Senior Architectural Drafter / Designer — Trial-to-Hire
Robert Designs Inc. is a growing design firm based in Kingston, Ontario, specializing in residential design, interior design, permit drawings, additions, renovations, custom homes, and select commercial projects.
We are looking for a Senior Architectural Drafter / Designer to become a key member of our production team. This is not a basic CAD drafting role. We are looking for someone who can help take drawing packages from developed draft stage through to permit-ready completion with strong organization, technical judgment, and reduced day-to-day oversight.
This role is intended to become a long-term position within our firm. We will begin with a paid hourly trial period to confirm fit, workflow, technical ability, communication, and independence. For the right person, this role can transition into a stable full-time or guaranteed-hours position.
About the Role
The ideal candidate is someone who can review, coordinate, complete, and improve residential and light commercial drawing packages. You should be comfortable working from existing drawings, site measurements, sketches, redlines, consultant information, and partially developed drawing sets.
We currently have drafting support in place, but we need a stronger technical person who can help bring packages to completion, improve quality control, and reduce the amount of final production work required from the principal designer.
You will be involved in projects ranging from small residential permits, basement apartments, decks, additions, and renovations, up to larger custom residential and commercial permit drawing packages.
Responsibilities
- Prepare and complete permit-ready architectural drawing packages
- Review partially developed drawings for completeness, coordination, and accuracy
- Work from redlines, sketches, client notes, site measurements, and consultant drawings
- Produce floor plans, elevations, sections, details, schedules, and general notes
- Coordinate drawing packages with structural engineers and other consultants as required
- Assist with Ontario Building Code review and drawing annotations
- Help respond to municipal permit comments and revise drawings accordingly
- Maintain and improve office drawing standards, templates, notes, and details
- Identify missing information, code concerns, constructability issues, and coordination gaps
- Support residential and light commercial design/documentation workflows
- Communicate clearly with the principal designer and internal team
Required Skills and Experience
- Strong AutoCAD drafting skills
- Experience preparing residential permit or construction drawing packages
- Strong understanding of architectural drawing organization and documentation
- Ability to take a drawing package from partial completion to submission-ready
- Working knowledge of Ontario construction practices
- Strong familiarity with the Ontario Building Code, especially Part 9 residential work
- Ability to read and interpret drawings, redlines, site notes, and consultant information
- Strong attention to detail
- Clear written and verbal communication
- Ability to work independently and ask thoughtful questions when needed
- Organized, reliable, and comfortable managing multiple active files
Assets
- Revit experience
- SketchUp experience
- Experience with commercial or Part 3 building projects
- BCIN qualification or interest in obtaining BCIN
- Experience coordinating with engineers, municipalities, contractors, or clients
- Interior design or millwork documentation experience
- Experience with additions, basement apartments, custom homes, and permit applications
What We Are Looking For
We are looking for someone who can become a drawing package lead within the firm.
The right person will be able to:
- Take ownership of drawing quality
- Catch missing information before submission
- Think beyond drafting lines
- Understand what a municipality, contractor, engineer, and client need from a package
- Improve the work of junior or remote drafting support
- Help create a more efficient and independent production workflow
Compensation and Structure
This position is intended to become a stable, long-term senior role within Robert Designs Inc.
We will begin with a paid hourly trial period to confirm technical ability, workflow, communication, independence, and overall fit. During the trial period, compensation will be paid hourly based on experience and demonstrated ability.
Paid trial rate: $30–$35/hour
Minimum trial hours: 20 hours per week (up to 4 week trial duration)
Salary range after successful trial: $75,000–$88,000/year, depending on experience, ability, and agreed role structure.
Following a successful trial period, we intend to offer a regular salaried position or guaranteed-hours employment structure. The final structure will be discussed based on workload, candidate preference, and demonstrated ability to take drawing packages from developed draft stage through to permit-ready completion.
We are looking for someone who can grow into a key technical production role within the firm, with the ability to help lead drawing packages, improve internal standards, and reduce day-to-day production demands on the principal designer.
Work Location
This position when permanently filled is intended to be full-time in person, in Kingston Ontario. Trial period will be remote. Strong communication and reliable availability are required.
How to Apply
Please submit:
- Resume
- Portfolio or sample drawing package
- Examples of permit/construction drawings you have personally worked on
- Brief note describing your experience with residential permit drawings, Ontario Building Code, and architectural documentation
Applicants may be asked to complete a paid trial task based on a real drawing package to assess workflow, technical ability, and fit.
Pay: $75,000.00-$88,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Casual dress
- Company events
- Flexible schedule
- On-site parking
Ability to commute/relocate:
- Kingston, ON K7M 6V8: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)
Experience:
- Permit Package Drawing: 2 years (preferred)
- AutoCAD: 3 years (required)
- Revit: 3 years (preferred)
Work Location: In person
