The right architect for the project. The right project for the architect.
From our New York home to firms across the country, we've spent four decades matching architects, interior designers, and engineers by design sensibility — not just a résumé. The original A&D staffing firm, and still the one that sets the standard.
Two sides of the table.
One trusted introduction.
Build a career, not just a job.
A single project, a flexible freelance rhythm, or a permanent seat — we open doors at firms that match how you actually like to work.
- Project, project-to-perm, and permanent roles
- Your portfolio seen by principals, not filters
- Honest guidance on salary, title, and fit
- A recruiter who reads drawings, not just keywords
- Apply on the go with the CFA Job Search app
Staff the work without the gamble.
Scale a team for a deadline or hire a key leader for the long haul. We pre-vet for skill, software, and studio fit — so the first interview is the right one.
- TalentRadar™ matching — beyond keyword search
- Vetted candidates, usually within days
- Revit / CAD proficiency assessed up front
- No minimum commitment on project placement
- 40+ years reading both talent and firms
How we place
Project Placement →
Short-term talent to carry a deadline or a surge — without the overhead of a permanent hire.
Project-to-Perm →
Try the fit on a live project. When it works for both sides, convert with no friction.
Permanent Placement →
Direct-hire searches for the leaders and specialists who'll define your studio for years.
CAD & Revit Assessment
We verify software proficiency before you ever sit down — technical skill is a given, not a guess.
Government & Contract
Compliant staffing and contract fulfillment for public-sector and large infrastructure programs.
Interior & Engineering
Beyond architecture: interior designers, engineers, and construction professionals across every discipline.
Trusted by both sides since 1984
What set CFA apart was their understanding of the profession — the people they sent were always a perfect fit.
The original project-based placement firm for architects & designers.
Founder David McFadden — a published designer trained in architecture — built something that didn't exist yet: a staffing firm dedicated to design talent, pioneering flex hiring and full-time freelancing. We didn't follow the project-placement trend. We created it.
Four decades and four recessions later, the firm is still owner-led and design-native. Our senior recruiters stay for decades — Elaine for 25 years, Emily for 17 — where big agencies cycle through theirs every couple of years. The people who place you know this market cold.
Read our story & meet the team →Field notes
Why architecture must remain a professional degree
What the federal move to downgrade the architecture degree means for students, licensure, and the firms that hire them.
Read →The future of hiring in NYC's education projects
Where the work is heading in the education sector — and the talent firms will need to win it.
Read →Four decades of hiring intelligence
Ghosting, the talent war, project-based careers, four recessions weathered — told as it happened.
Browse all →