Plan and design structures, such as private residences, office buildings, theaters, factories, and other structural property.

  • Prepare scale drawings or architectural designs, using computer-aided design or other tools.
  • Plan or design structures such as residences, office buildings, theatres, factories, or other structural properties in accordance with environmental, safety, or other regulations.
  • Direct activities of technicians engaged in preparing drawings or specification documents.
  • Prepare contract documents for building contractors.
  • Prepare information regarding design, structure specifications, materials, color, equipment, estimated costs, or construction time.
  • Meet with clients to review or discuss architectural drawings.
  • Integrate engineering elements into unified architectural designs.
  • Administer construction contracts.
  • Consult with clients to determine functional or spatial requirements of structures.
  • Develop marketing materials, proposals, or presentation to generate new work opportunities.
  • Develop final construction plans that include aesthetic representations of the structure or details for its construction.
  • Conduct periodic on-site observations of construction work to monitor compliance with plans.
  • Monitor the work of specialists, such as electrical engineers, mechanical engineers, interior designers, or sound specialists to ensure optimal form or function of designs or final structures.
  • Plan layouts of structural architectural projects.
  • Design or plan construction of green building projects to minimize adverse environmental impact or conserve energy.
  • Represent clients in obtaining bids or awarding construction contracts.
  • Design structures that incorporate environmentally friendly building practices or concepts, such as Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards.
  • Perform predesign services, such as feasibility or environmental impact studies.
  • Inspect proposed building sites to determine suitability for construction.
  • Create three-dimensional or interactive representations of designs, using computer-assisted design software.
  • Design environmentally sound structural upgrades to existing buildings, such as natural lighting systems, green roofs, or rainwater collection systems.
  • Gather information related to projects' environmental sustainability or operational efficiency.
  • Prepare operating and maintenance manuals, studies, or reports.
  • Calculate potential energy savings by comparing estimated energy consumption of proposed design to baseline standards.
Work Context
  • Electronic Mail — 100% responded "Every day".
  • Indoors, Environmentally Controlled — 93% responded "Every day".
  • Telephone — 89% responded "Every day".
  • Face-to-Face Discussions — 71% responded "Every day".
  • Importance of Being Exact or Accurate — 56% responded "Extremely important".
  • Work With Work Group or Team — 60% responded "Extremely important".
  • Spend Time Sitting — 56% responded "More than half the time".
  • Read More
Work Activities
  • Thinking Creatively — Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
  • Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment — Providing documentation, detailed instructions, drawings, or specifications to tell others about how devices, parts, equipment, or structures are to be fabricated, constructed, assembled, modified, maintained, or used.
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems — Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates — Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
  • Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards — Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
  • Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work — Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
  • Interacting With Computers — Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
  • Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge — Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
  • Read More
Detailed Work Activities
  • Document technical design details.
  • Discuss designs or plans with clients.
  • Prepare contracts, disclosures, or applications.
  • Design structures or facilities.
  • Prepare contracts, disclosures, or applications.
  • Prepare contracts, disclosures, or applications.
  • Read More

Knowledge

Design
  • Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
Building and Construction
  • Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
Customer and Personal Service
  • Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Read More

Skills

Speaking
  • Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Critical Thinking
  • Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Reading Comprehension
  • Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Operations Analysis
  • Analyzing needs and product requirements to create a design.
Read More

Abilities

Visualization
  • The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
Fluency of Ideas
  • The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).
Oral Comprehension
  • The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Near Vision
  • The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Read More

Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include ideas, thinking, and figuring things out.
They do well at jobs that need:
  • Achievement/Effort
  • Persistence
  • Initiative
  • Leadership
  • Cooperation
  • Concern for Others
  • Social Orientation
  • Self Control
Read More

Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Computer aided design CAD software
  • Virtual reality modeling language VRML software Hot Technology
  • Graphisoft ArchiCAD Hot Technology
  • Drcauto Smart Architect LT Pro Hot Technology
  • VectorWorks ARCHITECT Hot Technology
  • Trimble SketchUp Pro Hot Technology
  • Roof Builder Tools Hot Technology
  • NavisWorks Jetstream Hot Technology
  • MyFamilySoftware Instant Architect Hot Technology
  • Computer aided design and drafting software CADD Hot Technology
  • Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D Hot Technology
  • Autodesk AutoCAD Hot Technology
  • Autodesk Architectural Studio Hot Technology
  • Autodesk 3ds Max Design Hot Technology
  • Artifice DesignWorkshop Hot Technology
  • Autodesk Revit Hot Technology
  • AutoDesSys form Z Hot Technology
  • AzTechSoft GPS2CAD Hot Technology
  • Bentley MicroStation Hot Technology
Project management software
  • Microsoft Project Hot Technology
  • Oracle Primavera Enterprise Project Portfolio Management Hot Technology
  • Turtle Creek Software Goldenseal
  • Oracle Primavera Systems
  • Craftsman CD Estimator
Development environment software
  • Microsoft PowerShell Hot Technology
  • Verilog
  • Apache Maven
Read More