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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Architectural Technician

💰 $ - $

ArchitectureDesignConstructionEngineeringTechnical

🎯 Role Definition

An Architectural Technician is a technical design professional who converts architectural concepts into precise construction documentation, detailed technical drawings, and coordinated Building Information Models (BIM). This role supports architects, engineers, contractors, and clients by producing accurate working drawings, preparing permit and tender documentation, conducting site surveys and as-built recordkeeping, performing technical detailing and material specification, and ensuring compliance with codes and contractual requirements. The Architectural Technician drives quality-controlled documentation for building design and construction across stages from concept development through construction close-out.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Junior Architectural Technician / CAD Technician
  • Architectural Assistant (entry-level) or recent graduate in Architectural Technology
  • Draftsperson with experience in construction detailing

Advancement To:

  • Senior Architectural Technician / Lead Technician
  • BIM Manager / BIM Coordinator
  • Architectural Technologist / Registered Architectural Technologist

Lateral Moves:

  • Construction Documentation Specialist
  • Technical Designer in consulting engineering firms
  • Project Coordinator (technical focus)

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Produce complete, accurate, and code-compliant construction drawings and working documentation (plans, sections, elevations, details) from architect designs and site information, ensuring drawings are coordinated for permitting and construction.
  • Develop and maintain detailed BIM/Revit models that integrate architectural, structural, and MEP inputs; create and manage families, templates, and shared parameters to support coordinated project delivery.
  • Prepare and issue shop drawings, fabrication details, and construction details for curtain walls, cladding systems, joinery, and other specialty items, liaising with fabricators and suppliers to resolve technical queries.
  • Generate and maintain dimensioned layout drawings, schedules (door, finish, window), and material take-offs to assist estimating and procurement teams with accurate quantities.
  • Conduct site surveys, measured building surveys, and field verification to produce reliable as-built drawings and update models/drawings to reflect site conditions.
  • Produce permit submission documentation including drawings, statutory detail, and technical reports ensuring compliance with local building codes, zoning bylaws, fire and accessibility requirements.
  • Coordinate interdisciplinary drawing sets and BIM models with structural, mechanical, and electrical consultants, performing clash detection and resolution using Navisworks or equivalent tools.
  • Prepare tender documentation, annotated drawings, and technical specifications for contractors; respond to tender queries and provide addenda as needed.
  • Create clear, annotated detail drawings and fabrication instructions for complex junctions, interfaces, waterproofing and flashing, thermal breaks, and build-up sections that ensure constructability.
  • Review shop drawings and submittals from contractors and suppliers, provide technical RFI responses, and document approved deviations and corrective actions.
  • Develop and maintain drawing standards, CAD/BIM libraries, title blocks, layer conventions, and model organization to improve efficiency and consistency across projects.
  • Collaborate with project architects and design teams to translate schematic concepts into production-ready construction documentation while maintaining design intent.
  • Produce presentation drawings, 3D visualizations, and diagrams for client meetings, stakeholder reviews and planning consultations using SketchUp, Revit, or 3D rendering tools.
  • Support quality control and QA/QC processes for documentation packages, checking dimensioning, annotation, specification references, and adherence to contract requirements before issue.
  • Prepare thermal, envelope, and waterproofing details and coordinate with building science consultants to ensure performance, durability and compliance.
  • Assist in contract administration tasks during construction: site inspections, issuing site instructions, recording site measurements, preparing as-built mark-ups and updating record drawings at project close-out.
  • Undertake material research and prepare technical specification text and product submittal comparisons to support client selection and procurement processes.
  • Maintain document registers, drawing issue logs, revision control and electronic filing in project management systems (eg. Procore, BIM 360, Aconex) for auditable record-keeping.
  • Perform constructability reviews and provide pragmatic technical solutions to reduce site rework, optimize buildability and manage risk with the design and construction teams.
  • Support accessibility and life-safety compliance checks (eg. ADA, fire egress) and incorporate required details and documentation into drawing sets.
  • Mentor and provide technical guidance to junior technicians and CAD operators on detailing standards, BIM workflows and best practices to raise team capability.
  • Liaise with local authorities and certifying bodies during plan check reviews to expedite permit approvals and respond to technical comments in a timely manner.
  • Produce and maintain as-built and final record drawings at project completion, including updating BIM models and providing exporters or PDFs per client or authority requirements.
  • Participate in site meetings, technical coordination meetings and contractor workshops to review design intent, sequencing and resolving technical coordination issues.

Secondary Functions

  • Support project teams with construction-phase site inspections and photographing conditions for record-keeping and quality assurance.
  • Assist project managers with preparation of technical reports, punch lists and close-out documentation.
  • Contribute to continuous improvement of BIM/CAD processes, templates and office standards.
  • Help maintain and organize technical library of details, product data and specification clauses.
  • Provide occasional construction staging and sequencing drawings to assist contractors and site teams.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Advanced proficiency in Autodesk Revit for BIM modelling, families, view templates and documentation workflows.
  • Expert use of AutoCAD for 2D drafting, detailing and production of working drawings.
  • Proficient in Navisworks or equivalent clash detection and model coordination tools.
  • Ability to produce precise construction details, shop drawings, and fabrication documentation for building envelope, cladding, joinery and service penetrations.
  • Competent with measured survey techniques and ability to produce accurate as-built drawings from site data and laser scan point clouds.
  • Strong understanding of local building codes, regulations, zoning, accessibility and life-safety requirements relevant to permit submissions.
  • Experience preparing permit packages, specification text, schedules and coordinating with planning/building authorities.
  • Familiarity with construction materials, assemblies, thermal and moisture control detailing, and performance requirements.
  • Skilled in Microsoft Office suite (Word, Excel, Outlook) and experience with project management platforms (Procore, BIM 360, Aconex).
  • Ability to generate quantity take-offs, door/finish schedules and basic cost-assist data to support estimates.
  • Competency in 3D modelling and visualization tools (SketchUp, Rhino, Enscape, V-Ray) to create client-facing imagery and diagrams.
  • Knowledge of drafting and BIM standards, layer management, numbering conventions and template management.
  • Experience with documentation control: drawing registers, revision management, and electronic archiving.
  • Technical report writing ability to document design decisions, RFI responses, and site inspection findings.
  • Basic understanding of structural and MEP coordination requirements and how they impact architectural detailing.

Soft Skills

  • Excellent oral and written communication with architects, engineers, contractors, clients and authorities to resolve technical matters effectively.
  • Strong attention to detail and accuracy in producing dimensioned drawings, notes and specifications.
  • Problem-solving mindset with capability to develop practical, buildable solutions under time constraints.
  • Time management and organizational skills to handle multiple projects and meet tight documentation schedules.
  • Collaboration and teamwork skills for multi-disciplinary coordination in fast-paced design and construction environments.
  • Professionalism when representing the firm in client meetings, site visits and authority interactions.
  • Adaptability and willingness to learn new software, standards and construction systems.
  • Critical thinking and decision-making when assessing constructability, risk and design impact.
  • Mentoring and coaching capability to uplift junior technical staff.
  • Customer-service orientation; ability to translate technical documentation into client-understandable outcomes.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Diploma or certificate in Architectural Technology, Architectural Drafting, Building Science, or related technical program.

Preferred Education:

  • Advanced diploma or degree in Architectural Technology, Architectural Engineering Technology, or Bachelor of Architectural Technology/Science.
  • Professional certifications in Revit/BIM, construction detailing, or building code interpretation.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Architectural Technology
  • Architectural Drafting / CAD
  • Building Science / Construction Technology
  • Architectural Engineering Technology
  • Construction Management (technical focus)

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 2–7 years of progressive experience producing construction documentation, BIM modelling and site/permit coordination.

Preferred:

  • 5+ years in an architectural practice, consulting firm, façade contractor or construction documentation role with demonstrated Revit/BIM and construction detailing expertise.
  • Experience across multiple project phases (concept through construction) and building types (residential, commercial, institutional, or industrial).
  • Prior involvement in permit submissions, tender documentation, and construction administration is highly desirable.
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