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(CAD Draughtsperson, CAD Technician, Architectural Draughtsperson, Technical Drafter)
Construction & Trades
Salary
€28,000 - €58,000/yr
Level
Operational
Outlook
Stable
Sector
Construction & Trades
As a Draughtsperson you produce detailed technical drawings and plans that engineers, architects, and construction teams use to design and build structures, systems, and components. Your day-to-day work involves using CAD (Computer-Aided Design) software to create precise two-dimensional and three-dimensional drawings from design briefs and specifications. You work closely with architects, structural engineers, mechanical and electrical engineers, and project managers to ensure that drawings accurately reflect technical requirements and comply with Irish building regulations. You may also produce hand-drawn sketches when required at early design stages, and you are responsible for updating and revising drawings as projects evolve. Much of your work is detail-focused, and accuracy is essential because the drawings you produce directly guide how buildings and infrastructure are constructed.
Listen: a day as a Draughtsperson
You arrive at the office just before eight-thirty, hang up your jacket, and log into your workstation. The practice uses AutoCAD and Revit, and your first job is to check the shared project folder for any mark-ups left overnight by the structural engineer on a residential scheme in Wicklow. There are seven revision notes, each flagged in red on a PDF. You make a note of each one before touching the drawings. By nine o'clock you are inside the CAD file, adjusting foundation wall thicknesses and updating the floor-plan dimensions to match the engineer's latest calculations. Precision matters here: a misplaced decimal or a wall drawn two millimetres off-centre on screen can translate to a costly error on site. You save and version the file carefully, following the office's ISO-compliant drawing-numbering system so nothing gets overwritten.
A strong Leaving Certificate foundation in subjects such as Construction Studies, Engineering, Technical Graphics, Mathematics, and Physics is particularly useful for this career. The most common entry route is a QQI Level 6 Advanced Certificate in Architectural Technology, CAD/Draughting, or a related discipline offered at Colleges of Further Education and Institutes of Technology across Ireland. Many Draughtspersons also progress to an NFQ Level 7 Ordinary Bachelor's degree or a Level 8 Honours Bachelor's degree in Architectural Technology, Civil Engineering, or Mechanical Engineering at technological universities such as TU Dublin, ATU, SETU, or MTU. Some entrants come through PLC courses at Level 5 that focus on technical drawing and CAD, using these as a stepping stone to higher qualifications. There is no statutory registration body specific to Draughtspersons in Ireland, though membership of professional bodies such as Engineers Ireland or the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI) can enhance career prospects. Continuing professional development in specialist CAD platforms such as AutoCAD, Revit, and BIM software is increasingly expected by Irish employers.
Most Draughtspersons begin in a junior or graduate role within an architectural practice, engineering consultancy, or construction company, working under the supervision of a senior draughtsperson or engineer. With experience, you typically progress to a senior draughtsperson position, taking on greater responsibility for drawing coordination and quality control across larger projects. Further progression can lead to roles such as CAD Manager, BIM Coordinator, or BIM Manager, particularly as digital construction methods become standard in Ireland. Ambitious professionals often use their draughting experience as a platform to pursue further study and transition into fully qualified architectural technologist, civil engineering, or mechanical engineering roles.
AI-assisted design tools are beginning to automate some routine and repetitive drawing tasks, such as generating standard details or checking drawings for clashes, which is changing the nature of draughting work. However, the interpretation of complex design briefs, site-specific problem-solving, and client coordination still require human judgement, meaning the role is evolving rather than disappearing. Draughtspersons who embrace AI-powered CAD tools and generative design software will find their productivity increases and their value to employers grows. Upskilling in BIM coordination and digital construction workflows will be increasingly important as Irish firms integrate more AI-driven processes into their project delivery.
→ Draughtsperson (Current role)
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