TECHNICAL DESIGNER

Job Description

We are seeking a highly organized, detail oriented Technical Designer to join our interior design studio. This role is ideal for someone with a strong design sensibility and excellent technical drawing skills who can translate creative direction into clear, accurate, and highly detailed design documentation.

The Technical Designer will work closely with the Principal and Senior Designers to develop and document the interior architectural elements of our projects. On the majority of our projects, we collaborate with an architectural partner who is responsible for the architectural construction documents. This position is therefore focused less on producing traditional construction drawings and more on clearly documenting the design intent so that architects, contractors, millworkers, fabricators, and other trades have the information they need to accurately execute the design.

The role requires a strong understanding of residential interiors, proportion, cabinetry, millwork, kitchens, bathrooms, lighting, finishes, materials, and interior architectural detailing.

Responsibilities

  • Translate the Principal and Senior Designers’ concepts, sketches, selections, and direction into clear and accurate design drawings

  • Produce and maintain detailed interior design and design development drawing sets throughout the project

  • Prepare furniture plans, reflected ceiling plans, lighting layouts, interior elevations, sections, and detailed design drawings

  • Develop detailed drawings for custom millwork, cabinetry, kitchens, bathrooms, fireplaces, built ins, doors, paneling, decorative architectural elements, and other custom features

  • Clearly document dimensions, material transitions, alignments, profiles, layouts, and other details necessary to communicate design intent

  • Create drawings and documentation that can be provided to architects, contractors, millworkers, stone fabricators, metalworkers, upholsterers, and other trades for further development and execution

  • Coordinate closely with the project architect to ensure that the interior design is accurately reflected in the architectural construction documents

  • Review architectural drawings throughout the project and identify discrepancies or areas where the design intent has not been fully incorporated

  • Review shop drawings, millwork drawings, stone drawings, lighting layouts, and other trade submittals for consistency with the approved design

  • Develop and maintain finish plans, finish schedules, plumbing schedules, appliance schedules, hardware information, and other design documentation as required

  • Incorporate site measurements and existing conditions into design drawings

  • Track revisions and ensure that the most current design information is clearly communicated to the project team

  • Participate in design meetings, coordination meetings, and site visits as needed

  • Anticipate technical and coordination issues and work with the design team, architect, and trades to resolve them while protecting the design intent

  • Maintain a high level of accuracy and consistency across all project drawings and documentation

Qualifications

  • Degree in Interior Design, Interior Architecture, Architecture, or a related field

  • Approximately 3 to 7 years of experience in high end residential interior design, interior architecture, or a related field

  • Excellent AutoCAD skills

  • Strong ability to translate creative design direction into detailed technical drawings

  • Strong understanding of scale, proportion, dimensions, alignment, and architectural detailing

  • Experience developing detailed custom millwork and cabinetry drawings

  • Strong knowledge of kitchens, bathrooms, plumbing fixtures, decorative and architectural lighting, tile, stone, flooring, hardware, and interior finishes

  • Ability to read and understand architectural construction documents and consultant drawings

  • Experience coordinating interior design drawings with architectural drawing sets

  • Excellent organizational skills and exceptional attention to detail

  • Ability to manage drawing packages and documentation across multiple projects simultaneously

  • Strong communication skills and the ability to collaborate effectively with designers, architects, contractors, fabricators, vendors, and craftspeople

Preferred Skills

  • Experience with Adobe Creative Suite

  • Experience with SketchUp or other 3D modeling software

  • Familiarity with historic homes, prewar apartments, and renovation projects

  • Experience with highly customized residential interiors

  • Knowledge of traditional architectural detailing and custom fabrication

  • Experience conducting site surveys and documenting existing conditions

  • Experience reviewing architectural drawings and trade shop drawings from an interior design perspective

The Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate has both a strong design eye and a highly technical mind. They understand that their job is not simply to draft what they are given, but to understand the design well enough to communicate it precisely.

They are able to take a concept from the Principal or Senior Designer and think through the information that an architect, millworker, contractor, or fabricator will need in order to execute it correctly.

They notice alignments, dimensions, proportions, transitions, and inconsistencies that others may miss. They ask thoughtful questions, anticipate coordination issues, and take ownership of making sure the design intent is clearly and accurately documented.

This person is collaborative, meticulous, visually sophisticated, and comfortable working in the space between creative interior design and technical execution.