Architectural Designer / Project Coordinator (Residential)
Somewhere
🇿🇦 Hirezar Summary for South African Applicants
This fully remote full time position at Somewhere is open to applicants from South Africa. The estimated monthly salary is R37,000 – R55,500 ZAR. This role is suited for mid-level professionals. As a remote position, you can work from anywhere in South Africa — whether you're based in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, or a smaller town.
Job Description
Architectural Designer & Project Coordinator (Residential Renovation)
Location:RemoteEmployment Type:Full-time, independent contractorHours:Full US Eastern Time overlap (New York / Vermont projects)Reports to:Founders
About the Company
We are a real estate design-build and investment company specializing in high-end residential renovation. Their work goes well beyond cosmetic flips — they acquire homes that need heavy rehabilitation and take them down to the frame, rebuilding them into thoughtfully designed, premium living spaces. As a single-source partner, they manage the full arc of each project: permitting, material sourcing, skilled trades, and finishes.
The company is founder-led and scaling. It currently operates across New York and Vermont, with active renovation projects and plans to move into ground-up development. This is an early, formative stage — the person who joins now will help build the operating rhythm, not inherit one.
About the Role
The founders drive the design themselves — selecting finishes, shaping the vision, and producing rough drawings in basic software. What they don't have is someone who can translate that vision into professional CAD documentation and carry it into the field.
This role exists to close that gap. You will turn design intent into clean, buildable drawings, produce as-is documentation before projects reach their (expensive) US architect to save time and cost, and act as the connective tissue between design and execution across multiple job sites. It is a hybrid role by design: part architectural designer, part hands-on project coordinator. You will be in the business day to day — articulating the plan to trades, keeping materials moving, and making sure each site has what it needs.
The single most important capability is CAD proficiency and the ability to articulate design clearly. Everything else can be supported or trained.
Key Responsibilities
Design & Drafting
* Produce CAD drawings, elevations, and layouts that translate the founders' finish selections and design direction into professional documentation
* Create as-is drawings of existing homes before handoff to the US architect
* Contribute your own design ideas where helpful (welcomed, not required)
Project Coordination
* Coordinate trades and subcontractors across multiple active job sites
* Schedule material deliveries and place orders
* Maintain a running inventory of materials per job site — what has arrived, what is outstanding, and where it is
Documentation & Communication
* Translate design intent into clear instructions and drawings for the trades
* Keep project documentation organized and accessible across sites
Required Qualifications
* Background in architecture, architectural technology, or a closely related field
* Demonstrated proficiency in CAD (AutoCAD or equivalent). Software is flexible — Revit, Rhino, and SketchUp are all acceptable; the output is what matters.Work samples required.
* Residential design experience
* Strong written and spoken English
* Availability for full US Eastern Time business-hours overlap
* Organizational ability to coordinate materials, deliveries, and trades across multiple sites simultaneously
Preferred Qualifications
* Prior experience on US residential projects
* Familiarity with US building codes (New York / Vermont a plus; local codes will be trainable)
* A developed design sensibility and the confidence to bring ideas to the table
* Experience interfacing directly with trades and subcontractors
Ideal Candidate Profile
You are fluent in turning a design vision into buildable drawings, and equally comfortable stepping out of the drawing and into the day-to-day of a fast-moving renovation business. You are organized enough to track materials and schedules across several sites at once, and a clear communicator who can direct trades without hand-holding. You are adaptable — willing to learn US codes and standards — and you take ownership in an environment that is still being built.
Why Join
This is a ground-floor role in a scaling design-build company with direct access to the founders. You will get genuine variety — design one part of the day, execution the next — and a clear path to grow with the business as it expands into development work.
Tips for South African Applicants
Timezone Advantage
South Africa (SAST, UTC+2) overlaps well with European business hours and has a few hours of overlap with US East Coast. Mention your timezone flexibility in your application.
Salary in Context
At R37,000/month, this role is competitive with the average South African remote salary. The USD equivalent ($2,000/mo) benefits from the favourable exchange rate.
Application Tips
Tailor your CV to international standards — use a clean format, highlight remote work experience, and include your English proficiency. Many SA applicants succeed by emphasising their strong work ethic and cultural adaptability.
Load Shedding Preparedness
If you're applying for a remote role, having a backup power solution (UPS, inverter, or generator) and mobile data as a backup internet connection shows employers you're prepared for South Africa's infrastructure challenges.
About Somewhere
Somewhere is a company in the Recruitment & Staffing industry that hires remote workers from South Africa. They currently have 828 open positions on Hirezar. View all Somewhere jobs →