

Benefits & Work Conditions

• ₹5–8 LPA starting compensation
• SOM's mentoring framework with senior global design principals
• International project collaboration with SOM's global studios
• Health insurance and PF from Day 1
• Immersive design environment in one of the world's most architecturally rigorous firms

Who Should Apply

A design graduate with exceptional portfolio quality and a genuine passion for architecture at the largest and most technically ambitious scales. You are drawn to the intersection of architectural form and structural expression, have strong computational design skills, and want to work in an environment where design excellence is the primary benchmark. SOM's pace and quality bar are high — your portfolio must demonstrate both.

About the Company

SOM (Skidmore, Owings & Merrill) is one of the world's most influential architecture, interior design, and engineering firms — responsible for some of the most recognized buildings in history including the John Hancock Center, Willis Tower, One World Trade Center, and Burj Khalifa. SOM's Mumbai studio works on iconic commercial, mixed-use, and civic projects across India and the wider Asia-Pacific region.

How to Apply

Apply at som.com/careers. Search "Design Associate" or "Architecture" roles in India. Submit your CV with a high-quality PDF portfolio. For SOM, portfolio design quality and technical ability are the primary selection criteria.