SENIOR DRAUGHTSMAN – FACADE, GLASS & ALUMINIUM

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SENIOR DRAUGHTSMAN – FACADE, GLASS & ALUMINIUM


SENIOR DRAUGHTSMAN – FACADE, GLASS & ALUMINIUM
KZN
 
POSITION PURPOSE:
We are looking for a detail-oriented and experienced Senior Draughtsman with a minimum of 5 years’ relevant experience within the facade, glazing, curtain walling, windows, doors and architectural aluminium industry.
 
The successful candidate will form part of the Design Office and will be responsible for producing accurate, detailed and construction-ready 2D technical drawings for a range of glass and aluminium projects.
 
The candidate must have a strong understanding of fenestration, façade and glazing design principles, be highly proficient in AutoCAD, and have practical experience producing drawings that can be used for fabrication, manufacturing and site installation.
This is a technical position requiring a candidate who can work independently, interpret architectural and engineering information, identify design issues and coordinate effectively with project, production and installation teams.
 
 
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
TECHNICAL DRAWING & DRAUGHTING
    • Prepare detailed 2D technical drawings for glass and aluminium construction projects.
    • Produce fabrication, assembly, installation and construction drawings.
    • Prepare detailed layouts, elevations, sections and details.
    • Prepare window, door and façade detailing.
    • Produce assembly and component drawings.
    • Prepare setting-out drawings.
    • Produce glass schedules and aluminium schedules.
    • Prepare material take-offs from approved drawings.
    • Assist with material selection where required.
    • Interpret architectural drawings, structural drawings, specifications and project requirements.
    • Convert sketches, calculations and verbal instructions into accurate technical drawings.
    • Ensure drawings are complete, accurate and suitable for fabrication and installation.
    • Review drawings for dimensional accuracy and technical compliance before issuing.
    • Make amendments and revisions as required.
    • Maintain accurate drawing registers and revision records.
 
CAD & DESIGN RESPONSIBILITIES
    • Use AutoCAD to produce accurate and professional technical drawings.
    • Ensure all drawings comply with company standards and project requirements.
    • Maintain drawing templates, layers, dimensions, annotations and drawing standards.
    • Update drawings following design changes, site measurements and client/consultant comments.
    • Maintain accurate revision histories.
    • Ensure superseded drawings are properly controlled.
    • Identify discrepancies or clashes within drawings.
    • Highlight technical issues to the Design Manager or relevant project team member.
    • Ensure drawings issued to production and site are the latest approved revisions.
 
SPECIALIST SYSTEMS EXPERIENCE
The Senior Draughtsman must have a minimum of 5 years’ practical experience within the facade, glazing, curtain walling and architectural aluminium industry.
The successful candidate must be able to independently produce detailed drawings for complex projects and should have practical experience in the following systems:
 
Pressure Glazed Curtain Wall Systems
Experience must include:
    • Mullion and transom layouts.
    • Pressure plate assemblies.
    • Glazing details.
    • Drainage systems.
    • Gaskets and seals.
    • Structural interfaces.
    • Fixing details.
    • Expansion and movement joints.
    • Integration with surrounding building elements.
 
Unitized Curtain Wall Systems
Experience with:
    • Modular façade design.
    • Unit fabrication drawings.
    • Unit assembly.
    • Installation sequencing.
    • Anchoring systems.
    • Brackets and fixing details.
    • Movement joints.
    • Floor-to-floor interfaces.
    • Tolerance requirements.
 
Aluminium Slatted Screens & Architectural Cladding
Experience with:
    • Panel and slat layouts.
    • Support structures.
    • Brackets and fixing systems.
    • Subframes.
    • Joint detailing.
    • Interface conditions.
    • Wind-loading considerations.
    • Architectural finishes.
    • Installation requirements.
 
Wispeco Clip 44 Systems
Experience with:
    • Windows.
    • Doors.
    • Shopfronts.
    • Framing systems.
    • Hardware selection.
    • Glazing requirements.
    • Glazing schedules.
    • Fabrication details.
    • Assembly details.
    • Installation details.
 
Experience with:
    • Toughened glass.
    • Frameless glazing.
    • Patch fittings.
    • Floor springs.
    • Door hardware.
    • Glass door systems.
    • Fixed panels.
    • Shower screen layouts.
    • Glass preparation and detailing.
 
Glass & Aluminium Balustrades
Experience with:
    • Frameless balustrades.
    • Framed balustrades.
    • Structural glass.
    • Aluminium framing.
    • Base shoe systems.
    • Anchoring methods.
    • Fixing details.
    • Glass specifications.
    • Safety and regulatory requirements.
 
Aluminium Pergolas
Experience with:
    • Structural aluminium layouts.
    • Louvred roof systems.
    • Aluminium support structures.
    • Connection detailing.
    • Fixing systems.
    • Drainage integration.
    • Column and beam details.
    • Installation requirements.
 
FABRICATION & PRODUCTION DRAWINGS
The successful candidate must understand the difference between a design drawing and a fabrication-ready drawing.
Responsibilities include:
    • Preparing fabrication drawings suitable for production.
    • Providing accurate dimensions and tolerances.
    • Detailing aluminium profiles and components.
    • Detailing glass sizes and specifications.
    • Preparing cutting and material information.
    • Preparing assembly details.
    • Preparing hardware schedules.
    • Preparing glazing schedules.
    • Providing manufacturing information to the factory.
    • Liaising with production to resolve technical queries.
    • Revising drawings where manufacturing requirements require changes.
    • Ensuring production receives accurate and approved information.
 
SITE & INSTALLATION DRAWINGS
    • Prepare installation and setting-out drawings.
    • Provide clear information to site teams.
    • Assist with site measurements where required.
    • Incorporate site measurements into final drawings.
    • Resolve drawing queries raised by installers.
    • Assist with technical problems encountered during installation.
    • Coordinate drawing requirements with Site Managers and Project Managers.
    • Ensure installation teams are working from the latest approved drawings.
 
PROJECT COORDINATION
The Senior Draughtsman will work closely with:
    • Architects.
    • Engineers.
    • Quantity Surveyors.
    • Contracts Managers.
    • Project Managers.
    • Estimators.
    • Factory Managers.
    • Production teams.
    • Procurement.
    • Site Managers.
    • Installation teams.
    • Clients and consultants.
 
Responsibilities include:
    • Reviewing project requirements.
    • Attending design and coordination meetings where required.
    • Reviewing consultant and architectural comments.
    • Coordinating drawing revisions.
    • Resolving technical queries.
    • Identifying design clashes.
    • Ensuring design information is issued according to project deadlines.
    • Communicating technical information clearly to internal and external stakeholders.
 
BUILDING & INDUSTRY KNOWLEDGE
The candidate must have a thorough understanding of:
    • Aluminium fenestration.
    • Architectural glazing.
    • Curtain walling.
    • Façade systems.
    • Building envelope principles.
    • Glass applications.
    • Aluminium systems.
    • Window and door systems.
    • Shopfront systems.
    • Structural glazing.
    • Waterproofing and drainage principles.
    • Thermal and movement considerations.
    • Glass and aluminium interfaces.
    • Construction tolerances.
    • Installation methodology.
Knowledge of South African building regulations and applicable industry standards is essential.
 
SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS
Essential
AutoCAD – Advanced proficiency
The candidate must be capable of producing detailed professional drawings independently and without extensive supervision.
Advantageous
Experience with:
    • Revit.
    • SolidWorks.
    • 3D CAD software.
    • BIM software.
    • Microsoft Excel.
    • Other façade or aluminium-specific design software.
 
DRAWING & DOCUMENT CONTROL
The Senior Draughtsman will be responsible for ensuring that all technical documentation is properly controlled.
This includes:
    • Drawing numbering.
    • Revision control.
    • Drawing registers.
    • Issue dates.
    • Approval status.
    • Client/consultant comments.
    • Revision histories.
    • Document filing.
    • Archiving.
    • Ensuring obsolete drawings are removed from circulation.
 
QUALITY CONTROL
The candidate must review their own work before issuing drawings.
Quality control responsibilities include:
    • Checking dimensions.
    • Checking levels and heights.
    • Checking glass sizes.
    • Checking aluminium profiles.
    • Checking hardware.
    • Checking fixing details.
    • Checking interfaces.
    • Checking material quantities.
    • Checking drawing references.
    • Checking revisions.
    • Identifying discrepancies before drawings are issued.
The Senior Draughtsman will be expected to take ownership of drawing accuracy and minimise fabrication errors, material wastage, rework and site installation problems.
 
 
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE
Essential
    • Minimum 5 years’ experience as a Draughtsman within the façade, glazing, curtain walling, windows, doors and architectural aluminium industry.
    • Minimum 5 years’ practical experience using AutoCAD.
    • Proven ability to produce detailed 2D technical drawings.
    • Proven experience with fabrication and installation drawings.
    • Strong ability to read and interpret architectural and technical drawings.
    • Practical understanding of aluminium and glass systems.
 
Advantageous
    • Relevant Draughting / Architectural Technology / Engineering qualification.
    • Experience in a manufacturing environment.
    • Experience working directly with aluminium fabricators.
    • Experience working on large commercial façade projects.
    • Experience with high-rise buildings.
    • Experience coordinating with architects and engineers.
 
REQUIRED TECHNICAL COMPETENCIES
The successful candidate must demonstrate:
    • Advanced AutoCAD skills.
    • Strong technical drawing ability.
    • Strong understanding of aluminium systems.
    • Strong understanding of glass applications.
    • Façade detailing experience.
    • Curtain wall detailing experience.
    • Fenestration knowledge.
    • Fabrication knowledge.
    • Installation knowledge.
    • Material take-off ability.
    • Glass scheduling.
    • Hardware scheduling.
    • Ability to interpret specifications.
    • Ability to understand construction methodology.
    • Ability to identify technical problems.
    • Ability to produce construction-ready drawings.
 
 
PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES
The successful candidate must be:
    • Extremely detail-oriented.
    • Accurate and methodical.
    • Technically minded.
    • Organised.
    • Reliable.
    • Able to work under pressure.
    • Able to meet project deadlines.
    • Able to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
    • A strong problem solver.
    • Able to work independently.
    • Able to work as part of a team.
    • Proactive.
    • Able to communicate effectively.
    • Willing to take ownership of their drawings and work.
    • Comfortable receiving and implementing technical feedback.
 
 
KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS (KPIs)
Performance will be measured against:
Drawing Accuracy
    • Accuracy of fabrication and installation drawings.
    • Reduction in drawing-related production errors.
    • Reduction in site-related drawing errors.
    • Accuracy of dimensions and material specifications.
Project Deadlines
    • Drawings completed within required deadlines.
    • Timely response to drawing revisions.
    • Timely response to technical queries.
Quality
    • Quality and completeness of drawings.
    • Compliance with project specifications.
    • Compliance with company drawing standards.
Production Support
    • Reduction of manufacturing errors caused by drawings.
    • Effective resolution of factory technical queries.
    • Accurate fabrication information.
Site Support
    • Reduction of installation issues caused by drawings.
    • Accurate setting-out information.
    • Effective response to site queries.
Document Control
    • Accurate revision control.
    • Correct drawing issue procedures.
    • Proper maintenance of drawing registers.
 
 IDEAL CANDIDATE
The ideal candidate will be an experienced Senior Draughtsman who has worked hands-on in the façade, glass and aluminium industry and understands the complete process from:
Architectural Drawings → Design → Detailing → Fabrication Drawings → Manufacturing → Delivery → Installation
They must be able to take a project from initial design information through to accurate fabrication and installation drawings with minimal supervision.
The successful candidate must understand that inaccurate drawings can result in material wastage, manufacturing errors, production delays, installation problems and significant financial losses.
The candidate must therefore take full ownership of the accuracy and quality of all drawings issued.
 
 
INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE – PREFERRED SYSTEMS
Experience with the following will be highly advantageous:
    • Wispeco systems.
    • Crealco systems.
    • Curtain wall systems.
    • Pressure glazed curtain walling.
    • Flush glazed curtain walling.
    • Unitized curtain walling.
    • Architectural façades.
    • Aluminium cladding.
    • Slatted screens.
    • Shopfronts.
    • Frameless glazing.
    • Glass balustrades.
    • Aluminium balustrades.
    • Aluminium pergolas.
    • Architectural glazing.
    • Structural glazing.
 
 
 
IMPORTANT REQUIREMENT
Minimum 5 years’ direct experience in the façade, glazing, curtain walling, windows, doors and architectural aluminium industry is strongly preferred.
Candidates with only general architectural or mechanical draughting experience, without practical experience in glass and aluminium construction, may not be suitable for this position.