ARCHITECT 7925 en City of Los Angeles

About the Department

$112,104 to $163,887

The salary in the Department of Water and Power is $159,356 to $197,984.

1. Annual salary is at the start of the pay range. The current salary range is subject to change. Please confirm the starting salary with the hiring department before accepting a job offer.
2. For information regarding reciprocity between the City of Los Angeles departments and LADWP, go to http://per.lacity.org/Reciprocity_CityDepts_and_DWP.pdf.

Position Duties

1. Two years of full-time paid professional architectural experience with the City of Los Angeles at the level of Architectural Associate II; or
2. Possession of a valid Certificate of Registration as an Architect issued by the California State Board of Architectural Examiners.

PROCESS NOTES

1. A valid Certificate of Registration as an Architect issued by the California State Board of Architectural Examiners is required prior to appointment.
2. Applicants lacking six months or less of the required experience at the time of filing may file for this examination. However, they cannot be appointed until the full experience requirement is met.
3. As a condition of employment, a valid Class C driver’s license issued by the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is required. Applicants will be disqualified and candidates will not be eligible for hire if their DMV record within the last 36 months reflects three or more moving violations and/or at-fault accidents, or a conviction of a major moving violation such as DUI or DWI in any state or jurisdiction. Notice of disqualification or ineligibility for hire may be issued by the City of Los Angeles at any time before a final job offer is extended. 
4. For Internal Use Only: Licensing verification will occur at time of appointment.
5. Applicants filing under Requirement #2 must list their Architect license number in the Supplemental Questions Section of the on-line application at the time of filing. Applicants who fail to provide their Architect license number will not be considered further in this examination. 

SELECTIVE CERTIFICATION

In accordance with Charter Section 1010 (b) and Civil Service Rule 5.31, selective certification may apply to specific departmental positions requiring specialized skills or training in the areas listed below. While not mandatory for the exam, applicants with any, or all, of these certifications should list them on their online application. This expertise is not a requirement for the Architect position and will not affect applicant ranking; minimum criteria are noted above. 

1. One year of full-time paid experience in the field of historic preservation, including the interpretation and application of the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties, as to proposals affecting historic buildings.
2. California Building Plans Examiner I6 Exam (ICC) Certification 
3. LEED BD+C Certification 

NOTES:

1. Applicants that desire to be considered for Selective Certification #1 as described above must respond to the Selective Certification Questionnaire at the time of filing. The Selective Certification Questionnaire is located within the Supplemental Questions of the City application. Applicants who fail to complete the Selective Certification Questionnaire will not be considered further in selective certification.
2. Applicants that desire to be considered for Selective Certification #2 or #3 must attach a copy of the certificate at the time of filing. The certificate must be attached to the on-line application BEFORE the application is submitted. If the certificate is attached AFTER the on-line application has been submitted, it will not be available to the City and applicants WILL NOT be credited with having submitted the certificate.   Applicants who fail to submit the certificate at the time of filing by not attaching it to the on-line application will not be considered further for selective certification.

Minimum Qualifications

Applications will only be accepted on-line. When you are viewing the on-line job bulletin of your choice, simply scroll to the top of the page and select the “Apply” icon. On-line job bulletins are also available at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/lacity for Open Competitive Examinations and at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/lacity/promotionaljobs for Promotional Examinations.

Applicants are urged to apply early to ensure you have time to resolve any technical issues you may encounter.

Applications must be received by THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2025.

In accordance with Civil Service Rule 4.2, all applicants who apply may not be tested in this examination. To meet anticipated hiring needs, only a limited number of qualified applicants will be invited to participate in the advisory essay in the following order: 1) Los Angeles City Promotional applicants who meet the minimum requirements. You must have received a regular appointment to a City position or be on a reserve list to apply for this examination as a promotional candidate; 2) Applicants currently employed by the City of Los Angeles on a part-time or exempt basis who meet the minimum requirements; 3) Remaining applicants who meet the minimum requirements in sufficient numbers to meet hiring needs based on a random sampling of those qualified candidates. Applications submitted during the filing period will be kept on file in the event that additional applicants need to be tested to meet hiring needs

Other Qualifications

Examination Weights:  

Essay - Advisory

Interview - 100%

The examination will consist entirely of an evaluation of professional and personal qualifications by interview. In the interview, the following competencies may be evaluated: Analytical Ability; Self-Management; Supervision; Teamwork; Oral Communication; Written Communication; Project Management; and Job Knowledge including knowledge of: standards, codes, and regulations related to architectural design as required by the Los Angeles Municipal Code, California Building Standards Code, and the Americans with Disabilities Act; Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) principles as required by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC); methods used to conduct geotechnical investigations; testing procedures and standards for building materials and electrical systems as required by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) and the Underwriters Laboratories (UL); structural, electrical, and mechanical engineering and construction principles as they relate to architectural design; equipment and software used for graphic design and presentation, such as AutoCAD, Revit, Photoshop, 3D printers, and laser cutters; and other necessary skills, knowledge and abilities.

Additional information can be obtained by going to https://per.lacity.org/jobs/job-analyses.cfm and clicking on Competencies under Architect.

Prior to the interview, candidates will be required to prepare some written material related to the duties and responsibilities of an Architect. This essay material will not be separately scored, but will be presented to the interview board for review and consideration, which may include discussion, in the overall evaluation of the candidate. Those who do not complete the advisory essay will not be invited to the interview and will be considered to have failed the entire examination. To be considered complete, the advisory essay must include a substantive response for each question or problem included in the advisory essay for which an applicant is required to provide an answer. Please note that applicants must complete the advisory essay and meet the minimum qualifications as stated on this bulletin in order to be considered further in the examination process.

Candidates will be notified later by e-mail of the date, time, and location of the interview, which will be held in Los Angeles. It is anticipated that interviews will begin during the period of MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2026 to FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2026.

NOTES:

1. This examination is based on a validation study.
2. As a covered entity under the Fair Employment and Housing Act and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City of Los Angeles does not discriminate on the basis of disability and upon request, will provide reasonable accommodations to ensure equal access to its programs, services, and activities. To request a disability accommodation, please complete the Disability Accommodation Form within 14 calendar days of the submittal of the City application. The Disability Accommodation Form can be obtained at http://per.lacity.org/exams/verify_disability.pdf.
3. Applications are accepted subject to review to ensure that minimum qualifications are met. Candidates may be disqualified at any time if it is determined that they do not possess the minimum qualifications stated on this bulletin.
4. A final average score of 70% or higher is required to be placed on the eligible list.
5. In conjunction with Civil Service Rules, applicants who have received a regular appointment to a City position or are on a reserve list will be considered Promotional candidates while all other applicants will be considered Open candidates.
6. The promotional list will ordinarily be used ahead of the open competitive list. However, if open competitive candidates receive a higher score, without military credits, than the highest available promotional candidate, after adding 0.25 of a point seniority credit for each year of continuous classified City service, the Civil Service Commission, upon request of the appointing authority, may approve certification of such open competitive candidates ahead of the promotional candidates.
7. If in accordance with the Rule of Three Whole Scores all applicants are eligible for appointment consideration, the examination will consist entirely of an evaluation of the candidate’s City employment application by Personnel Department staff to ensure that the minimum qualifications have been met.
8. In accordance with Civil Service Rule, Sec. 4.24, review periods may be combined. Candidates in the examination process may file protests as provided in Sec. 4.20, 4.22, and 4.23 as applicable and within the required time frame; however, the Personnel Department may respond to and resolve protests prior to the establishment of the eligible list. 

Notice:

If you receive and accept an offer of employment to a regular position with the City of Los Angeles, your employee benefit coverage (including health and dental coverage as well as life insurance) will commence approximately six weeks after your original regular appointment. Not all positions in the City receive benefit coverage; you should inquire regarding the availability of employee benefits prior to accepting a position.

THIS EXAMINATION IS TO BE GIVEN BOTH ON AN

INTERDEPARTMENTAL PROMOTIONAL AND AN OPEN COMPETITIVE BASIS

The City of Los Angeles does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, creed, color, ancestry, medical condition (cancer), or Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.  

AN EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

For additional information and FAQs regarding the City's hiring process, please go to: https://per.lacity.org/faqs/employment-testing-process.html