Detailer Drafter
What the work is
Produces detailed plans, drawings and other documents based on architectural and engineering drawings using BIM for fabricators to manufacture and erect frames, columns, beams, braces and trusses used in residential, commercial and industrial buildings and infrastructure.
Would you enjoy the work?
These are the main tasks in the official description. Mark how each one sounds to you.
- Uses BIM technology to prepare plans, drawings and other documents, including specifications for materials required, detailed measurements and installation instructions for building contractors
- Determines the appropriate material for each task based on design plans, and ensures that all designs meet relevant standards and regulations
- Performs calculations to estimate the quantity of materials required to complete a project
- Develops detailed 3D models to detect model clashes to mitigate construction delays and site rectification costs
- Collaborates with Architects, engineers and project managers to ensure the accurate translation of designs into construction plans
Try it
A simulation and a case study from this kind of work, set in a small design and drafting office working with builders, home owners and the local council. They are fictional.
The kind of days you could have
Good days
- A client sees their drawings come to life and says the house feels like home before it is built
- A tricky site turns into an elegant design with the right trade-offs
- A builder tells you the plans were the clearest set they have worked from
Hard days
- A client wants a beautiful design and a budget that don't match
- The council asks for changes that mean redrawing a whole set of plans
- A neighbour objects, and you are the one who has to explain why
Written by Career Calling as a general guide. Real roles vary by employer and place.
Work a mission
Step into a simulated workplace in this field, with a brief from your manager.
Description and tasks: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Occupation Standard Classification for Australia, 2024, Version 1.0 (opens another site), occupation 312133, used under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. The skill guide above is our plain English summary.