Technical Designer in London

Role overview

The Technical Designer role focuses on realising design concepts into fully coordinated, buildable solutions, ensuring technical accuracy, full compliance, and seamless integration with construction.

The Technical Designer is responsible for developing detailed technical drawings and documentation to support project delivery within the design & build framework. Working under Senior Technical and Design leaders, or independently, they ensure designs are constructible, compliant, and well-coordinated across disciplines — delivered on time and within budget.

Key Responsibilities:

Leadership & Strategy:

· Work as a key member of each project team, understand your roles and responsibilities and those of others, own and close items as they arise, ensure good communication throughout to project end.

· Provide technical interaction across all design phases, being a key member of the extended Professional Design team including Pre Construction, Commercial and Construction.

· Be a part of project reviews to ensure design integrity, technical coordination, inclusivity, and compliance.

· Stay ahead of design trends and emerging technologies — especially in regard to compliance and sustainability.

Project Delivery/Technical Development:

· Understand ‘The Oktra Way’ — our processes, standards, sustainability practices, quality measures, and compliance requirements — across all roles and responsibilities.

· Manage client expectations (when required) and maintain clear communication on technical aspects of the design.

· Create the technical design documentation from schematics, sketches through to construction.

· Create the design coordination between architectural, structural, mechanical, electrical, public health etc., and the full construction team.

· Translate the conceptual designs into detailed, buildable solutions without compromising design intent, cost, compliance, or programme.

· Create all technical drawing packages from design development to construction documentation including practical completion.

· Lead the resolution of complex design challenges related to structure, finishes, systems, and constructability.

· Ensure accuracy, clarity, and compliance in all technical drawings, documentation, and specifications.

· Review reference materials and site documentation to ensure design accuracy through allocated projects.

· Enforce technical design standards and best practices.

· Support the Design team by offering solutions that balance aesthetic goals with practical execution.

Quality & Risk Management:

· Conduct quality assurance and control reviews.

· Identify design risks early and provide proactive technical solutions.

· Ensure proper documentation and coordination to minimise site issues and redesigns, and risks.

Coordination:

· Collaborate closely with Pre Construction, Commercial, Project Managers, site teams, consultants, and clients etc. as a professional team to ensure absolute project success.

· Complete clash detection and coordination meetings using Building Information Modelling (BIM) tools (e.g., Revit, Navisworks).

Documentation & Standards including Compliance:

· Organise and maintain drawing files, naming conventions, and documentation sets to maintain company standards and industry best practices.

· Prepare and review drawing packages for tender, authority approvals, and construction.

· Ensure that all designs comply with relevant codes, standards, regulations, and client specifications including to cost and programme approval.

· Prepare and submit permit drawings, planning applications, Building Regulations submissions etc. from creation of documentation to success application approval.

· Ensure compliance with the company role of Principal Designer under Construction (Design & Management) (CDM) Building Regulations and the Building Safety Act.

· Ensure team compliance and competency including the wider professional project team when required.

· Ensure compliance with the role of Designer under Construction (Design & Management) (CDM), Building Regulations and the Building Safety Act.

Site & Construction Support:

· Support site teams with technical information, clarifications, and revisions during construction.

· Respond to Requests for Information (RFI's), review of shop drawings, manage change control alongside the construction teams to all specific projects.

· Ensure all practical completion documentation, including Health & Safety incorporating Operation & Maintenance (H&S+O&M) files, as builts and residual risk registers is to a high quality and present.

· Conduct site visits to verify design implementation and assist in resolving onsite issues.

· Participate in internal team meetings and coordination reviews when necessary.

Essential Qualifications & Experience

· Bachelor's or Master’s Degree in Architecture, Interior Architecture, or similar related field.

· 2-5+ years of experience in technical design, ideally within a design & build or fast-paced multidisciplinary environment.

· Proficient in Revit, BIM coordination tools, AutoCAD, and other design software’s.

· Common Date Environment (CDE) experience preferable but not essential (Oktra use ACC Autodesk Construction Cloud)

Desirable skills:

· Effective communication skills verbal and visual, good problem-solving capabilities.

· Strong portfolio demonstrating a range of design capabilities including competency, compliance, hand sketching, good communication, technical design detailing, technical coordination, programming, and processes.

· Experience with fast-track or design & build procurement models, preferably in the commercial sector.

· Knowledge of sustainability certifications (LEED, WELL, BREEAM etc.).

· Strong design sensibility with a pragmatic approach to construction and execution & strong problem-solving and technical decision-making ability.

· Detail-oriented with a hands-on approach to quality and delivery.

· Strong drafting and documentation skills.

· Strong knowledge of construction detailing, building codes, and material technologies.

· Good organisational, and interpersonal skills.

· Regulatory knowledge of CDM 2015, Building Regulations and all associated documentation, Risk Assessments and Residual Risk Registers, Golden Thread.