Architect - Structure & MEP Lead
About the Role
As a Structure & MEP Lead, you'll take ownership of the coordination and integration of structural and building services requirements within the architectural design, working closely with Project Leads, Design Leads, consultants and the wider project team.
You'll help ensure structural and MEP solutions are effectively incorporated into the project, balancing design intent, functionality, buildability and user experience. Through proactive coordination and problem-solving, you'll identify and resolve interface issues, support multidisciplinary decision-making and contribute to well-integrated project outcomes.
The role requires a strong understanding of how structure and building services influence architectural design, space planning and project delivery. You'll work collaboratively with consultants and project teams to coordinate requirements, review design information and support the delivery of coordinated, high-quality documentation throughout the project lifecycle.
About us at Populous
At Populous, our teams design the places where people love to be together. From stadiums and arenas to convention centres, airports, mixed-use developments, and entertainment precincts, we have delivered many of the world’s most iconic and community-defining projects.
With projects spanning Asia, Australia, Europe, and the Americas, we bring global expertise and local insight to every design. Our Sydney team is central to this network, delivering impactful projects locally and across the region with a focus on sustainability, innovation, and community.
Why Populous
We don’t consider ourselves just another architecture and design practice. At Populous, we believe our strength lies in our people and their diversity of experiences. Across APAC, our team represents over 35 nationalities, and we actively celebrate and support this.
We provide our people with:
- The opportunity to contribute to projects of global significance in Sydney and across APAC
- A collaborative international network of experts and design leaders
- Career development opportunities, including leadership training, mentorship, and global mobility
- A vibrant workplace culture where creativity, collaboration, and innovation are valued
- An environment where everyone can be themselves and grow their careers in any direction they want, all while being in an inclusive and supportive workplace
- Oh, and we’re recognised as one of the best places to work in Australia! We’ve been recognised as a Work180 Top 101 Employer for Women two years in a row, winners of two Work180 Workplace awards and recognised as a HRD 5 Star Employer!
What will you be engaged in?
As a Structure & MEP Lead, you will:
- Contribute to the design, documentation and delivery of complex architectural projects.
- Take ownership of structural and MEP packages, leading their development from concept design through to detailed design and documentation.
- Develop and coordinate architectural responses to structural and building services requirements, ensuring alignment with project objectives and design intent.
- Work closely with Project and other Package Leads to ensure structural and MEP solutions support the overall architectural vision and user experience.
- Coordinate with structural, services and specialist consultants to integrate project requirements and resolve coordination challenges.
- Review consultant drawings, models and technical information to ensure alignment with project requirements and architectural outcomes.
- Coordinate interfaces between architecture, structure, building services and other project elements to achieve integrated project outcomes.
- Lead the preparation, review and coordination of package drawings, documentation and deliverables throughout the design process.
- Participate in coordination meetings, design reviews, workshops and stakeholder presentations.
- Manage team members contributing to the package, providing direction, oversight and support to achieve project objectives.
- Manage assigned tasks and package deliverables to meet project timelines and quality expectations.
- Build strong working relationships with consultants, contractors and internal project teams.
- Contribute to broader architectural design, documentation and project delivery activities as required.
What we are looking for
To succeed in this role, you will bring:
- A Master's degree in Architecture from a recognised university.
- Current Architectural Registration in Australia (desirable).
- Approximately 5-10 years' professional experience, or equivalent, within an architectural practice.
- Demonstrated experience coordinating complex architectural projects through design, documentation and delivery stages.
- Strong understanding of structural and building services systems and their integration within architectural design and project delivery.
- Demonstrated experience coordinating with structural, services and specialist consultants to achieve integrated project outcomes.
- Proven ability to identify and resolve coordination, interface and constructability challenges across multidisciplinary project teams.
- Experience reviewing and coordinating architectural and consultant documentation for complex projects.
- Advanced BIM and Revit proficiency, with a strong understanding of digital design and documentation workflows.
- Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to coordinate effectively across project teams and consultant groups.
- Demonstrated ability to lead, mentor and support team members while fostering a collaborative team environment.
- Strong problem-solving skills, attention to detail and a practical, solutions-focused approach.
- Ability to balance design intent, functionality, coordination and buildability to achieve successful project outcomes.
- Experience working on complex or large-scale sports, entertainment, aviation, civic or major public infrastructure projects will be highly regarded.
At Populous, we’re not only looking for technical skills but also for people who share our passion for creating places where communities come together.
We design the places that bring people together — and we know that happens best when our own team reflects the diversity of the communities we serve. We encourage people of all identities, abilities, and lived experiences to apply and join us in shaping the future of design.
Send us your CV and portfolio and come help us design the places that bring people together.