Specialist, Restaurant Design

Date: Sep 29, 2026

Location: Chicago, IL, US, 60607

Company: McDonald's Corporation

Company Description: 

McDonald’s is proud to be one of the most recognized brands in the world, with restaurants in over 100 countries that serve 70 million customers daily. We continue to operate from a position of strength. Our updated growth strategy is focused on staying ahead of what our customers want and realizing further growth potential. Our relentless ambition is why McDonald’s remains one of the world’s leading corporations after almost 70 years. Joining McDonald's means thinking big and preparing for a career that can have influence around the world. 

At McDonald’s, we see every day as a chance to create positive impact. We lead through our values centered on inclusivity, service, integrity, community and family. From support of Ronald McDonald House to our Youth Opportunity project and sustainability initiatives, our values keep us dedicated to using our scale for good: good for our customers, people, industry and planet. We also offer a broad range of outstanding benefits including a sabbatical program, tuition assistance and flexible work arrangements. 

Department Overview

Build the spaces that help McDonald's restaurants perform at their best. Join a collaborative design team that helps shape the future of restaurant experiences across thousands of locations nationwide. As a Facilities Designer I, you'll contribute to projects that impact millions of customers and crew members every day, supporting new restaurant development, remodels, reinvestment programs, and innovative restaurant prototypes. Working alongside architects, consultants, operations partners, project managers, and other talented professionals, you'll help transform ideas into functional, efficient, and engaging restaurant environments. It's an opportunity to build technical, design, and project management expertise while seeing your work come to life in restaurants across the country, all within a fast-paced, creative, and purpose-driven team that is constantly evolving the future of McDonald's.

Responsibilities

  • Create and maintain restaurant floor plans, kitchen layouts, equipment plans, and design documentation using AutoCAD to support new restaurant development, remodels, reinvestment programs, and prototype initiatives.
  • Apply space-planning and workflow analysis principles to enhance restaurant functionality, operational efficiency, and space utilization.
  • Coordinate design updates with architects, consultants, project managers, and cross-functional partners while ensuring construction documents align with established standards.
  • Support equipment planning, operational layout studies, prototype development, and ongoing restaurant design standards.
  • Maintain accurate project documentation and collaborate across Design, Operations, Construction, Supply Chain, and external partners to deliver successful projects.

Qualifications

  • One to five years of experience in architecture, interior design, facilities planning, restaurant design, retail design, hospitality design, or a related field.
  • Professional AutoCAD experience creating and modifying production drawings.
  • Strong space-planning, facility-layout, and workflow-analysis skills.
  • Ability to read and interpret architectural drawings and construction documents.
  • Strong communication, organization, collaboration, and problem-solving skills.
  • Ability to manage multiple assignments and maintain accurate documentation in a deadline-driven environment.
  • Preferred - Experience using Revit and Bluebeam.
  • Preferred - An associate degree, bachelor’s degree, technical certification, or equivalent practical experience in a relevant discipline.

 

This Chicago-based position follows a hybrid schedule, with 3 designated in-office days and occasional travel for site visits, project reviews, and team meetings.

Compensation

Bonus Eligible: No

Long - Term Incentive: No 

Benefits Eligible: Yes

 

The position offers health and welfare benefits, including but not limited to comprehensive health insurance, which includes medical, prescription drug, mental health, dental and vision coverage, as well as, life insurance. 

Salary Range

The expected salary range for this role is $69,679.00 - $87,099.00 per year
 
The above represents the expected salary range for this job requisition. Ultimately, in determining your pay, we may also consider your experience, and other job-related factors.

Additional Information: 

Benefits eligible: This position offers health and welfare benefits, including but not limited to comprehensive health insurance, which includes medical, prescription drug, mental health, dental and vision coverage, as well as, life insurance. 

Bonus eligible: This position is eligible for a bonus, calculated based on individual and company performance. 

McDonald’s is an equal opportunity employer committed to the diversity of our workforce. We promote an inclusive work environment that creates feel-good moments for everyone. McDonald’s provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities as part of the application or hiring process or to perform the essential functions of their job. If you need assistance accessing or reading this job posting or otherwise feel you need an accommodation during the application or hiring process, please contact mcdhrbenefits@us.mcd.com. Reasonable accommodations will be determined on a case-by-case basis. 

McDonald’s provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to sex, sex stereotyping, pregnancy (including pregnancy, childbirth, and medical conditions related to pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding), race, color, religion, ancestry or national origin, age, disability status, medical condition, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, transgender status, protected military or veteran status, citizenship status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training. 

Nothing in this job posting or description should be construed as an offer or guarantee of employment. 


Nearest Major Market: Chicago