Careers with the Architect of the Capitol
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A group of our 2026 summer interns gather for a photo with Architect of the Capitol Thomas Austin in Emancipation Hall.
Each of our positions fall within one of the following categories:
- Wage Grade (WG) Skilled trade, craft and labor positions.
- General Schedule (GS) Technical, professional and administrative positions.
- Senior Rated (SR) Executive level positions.
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A Walk Through the Brumidi Corridors
ABOUT US
We Are AOC
Today, there are more than 2,000 AOC employees serving around the clock in diverse roles to maintain and preserve the buildings and grounds. Iconic landmarks under our care include the U.S. Capitol, Capitol Grounds, Capitol Visitor Center, House Office Buildings, Library of Congress, Senate Office Buildings, Supreme Court and U.S. Botanic Garden.
Our Goals
The Architect of the Capitol has four goals that it strives to achieve in order to carry out its mission to serve, preserve and inspire:
- Maintain Awe-Inspiring Facilities
The AOC's mission centers on our stewardship of the structures and grounds of the nation's Capitol. We must ensure every visitor to Capitol Hill experiences the grandeur of these historic treasures at their very best. - Provide Extraordinary Services
We support our prestigious occupants in their critical mission to govern our country. We fulfill the journey of visitors from across our nation and around the world to celebrate and discover the center and symbol of American democracy. Our internal and external services are equally essential in the successful fulfillment of our mission, values and vision.
- Foster an Innovative and Empowered Workforce
An empowered workforce will exercise greater responsibility for its performance, and proactively apply well-informed judgement and innovation, to solve problems with solutions that focus on results. - Operate as One Team, Dedicated to One Mission
We must recognize and value that what may appear to be competing priorities for different AOC functions are ultimately in service to our united mission, values and vision.
Our Customer Service Philosophy
To serve, preserve, and inspire with excellence and expertise.
Our Core Values
The Architect of the Capitol has four goals that it strives to achieve in order to carry out its mission to serve, preserve and inspire:
Respect
We treat one another with civility and kindness, so that we honor the value and dignity of all people.
Integrity
We demonstrate honesty, ethics and reliability, so that we earn trust and do what is right.
Safety
We are governed by the foundation of safety always, so that we can feel safe, make safe and be safe.
1790-1800
The AOC's origins date to the nation's early years and the founding of the federal capital. The Residence Act of 1790 established Washington, D.C., as the seat of the national government and authorized a Board of Commissioners to "provide suitable buildings for the accommodation of Congress." The commissioner hired Pierre Charles L'Enfant to develop a city plan and Andrew Ellicott to survey the boundaries of the 100-square-mile federal district.
In 1792, Dr. William Thornton's depiction of a grand, two-winged structure topped by a central dome won a public competition for the design of the U.S. Capitol Building (U.S. Capitol). Construction of the U.S. Capitol began when President George Washington set the building's cornerstone in 1793, and seven years later, in 1800, Congress convened in the building for the first time.
Today, Thornton is credited as the first "Architect of the Capitol."
The AOC's origins date to the nation's early years and the founding of the federal capital. The Residence Act of 1790 established Washington, D.C., as the seat of the national government and authorize...
1801-1900
In 1802, Congress consolidated the duties of the Board of Commissioners into a single superintendent, the Commissioner of Public Buildings and Grounds, with the responsibility for the care of the U.S. Capitol, which at the time housed Congress, the Library of Congress, the Supreme Court, the district courts and other offices and the U.S. Capitol Grounds. Following the 1814 burning of the U.S. Capitol by British troops, the building was restored and expanded to accommodate the needs of a growing Congress.
During the 1850s and 1860s, a new position, the Architect of the Capitol Extension, oversaw the cast-iron dome construction and the addition of the north and south extensions to the building. The artist Constantino Brumidi's murals, painted between 1855 and 1880, contributed to the U.S. Capitol's beauty and unique symbolic character. In 1867, Congress combined the responsibilities of the Commissioner of Public Buildings and Grounds with those of the Architect of the Capitol Extension. Between 1874 and 1892, the grounds surrounding the U.S. Capitol expanded based on the visionary design of American landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted.
During this period, in 1876, Congress established the Architect of the Capitol as a permanent office under the legislative branch of the federal government.
In 1802, Congress consolidated the duties of the Board of Commissioners into a single superintendent, the Commissioner of Public Buildings and Grounds, with the responsibility for the care of the U.S....
1901 - 2000
As the size of the Capitol campus continued to expand, so did the AOC's mission and responsibilities. During the 20th century, the agency assumed responsibility for the operation, maintenance and preservation of the Library of Congress' Thomas Jefferson Building and the U.S. Botanic Garden (USBG). The AOC also oversaw new construction on Capitol Hill to support the expanding needs of Congress, the Supreme Court and the Library of Congress. During this period, the AOC managed the construction of three House office buildings, three Senate office buildings, the Supreme Court of the United States, the Thurgood Marshall Federal Judiciary Building, the Library of Congress' John Adams Building and James Madison Memorial Building, the Capitol Power Plant's generator building and main boiler plant and other support facilities. The U.S. Capitol was named a National Historic Landmark in 1960. In 2000, a symbolic groundbreaking initiated the construction of the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center (CVC).
As the size of the Capitol campus continued to expand, so did the AOC's mission and responsibilities. During the 20th century, the agency assumed responsibility for the operation, maintenance and pres...
2001-Present
The 21st century began with the construction of the CVC, which was completed and opened to the public in 2008. The addition of the CVC marked the largest expansion of the U.S. Capitol and significantly enhanced the security, safety, comfort and educational experience of its visitors. In 2011, the AOC received responsibility for Union Square, a 13-acre site between the U.S. Capitol and the National Mall, which increased the agency's stewardship land responsibility to more than 570 acres. In 2017, Congress transferred responsibility for the O'Neill House Office Building to the AOC. In 2018, the agency completed construction on the Cogeneration Plant at the Capitol Power Plant. Currently, the AOC is conducting a wide range of building, facility and infrastructure restoration and renewal projects across the Capitol campus.
The 21st century began with the construction of the CVC, which was completed and opened to the public in 2008. The addition of the CVC marked the largest expansion of the U.S. Capitol and significantl...
2017
O’Neill Building added to AOC
In 2017, Congress transferred responsibility for the O'Neill House Office Building to the AOC.
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1989-1964
1989
Source
Kootenai National Forest, Montana
Type
Engelmann Spruce
Height
60 feet
1988
Source
Manistee National Forest, Michigan
Type
Balsam Fir
Height
50 feet
1987
Source
Wayne-Hoosier National Forest, Ohio
Type
Norway Spruce
Height
60 feet
1986
Source
Klamath National Forest, California
Type
Shasta Red Fir
Height
54 feet
1985
Source
Ottawa National Forest, Michigan
Type
White Spruce
Height
56 feet
1984
Source
Ottawa National Forest, Michigan
Type
White Spruce
Height
56 feet
How to Apply
How to Apply
Create a Profile
Create a Profile Create a profile on USAJOBS.gov and include your resume, licenses and transcripts.
Search
Search Search "Architect of the Capitol" for a full list of current position openings.
Review and Prepare
Review the position(s) you're interested in, check the eligibility requirements, then click apply to prepare your application.
Submit Application
Complete the assessment questions, review your application and submit.
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