Keel Custom Homes

Residential Architectural Drafter - Custom Homes

Location: Henrico / Greater Richmond, Virginia | In-house position

Turn Custom Home Ideas Into Plans That Are Ready to Build.

Keel Custom Homes builds custom homes on clients' lots throughout Central Virginia. Our team values Service First, Always Do the Right Thing, Have Fun, and Constant Pursuit of Excellence, bringing thoughtful planning and clear communication to the homebuilding experience.

We're looking for a detail-oriented Residential Architectural Drafter who understands how accurate drawings support pricing, permitting, and construction. If you enjoy translating home designs into complete working drawings, solving practical construction challenges, and keeping projects moving, this role offers ownership of work that directly influences every home we build.

About the Role

Reporting to the Director of Preconstruction, you will produce permit-ready working drawings for custom homes, portfolio plans, and revisions while maintaining Keel's plan library.

You will work within Keel's master drafting template to keep drawings consistent, current, and accessible in .dwg format. You'll collaborate with Preconstruction, Design and Selections, Estimating and Purchasing, Superintendents, Sales, consulting architects, engineers, and local permitting officials.

Key Responsibilities

• Produce drawings through concept, bid, and permit stages.
• Update plans to reflect preconstruction meetings, lot inspections, customer changes, and estimating and purchase-order information.
• Follow Keel's master template, title-block, layer, and drafting standards.
• Prepare permit-ready sets for projects across Chesterfield, Henrico, Hanover, Goochland, and Powhatan.
• Submit permit applications, coordinate with permitting officials, and address drawing-related comments.
• Build and maintain master sets for Keel's plan portfolio, keeping legends and window and door schedules current.
• Complete revisions promptly to support preconstruction meetings, permit submissions, and construction starts.
• Prepare architectural site plans showing home placement, driveways, and clearing information.
• Resolve field questions in the drawings and document corrections to reduce recurring plan errors.
• Create sales versions of floor plans for brochures and the website.
• Provide accurate plan information to Selections and Estimating.
• Keep the team informed about drawing status and maintain clear version control.

Qualifications

• Experience preparing residential architectural drawings and construction documents.
• Proficiency with CAD drafting software and current .dwg files, including templates, layers, dimensions, and drawing standards.
• Knowledge of residential construction methods, materials, and applicable building-code requirements.
• Ability to produce coordinated plans, elevations, details, and schedules suitable for pricing, permitting, and construction.
• Strong attention to dimensional accuracy, document consistency, and revision control.
• Ability to manage multiple drawing assignments and meet deadlines.
• Clear communication and practical problem-solving skills when working with construction teams, designers, engineers, and permitting officials.
• Richmond-area residential permitting experience is a plus.
• Custom-home and builder plan-library experience is a plus.

Pay and Benefits

• Full-time employment.
• Base salary starting at $75,000 annually, with higher compensation based on experience.
• Paid time off.
• 401(k) with company match.
• Health insurance coverage.
• Full technology suite.
• Training and professional-development opportunities.

Why Join Keel Custom Homes?

Your drawings will help homeowners' plans become buildable homes. You'll have the opportunity to improve a growing plan library, collaborate directly with design and construction professionals, and see your work support smoother permits, clearer pricing, and well-prepared construction starts. Join a team that values service, integrity, continuous improvement, and enjoying the work along the way.

Ready to put your residential drafting skills to work? Apply with your resume and examples of residential construction drawings that demonstrate your experience.

Keel Custom Homes welcomes qualified applicants and considers candidates without regard to characteristics protected by applicable law.