Rhino Designer

Job Description

The Rhino Designer develops detailed drawings and documentation throughout the full project lifecycle, from design and engineering through production and installation. This role shares ownership of projects from initial assignment to final install, ensuring smooth handoffs, accurate documentation, and successful implementation at every stage. The Rhino Designer collaborates closely with design leadership, project and process leads, and production teams to validate custom solutions, support digital-to-physical fabrication, and deliver high-quality, custom architectural products.

Responsibilities

• Develop drawings and documentation that support projects from early design through engineering and into production, ensuring consistency and accuracy at every stage.
• Share ownership of assigned projects from initial assignment through installation, maintaining accountability for successful implementation and clean handoffs between teams.
• Communicate schedule updates and project needs to the Design Manager to support accurate workload planning and scheduling, while also managing personal project timelines and priorities.
• Verify product layouts and intended use, collaborating with project and process leads to confirm accuracy and alignment with design intent and client requirements.
• Develop custom design solutions and products for bespoke and boutique projects in collaboration with the Design Manager, balancing design innovation with manufacturability.
• Validate proposed custom solutions through prototyping and physical mock-ups to confirm feasibility for mass manufacture and alignment with production capabilities.
• Participate in client meetings to review feedback, clarify requirements, and maintain alignment with product and project expectations.
• Prepare and package complete product specifications and documentation for Design, Engineering, and Production, ensuring all stakeholders have clear and comprehensive information.
• Contribute to internal product development initiatives and special projects in partnership with project and process leads.
• Follow best practices for digital file management and documentation, maintaining organized, accurate, and well-structured project files.
• Maintain a scheduled physical presence on the Production and Assembly floor to support translation of digital designs into physical products and to collaborate closely with fabrication teams.
• Support the creation of construction documents, including floor plans, reflected ceiling plans, and related technical drawings as needed.
• Apply schematic design, drafting, and architectural design skills to develop interior architecture and architectural solutions that result in tangible, manufactured products.
• Collaborate with trades and construction stakeholders, including general contractors, to support constructability and coordination of installed products.
• Support a fast-paced, collaborative, and innovative design culture by contributing ideas, sharing knowledge, and engaging in continuous improvement of design and fabrication processes.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Architecture; a Master of Architecture (M.Arch) is a plus.
• 3–4 years of professional experience in architecture or a closely related field.
• Technical and design work experience in a commercial-based architecture firm.
• Experience producing 3D drawings in Rhino in a professional setting.
• Proficiency in construction documentation, including floor plans, reflected ceiling plans, and related technical drawings.
• Professional exposure to Rhino as part of project delivery workflows.
• Traditional architecture experience across Schematic Design (SD) and Construction Documents (CD) phases.
• Experience with drafting and design work that results in a manufactured or built physical product.
• Prior experience with CNC, millwork, or production-focused roles that involve tangible, physical outputs.
• Exposure to trades and construction environments, including communicating with general contractors.
• Proficiency with AutoCAD for drafting and documentation.
• Proficiency with Revit for architectural and interior architecture workflows.
• Experience with architectural design and interior architecture projects.
• Familiarity with fabrication and digital fabrication workflows, including CNC and related processes.
• Proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite for visual communication and documentation.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and timelines while communicating effectively with design leadership and cross-functional teams.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to accuracy in drawings, documentation, and file management.
• Comfort working on-site in a production and assembly environment to support digital-to-physical translation of designs.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience with Grasshopper for parametric design and computational workflows.
• Experience with Dynamo or similar tools for digital design and automation.
• Experience with digital fabrication workflows where digital models directly inform fabrication of physical products.
• Background in fabrication or CNC operations, particularly in environments focused on custom or boutique architectural products.
• Experience working on projects that emphasize custom solutions and unique architectural or interior design outcomes.
• Interest in sustainability and working with materials that incorporate recycled content and are recyclable at end of life.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative, and innovative design culture.
• Motivation to grow within a defined career path (Designer I, Designer II, Design Manager, Senior Design Manager) with opportunities for promotion typically within about one year.
• Comfort participating in client meetings, presenting design solutions, and incorporating feedback into design and documentation.

Work Environment

This is an in-office role based in a beautiful office space located in the Merchandise Mart, directly connected to a showroom that showcases the company’s products and capabilities. Typical work hours are approximately 8:30/9:00 a.m. to 5:00/5:30 p.m. The design team is close to 20 people and operates in a fast-paced, collaborative, and innovative environment. Once fully up and running in the role, team members may be allowed to work from home on Fridays with prior approval, though this benefit is not guaranteed on a set timeline. The organization maintains a manufacturing facility in Illinois where estimating and manufacturing teams are based, and the Rhino Designer maintains a scheduled physical presence on the Production and Assembly floor to support fabrication and assembly activities. Every project is custom, with clients located across the United States, Canada, and Latin America, and the work focuses on translating digital designs into tangible products using materials such as PET felt with high recycled content that is fully recyclable at end of life. The culture emphasizes design freedom backed by the resources of a larger organization, with a clear growth trajectory within the design team and direct reporting lines into Senior leadership. While on contract, team members receive accrued vacation, paid holidays, and sick leave consistent with local requirements, and direct employees receive a competitive package of paid time off and benefits aligned with a larger corporate structure.

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Chicago, IL.

The pay range for this position is $28.37 - $38.46/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: • Medical, dental & vision • Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital • 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available • Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) • Short and long-term disability • Health Spending Account (HSA) • Transportation benefits • Employee Assistance Program • Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

This is a fully onsite position in Chicago,IL.

This position is anticipated to close on Sep 7, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications withoutregard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability,sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protectedby law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification oradjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability,please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance:Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in thecity and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicantswith arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector:It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as acondition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this lawshall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI):We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process,including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applicationsand qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, youacknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.