What are the responsibilities and job description for the Architectural Designer position at Rapid Permits and Engineering?
Company Description
Rapid Permits and Engineering is a premier permitting and engineering firm located in Marathon, Florida, serving clients throughout the Florida Keys. Building on our strong foundation in marine construction engineering, we are expanding our services into custom residential design, additions, and coastal engineering. We specialize in navigating complex local regulatory environments and providing streamlined, code-compliant solutions to help homeowners and builders bring their projects from concept to permit.
Role Overview
We are seeking a detail-oriented Architectural Designer to lead drafting operations for our growing residential home design and engineering division in Marathon, FL. In this role, you will work closely with our professional engineers (PEs), permit specialists, and clients to produce complete, permit-ready residential construction plan sets.
The ideal candidate possesses deep working knowledge of Florida construction standards, Monroe County / City of Marathon land development regulations, and coastal building codes. You will be responsible for producing high-quality architectural, elevation, floor, and structural drafting sets engineered and formatted specifically for PE review, seal, and municipal permit submittal.
Key Responsibilities
- Plan Production: Prepare detailed, high-quality architectural working drawings and construction documents for new custom single-family homes, residential additions, remodels, and accessory structures.
- Engineering Pre-Coordination: Draft comprehensive plan sets—including foundation layouts, floor plans, exterior elevations, building sections, roof framing, and structural connection details—designed directly to meet Florida engineer-stamping standards.
- Building Code Compliance: Incorporate structural, wind-load, high-velocity hurricane zone (HVHZ), flood elevation (FEMA/FBC), and energy code considerations directly into CAD deliverables.
- Site & Zoning Plan Development: Coordinate site plans with local setback requirements, coastal construction control lines (CCCL), and Monroe County/City of Marathon zoning parameters.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Collaborate directly with in-house Professional Engineers (PE) to revise details, adjust structural calculations, and apply feedback quickly for final stamping.
- Field Verification: Conduct periodic site visits throughout the Middle and Lower Keys to perform field measurements, document existing conditions, and verify layout accuracy.
- Permit Set Revisions: Track and execute municipal plan review comments from city/county building departments to ensure prompt permit approvals.
Qualifications & Requirements
- Drafting Expertise: 3 years of experience in residential drafting and plan preparation, with a portfolio of complete residential plan sets.
- Software Proficiency: Expert knowledge of AutoCAD, Revit, or equivalent 2D/3D BIM drafting software.
- Code Knowledge: Strong understanding of the Florida Building Code (FBC), residential design standards, coastal flood zone regulations (FEMA), and Florida high-wind / hurricane resistant detailing.
- Engineer-Ready Standards: Experience producing plans formatted specifically for engineering review, structural overlays, and PE seal/signature.
- Education: Associate degree, Technical Certification in Drafting/CAD, or Bachelor’s degree in Architecture or Building Construction (equivalent professional experience accepted).
- Communication & Detail: High attention to structural detail, layout precision, and strong communication skills for working with engineers, contractors, and local planning officials.
Preferred Experience
- Direct experience drafting residential projects in Monroe County or coastal Florida environments.
- Familiarity with elevated construction on pilings/stilt foundations, concrete masonry unit (CMU) design, and tie-beam detailing.
- Experience with 3D renderings or client visual presentations (SketchUp, Lumion, Enscape).
All Applications must be sent directly to ashton@rapidpermitting.com with the subject line "Architectural Designer 09/2026".
Pay: $30,000.00 - $150,000.00 per year
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Marathon, FL 33050
Salary : $30,000 - $150,000