Join Our WJBC Team

OUR VISION

AND

Founded in 1995, WILL JOHNSON BUILDING COMPANY is a trusted custom home builder & design-build firm serving Chapel Hill, Durham, & the Triangle area in North Carolina. With over 30 years of experience, we specialize in luxury fully custom homes, whole-home remodels, and large-scale renovations that reflect each client’s unique lifestyle and vision. Our fully integrated design-build process ensures a seamless, client-focused experience from concept to completion. We believe a true custom home should embody the personality of its owner—not the builder—and we’re here to make the process collaborative, thoughtful, and enjoyable. Whether you're building from the ground up or reimagining your current space, we bring unmatched craftsmanship and local expertise to every project. Explore our portfolio to see how we bring timeless design and lasting quality to homes across the Triangle.

OUR STORY.

Design Lead

We are seeking a Design Lead who thrives at the intersection of design excellence, client leadership, and technical execution. You will lead projects from the earliest sketch through delivery of construction documents, guiding both clients and our internal teams with creativity, clarity, and precision.

You’ll not only translate design intent into comprehensive documents but also bring ideas to life in real time — using live sketching and trace overlays during client meetings to capture design preferences, test options, and communicate visually on the spot.

As a trusted guide for our clients, you will lead them through the design process with clarity, creativity, and empathy, ensuring their vision is realized with both artistry and technical rigor.

Qualified candidates please send resumes and portfolios to: info@willjohnsonbuilding.com

Position Type: Full Time
Reports to: Design Director
Location: Chapel Hill
For over 30 years, Will Johnson Building Company has created homes that resonate with meaning, harmony, and craftsmanship. We believe great design is more than form—it’s about creating spaces rooted in story, care, and intention. As a boutique design/build studio serving the Triangle, our practice unites expertise in design and construction so our clients experience both seamless delivery and inspired design.
Our core values—Excellence, Integrity, Solutions-Oriented Thinking, Joy, and Accountability—aren’t just words; they shape every decision we make.
- Design Leadership: Drive design development and ensure the client vision carries through every stage of the project
- Live Sketching: Engage clients directly through quick, schematic sketching and trace overlays in real time, turning conversation into design ideas they can see and respond to immediately
- Client Leadership: Act as a trusted advisor, fostering confidence through clear communication and thoughtful design solutions
- Documentation & Technical Detailing: Produce and oversee high-quality drawings and specifications, ensuring accuracy and adherence to codes
- Project Management: Coordinate schedules, budgets, and deliverables, balancing client needs with firm resources
- Collaboration: Partner with our designers, BIM specialists, estimators, and the build team to refine designs and resolve challenges
- Construction Administration: Provide ongoing support during construction, including site visits & RFIs
- Professional degree in Architecture (B.Arch or M.Arch) preferred, or equivalent design experience
- 6+ years of professional experience, ideally in residential or light commercial design/build projects
- Proficiency in BIM software (Archicad strongly preferred; Revit acceptable with willingness to transition)
- Demonstrated ability to produce complete construction document sets, with strong knowledge of building codes, detailing, and construction methods
- Experience leading client meetings, presentations, and design reviews, with proven ability to mentor staff and coordinate consultants
- Strong freehand sketching ability, including live sketching with clients using trace overlays
- A spirit of collaboration aligned with our values of Excellence, Integrity, Solutions, Joy, and Accountability
- Samples of built work (plans, elevations, sections, details)
- Evidence of projects where you served as lead designer or held primary responsibility for project delivery
- BIM models or digital workflows that showcase technical capability
- 3D visuals or renderings that communicate design intent
- Client presentation materials or public-facing design packages
- Competitive salary (commensurate with experience)
- Comprehensive health, dental, and vision coverage for you and your family
- Life and disability insurance
- Paid Time Off
- 401K Retirement Savings Plan
- Support for continuing education, AIA membership, and licensure fees
- Attendance at industry events and conferences
- Lead design-rich, high-craft projects that shape homes from sketch to build
- Collaborate with a passionate studio where design and construction are fully integrated
- Work in an environment that values creativity, technical excellence, and client service equally
- Grow into leadership — your career path will evolve as our studio expands
- Your voice will shape both our projects and the future direction of our studio
- Be part of a firm where excellence, integrity, and joy guide our work — and where your expertise will help craft homes of lasting beauty and meaning

Lead Carpenter

Work closely with the Project Managers to produce a completed new or remodeled home adhering to project deadlines and budget.

Qualified candidates please send resumes and portfolios to: info@willjohnsonbuilding.com

Position Type: Full Time
Reports to: Operations Manager
Attire: WJBC shirt and pants provided
For over 30 years, Will Johnson Building Company has created homes that resonate with meaning, harmony, and craftsmanship. We believe great design is more than form—it’s about creating spaces rooted in story, care, and intention. As a boutique design/build studio serving the Triangle, our practice unites expertise in design and construction so our clients experience both seamless delivery and inspired design.
Our core values—Excellence, Integrity, Solutions-Oriented Thinking, Joy, and Accountability—aren’t just words; they shape every decision we make.
- Three to five years of experience in construction or carpentry preferred
- A valid NC Driver's License is required
- Attention to detail
- Strong interpersonal relationships with others
- Strong work ethic
Computer Software Requirements:
- Proficient using an lpad or personal computer
- Be responsible to know and demonstrate WJBCs core values: Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, Solutions Oriented, and Joy
- Be aware of jobs in progress and arrive at jobsite prepared with materials and tools
- Communicate consistently and clearly with supervisors, coworkers and clients
- Complete all tasks with a high quality of craftmanship
- Resolve conflicts and issues promptly and effectively to the benefit of all individuals
- Maintain a clean work van where tools are organized and accessible
- Work diligently to keep a clean jobsite
- Follow all jobsite safety recommendations
- Properly code and submit invoices weekly for all purchases
- Use problem solving techniques to trouble shoot building challenges. Seek help from others when needed.
- Assist in the coordination of material deliveries
- Be responsible for the security of the homeowner's belongings
- Consistently and correctly use BuilderTrend, Google Drive, Google Calendar and T- Sheets
- Provide consistent updates to supervisor on the daily progress at the jobsite
- Attend staff meetings and training as required
- Maintain an accurate timesheet, accounting for your time spent in the field
- Competitive salary (commensurate with experience)
- Comprehensive health, dental, and vision coverage for you and your family
- Life and disability insurance
- Paid Time Off
- 401K Retirement Savings Plan
- Support for continuing education, AIA membership, and licensure fees
- Attendance at industry events and conferences
- Lead design-rich, high-craft projects that shape homes from sketch to build
- Collaborate with a passionate studio where design and construction are fully integrated
- Work in an environment that values creativity, technical excellence, and client service equally
- Grow into leadership — your career path will evolve as our studio expands
- Your voice will shape both our projects and the future direction of our studio
- Be part of a firm where excellence, integrity, and joy guide our work — and where your expertise will help craft homes of lasting beauty and meaning

DIFFERENCE

OUR

At Will Johnson Building Company, our difference lies in the details. As a true design-build firm with over 30 years of experience in Chapel Hill, Durham, and the Triangle, we combine timeless craftsmanship with a deeply personalized approach. We listen first, design with purpose, and build with precision—delivering custom homes and large-scale renovations that reflect your life, not just our style. From historic renovations to luxury new builds, our hands-on process and commitment to excellence set us apart. See more of our work here.

WILL JOHNSON

WHY

BUILDING COMPANY?

For over 30 years, Will Johnson Building Company has been the trusted name in custom home building, luxury renovations, and design-build services across Chapel Hill, Durham, and the greater Triangle area. As a family-owned firm, we combine timeless craftsmanship with modern functionality, offering a personalized approach that sets us apart from traditional custom home builders.

As a full-service design-build firm, we manage your project from concept to completion—streamlining communication, minimizing delays, and ensuring your vision is realized down to the last detail. Whether you're building a new custom home, updating a historic property, or planning a whole-home renovation, our team delivers exceptional quality, transparency, and client care at every step.

We are proud to work in some of the region’s most sought-after neighborhoods, including The Oaks, Governors Club, Hope Valley, and the Gimghoul Historic District, and we understand the nuances of home preservation and local building guidelines. Our award-winning work reflects not just our dedication to superior construction—but to the people and communities we serve.

When you choose to work with our Will Johnson Building Company team, you’re choosing more than a home builder—you’re choosing a partner in building your legacy. Contact us today to learn more about our proven design-build process!

“A true custom home or renovation should reflect the personality and lifestyle of its owner, not the builder. Every single detail should work together to create a space made just for you.”

-Ben Johnson

INTEGRITY

Our Core Values

JOY

EXCELLENCE

SOLUTIONS ORIENTED

ACCOUNTABILITY

Architectural watercolor rendering of a house with a pitched roof and tall windows, surrounded by trees.

At WJBC, our work is guided by a set of core values that shape every custom home and large-scale renovation we complete across Chapel Hill, Durham, and the Triangle. We lead with integrity, building trust through honest communication, transparency, and doing what’s right—always. We approach each project with joy, knowing the process of designing and building a home should be as fulfilling as the final result. Our solutions-oriented mindset ensures that challenges are met with creativity and clarity, keeping your goals at the forefront. We hold ourselves to a standard of excellence, delivering craftsmanship, service, and attention to detail that exceed expectations. And with every step, we practice accountability—to our clients, our team, and the legacy of the homes we build.

MEET THE TEAM