Senior Technical Office Architect

About the Role

Qwaed Al-Emmar (QAE) is seeking a Senior Technical Office Architect to join their team in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This full-time role requires strong expertise in architectural shop drawings, construction detailing, and cross-disciplinary coordination. The successful candidate will have previous involvement in large-scale hospitality, commercial, and residential projects.

Role Purpose

The Senior Technical Office Architect will be responsible for translating design requirements into accurate, coordinated, and buildable drawing packages. This involves managing approvals and resolving technical conflicts through collaboration with consultants, project management, site teams, interior designers, procurement, suppliers, and subcontractors.

Key Responsibilities

• Prepare and review architectural shop drawings, including plans, elevations, sections, construction details, finishing layouts, reflected ceiling plans, and door, window, and finish schedules.
• Review design drawings, specifications, and bills of quantities to identify discrepancies, missing information, and constructability issues.
• Coordinate architectural works with structural and MEP disciplines, resolving conflicts related to levels, openings, service routes, and access/maintenance requirements.
• Develop construction details for various elements such as flooring, ceilings, partitions, façades, fixed joinery, and finishes, coordinating their interfaces with waterproofing systems and other works.
• Prepare Requests for Information (RFIs) and technical submittals, and manage consultant comments until closure.
• Review supplier and subcontractor drawings, material submittals, samples, and technical data for compliance with approved documents.
• Prepare, review, and coordinate Furniture, Fixtures & Equipment (FF&E) layouts and schedules, including loose and custom-made furniture, decorative lighting, and accessories.
• Review FF&E dimensions, materials, finishes, fabrication drawings, and samples. Coordinate installation and connections with interior designers, engineering disciplines, procurement, and suppliers.
• Coordinate FF&E with architectural works, fixed joinery, circulation routes, and building services, and follow up on mock-up and model-room approvals.
• Maintain close coordination between the technical office, project management, site teams, and procurement to align approved drawings and materials with construction requirements and project schedules.
• Maintain drawing registers, revision control, submission schedules, and approval tracking, ensuring site teams use the latest approved documents.
• Attend technical coordination meetings, document decisions, follow up on actions, and develop practical solutions for site issues.
• Prepare and review as-built drawings based on verified site information and approved changes.

Qualifications and Experience

• 5-10 years of experience in a technical office role with construction contractors.
• Experience with high-end hospitality projects, complex interior finishes, model rooms, and hotel operator requirements.
• Proficiency in Revit and experience with BIM coordination and clash review using Navisworks.
• Experience reviewing and guiding the work of architects and drafting teams.

Work Location

This position is based in Riyadh, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.