Job Description

Heritage Harbor isn’t just a development. It’s a crafted neighborhood on the Illinois River where front porches matter , people wave, kids roam, boats come and go, and cottages feel like they’ve always belonged.

We’re building a community with a soul—and we’re looking for an Architectural Draftsperson who wants their work to mean something beyond drawing another box on another lot.

Who We Are

Heritage Harbor is a waterfront resort community grounded in Traditional Neighborhood Design (TND) : human scale, connected streets, rich public spaces, cottages and homes with character and proportion, not trend-of-the-year facades.

Our leadership team cares about:

• Thoughtful growth, not sprawl.
• Design that feels timeless, not disposable.
• Collaboration between sales, construction, design, and hospitality so every home fits into a bigger story.
• A culture of shared ownership, humility, and initiative —“I am because of who we are” is how we operate, not a tagline.

You’ll be joining a group that is hands-on, entrepreneurial, and fully invested in doing things the right way for the long term.

The Role

As our Architectural Draftsperson , you are the bridge between design vision and buildable reality .

You will:

• Adapt and fine-tune existing cottage and TND-style plans to fit real lots with real constraints—grade, setbacks, views, orientation, neighbors.
• Produce clean, construction-ready drawings: floor plans, elevations, sections, roof plans, site/lot fit exhibits, and exterior details.
• Work directly with our construction team, preferred builders, and designers to resolve details, incorporate feedback, and make field changes with clarity and speed.
• Help shape and steward our pattern book so that every new home strengthens the architectural language of the community.

This is not about cranking out generic plans.

This is about being a craftsperson of place .

Who You Are

• 2+ years in residential drafting / architectural design (builder, architecture firm, or design-build).
• Proficient in AutoCAD, Revit, or similar CAD software.
• Solid grasp of wood-frame residential construction and how drawings get used in the field.
• Love for cottages, porches, proportions, streetscapes, and traditional neighborhood principles.
• Low ego, high pride in your work. You like being part of a tight, cross-functional team.
• Comfortable taking initiative and owning your lane, while collaborating openly.

Architectural license not required. We’re after skill, judgment, and taste.

Why Join Us

• Your work literally shapes a community people choose for quality of life.
• Direct collaboration with decision-makers—no endless corporate layers.
• Stable, long-term vision: ongoing phases, unique products, and room to grow your role.
• A culture that values thoughtfulness, trust, and craftsmanship.

How to Apply

Send your resume, a short note on why Heritage Harbor and this style of work speaks to you , and 3–8 samples of your residential drafting/plan work (PDF or portfolio link) to HHO@heritageharborottawa.com

Know someone who lives and breathes this kind of architecture? Please pass this along.

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