Architectural Designer / Space Planner / Construction Documentation Specialist

Architectural Designer / Space Planner / Construction Documentation Specialist

Ariana Designs & Interiors | Ariid Group Kirkland, Washington

Ariana Designs & Interiors is seeking an experienced Architectural Designer, Space Planner, or Licensed Architect to join our design team. This role is ideal for someone who has a strong architectural background, an excellent understanding of residential space planning, and the technical ability to develop detailed, accurate construction and permit documents.

Licensure is welcome but not required. We are equally interested in an experienced architectural designer who has strong technical skills, understands how buildings come together, and can confidently take a project from existing conditions and design concepts through construction documentation.

Our projects range from extensive remodels and additions to whole-home renovations and custom residential projects. As part of Ariid Group, our team works across Design Build Furnish, allowing the architectural and interior design process to stay closely connected to construction and the finished home.

The Role

This position will work closely with our Principal Designer, interior design team, building team, consultants, and project managers to develop residential projects from early space planning through permit and construction documentation.

We are looking for someone who can look at a floor plan and immediately begin thinking about flow, proportion, function, structure, code, constructability, exterior conditions, building-envelope performance, and how the client will actually live within the space.

You should be comfortable developing ideas creatively while also having the technical discipline to translate those ideas into clear drawings that contractors, consultants, jurisdictions, and clients can understand.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop architectural space plans for remodels, additions, and new residential construction.
• Evaluate existing floor plans and identify opportunities to improve circulation, functionality, room relationships, and overall use of space.
• Create and revise floor plans based on project programming, client needs, and design direction.
• Translate conceptual and schematic designs into detailed architectural drawings.
• Produce accurate construction documentation and permit drawing packages.
• Develop existing-condition/as-built drawings from field measurements, scans, existing plans, and other project information.
• Prepare demolition plans, proposed floor plans, dimension plans, reflected ceiling plans, roof plans, exterior elevations, building sections, wall sections, and architectural details as required.
• Coordinate architectural drawings with interior design documentation.
• Coordinate with structural engineers, civil engineers, energy consultants, MEP consultants, vendors, and other project professionals.
• Review consultant drawings for consistency with the architectural and interior design intent.
• Research and apply applicable building codes, residential codes, zoning requirements, accessibility requirements where applicable, egress, life-safety requirements, setbacks, height restrictions, lot coverage, and jurisdiction-specific requirements.
• Identify code-related concerns early in the design process and help develop practical solutions.
• Prepare drawings and documentation for permit submittals and respond to jurisdictional correction comments.
• Maintain drawing accuracy and consistency throughout revisions.
• Incorporate field conditions and construction changes into drawing sets when required.
• Work with the construction team to resolve architectural questions that arise during pricing and construction.
• Participate in project meetings, design reviews, site walks, and coordination meetings.
• Help identify potential construction, code, waterproofing, or coordination issues before they reach the field.

Building Code Knowledge

Strong knowledge of residential building codes is an important part of this position.

The ideal candidate should be comfortable researching, interpreting, and applying code requirements throughout the design and documentation process.

Experience should include familiarity with areas such as:

• International Residential Code and locally adopted amendments
• Washington State residential and energy-code requirements
• Means of egress
• Emergency escape and rescue openings
• Stair and guard requirements
• Fire separation and fire-resistance requirements
• Ceiling heights
• Light and ventilation requirements
• Structural coordination
• Energy compliance
• Insulation requirements
• Window and door requirements
• Setbacks, lot coverage, and zoning constraints
• Residential additions and remodel requirements
• Permit review comments and jurisdictional corrections

We are looking for someone who does more than identify a code issue. The right person should be able to understand the intent behind the requirement and help develop a design solution that remains functional and visually strong.

Exterior Building Envelope

A strong understanding of the exterior building envelope is also important.

Candidates should understand how the exterior components of a residential building work together to protect the structure from water, air infiltration, moisture, and weather exposure.

Knowledge should include:

• Exterior wall assemblies
• Weather-resistive barriers
• Air barriers
• Vapor-control strategies
• Insulation systems
• Flashing
• Window and door integration
• Sill pans and head flashing
• Roof-to-wall transitions
• Roof assemblies
• Roof penetrations
• Siding systems
• Rainscreen assemblies
• Exterior trim
• Deck and balcony connections
• Waterproofing
• Foundation-to-wall transitions
• Drainage and moisture management
• Exterior penetrations
• Building-envelope detailing

The ideal candidate should understand the importance of continuity between roofing, wall assemblies, openings, waterproofing systems, and foundation conditions.

They should also be able to identify details that may create future water-intrusion, condensation, or durability problems and work with the construction team and consultants to resolve them before construction.

Space Planning &

Design

This is not simply a drafting position.

The right person should have strong instincts for residential architecture and space planning. We want someone who understands how to make a home feel better—not just how to document it.

You should be able to think through questions such as:

• Does the floor plan flow naturally?
• Are rooms proportioned correctly?
• Are circulation paths intuitive?
• Can we create better connections between spaces?
• Is furniture placement being considered while the architecture is developed?
• Are windows, doors, cabinetry, lighting, and architectural elements properly coordinated?
• Does the exterior architecture work with the interior planning?
• Are exterior openings properly coordinated with structure and building-envelope requirements?
• Can the design actually be built efficiently?
• Are we solving the client's needs while protecting the overall design vision?

Our approach is highly integrated. Architecture, interiors, cabinetry, lighting, furnishings, construction, and exterior building systems are considered together rather than as separate layers.

Construction Documentation

A major part of this position is producing clear, detailed, buildable drawing sets.

Candidates should understand construction methods and know how much information needs to be communicated in a drawing so the field team is not left guessing.

Strong experience with residential construction documents is important, including:

• Existing/as-built plans
• Demolition plans
• Proposed floor plans
• Dimension plans
• Reflected ceiling plans
• Roof plans
• Exterior elevations
• Interior coordination
• Building sections
• Wall sections
• Architectural details
• Exterior wall and building-envelope details
• Waterproofing and flashing details
• Window and door details
• Door and window coordination
• Cabinetry and millwork coordination
• Structural coordination
• Permit documentation
• Construction revisions
• Drawing annotations, schedules, and specifications

Software

Strong proficiency in Revit or AutoCAD is highly preferred and will be important for architectural and permit documentation.

• AutoCAD
• Ravit
• SketchUp
• Adobe Creative Suite
• Microsoft Office
• Cloud-based project management and drawing collaboration platforms

Experience working from 3D scans or point-cloud/existing-condition information is a plus.

Qualifications

We are open to several professional backgrounds.

You may be:

• A licensed architect
• An architectural designer
• A residential designer
• A building designer
• An architectural drafter/designer with advanced space-planning abilities
• An architectural professional with significant residential construction-document experience

The strongest candidates will have:

• Professional experience in residential architecture, remodeling, additions, or custom homes.
• A strong portfolio demonstrating architectural space planning and construction documentation.
• Excellent understanding of residential construction.
• Strong knowledge of building codes and permitting requirements.
• Strong understanding of exterior building-envelope systems and detailing.
• Strong Revit skills.
• Experience producing permit-ready and construction-ready drawing sets.
• Experience coordinating roofing, exterior walls, windows, doors, siding, flashing, and waterproofing conditions.
• Familiarity with residential building codes and jurisdictional requirements.
• Strong attention to dimensions, details, and drawing coordination.
• The ability to independently work through architectural, code, and construction problems.
• Strong communication and organizational skills.
• The ability to manage revisions without losing drawing-set consistency.
• A collaborative attitude and comfort working with interior designers, contractors, engineers, vendors, and clients.

What We're Looking For

• We are especially interested in someone who can combine creative thinking with technical discipline.
• You notice when a hallway is unnecessarily wide, when a doorway is poorly positioned, when furniture will not fit comfortably, when a ceiling transition hasn't been resolved, when a window condition creates a waterproofing concern, or when something drawn beautifully on paper will become a problem during construction.
• You think ahead.
• You understand code.
• You understand how water moves through and around a building.
• You know that the exterior envelope is not simply an aesthetic layer—it is one of the most important systems protecting the home.
• And you understand that great residential design is not only about how a home looks.
• It is about how beautifully it works, how well it is built, and how it performs over time.
• About Ariana Designs & Interiors Ariana Designs & Interiors is a full-service building and interior design firm based in Kirkland, Washington.
• Through Ariid Group, our clients have access to an integrated approach encompassing: Design Build Furnish Our work includes luxury residential remodels, additions, new construction, whole-home interior design, custom cabinetry, furnishings, and turnkey project delivery.
• We approach each home from the inside out—considering architecture, interiors, construction, furnishings, exterior systems, and the way our clients live as one connected design.

Office

Ariana Designs & Interiors 1018 Market St. , Suite A Kirkland, WA 98033 ariidgroup. com

Pay: $73,400. 00 - $88,500. 00 per year

Work Location: In person