David Jesson was born in Toronto and educated at Carleton University in Ottawa. After graduation in 1990 he joined Kuwabara Payne McKenna Blumberg Architects and was made an associate in 1998.

After joining KPMB, David worked on a number of the firm's cultural and institutional commissions, including the Design Exchange, renovations to the Hummingbird Centre for the Performing Arts (now the Sony Centre for the Performing Arts), and the Fields Institute for Research in Mathematical Sciences at the University of Toronto. He was also the project architect responsible for the award-winning advertising offices of Ammirati Puris Lintas in New York.

Since becoming an Associate David has overseen several complex projects involving strategic architectural interventions to existing structures. These include the renovation and revitalization of the Hilton Toronto, a 600-room hotel with banquet, restaurant, and lobby facilities, and the Roy Thomson Hall Enhancement, including the Lexus Lounge, a recipient of the 2004 Best of Canada Award. He was also associate-in-charge for the Walgreen Drama Center and Arthur Miller Theatre at the University of Michigan.