Air Intelligence Agency (AIA), Architectural Services, AutoCAD, Building Codes, Communication Skills, Construction Drawings, Construction Planning, Documentation, Feasibility Analysis, Legal, Process Management, Quality Management, Quality Metrics, Regulations, Regulatory Compliance, Remodeling, Residential Construction, State Laws and Regulations, Structural Engineering, Urban Planning, Zoning
Why this role exists
Revive operates on high-dollar residential renovation and development projects — many in the $500K–$1M+ range. The gap between a project being approved and executable versus stalled and costly almost always lives in pre-construction: unclear drawings, missed code requirements, permitting delays, or plans that aren't buildable.
This role owns that gap. You will design, draw, and produce construction-ready plans — and personally manage the permitting and city approval process from submission through final sign-off. This is not a coordination role. You are the architect.
What you will do
- Produce architectural drawings and design documentation using AutoCAD (and/or Revit) for residential renovation, remodel, and ADU projects
- Ensure all plans are fully compliant with California Building Code, Title 24, local zoning ordinances, and applicable city standards
- Design and permit ADU projects — attached, detached, JADU — in compliance with current CA ADU law and local city overlays
- Manage the full permitting workflow: application prep, plan check submission, correction responses, resubmittals, and final approval
- Serve as the direct point of contact with city planning and building departments — know the process, know the people, know how to move things
- Coordinate with structural engineers, MEP consultants, and contractors to ensure design intent translates to field execution
- Review existing plans or as-builts on incoming projects and identify code conflicts, constructability gaps, or permitting risks before they become field problems
- Support project scoping and feasibility assessments — flag zoning issues, setback conflicts, or structural concerns early
- Maintain plan quality standards and documentation consistency across the project portfolio
Who you are
- You draw. AutoCAD is your daily tool, not something you delegate.
- You know California residential building code — not just the concept of it, but the specifics: CBC, CRC, Title 24, accessibility requirements, fire codes where applicable
- You've submitted permits in multiple CA cities and you know that every city has its own process, preferences, and quirks — and you navigate that without friction
- You understand ADU regulations at the state level and how local cities layer requirements on top
- You read plans critically — you can look at a set and immediately identify what's missing, what won't pass plan check, and what won't build cleanly in the field
- You operate with urgency. Delays cost money. You don't wait to be chased.
- You communicate clearly with GCs, engineers, owner reps, and clients — you translate technical issues into plain language
Qualifications
- 5+ years of experience in residential architecture, design, and permitting in California
- Proficient in AutoCAD (required); Revit or other design tools a plus
- Strong working knowledge of California Building Code, zoning regulations, and local city compliance requirements
- Demonstrated experience designing and permitting ADU projects
- Direct experience submitting and managing plan check processes with CA cities and building departments
- Ability to read and produce full architectural plan sets including site plans, floor plans, elevations, sections, and details
- Experience coordinating with structural engineers, MEP consultants, and general contractors
- Licensed Architect (AIA/CA) preferred — but candidates with equivalent hands-on experience will be considered
- Southern California experience strongly preferred; familiarity with cities in Orange County, LA County, or the Bay Area a plus