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Architectural & Civil Draughtsman

Engineering

Prepare detailed drawings of architectural and structural features of buildings or drawings and topographical relief maps used in civil engineering projects, such as highways, bridges, and public works. Use knowledge of building materials, engineering practices, and mathematics to complete drawings.

You can enter this career straight after SPM. A degree is optional, not required.

Architecture & Built Environment

What you'd do all day

The tasks that matter most in this job, most important first.

  1. 1Produce drawings, using computer-assisted drafting systems (CAD) or drafting machines, or by hand, using compasses, dividers, protractors, triangles, and other drafting devices.
  2. 2Draft plans and detailed drawings for structures, installations, and construction projects, such as highways, sewage disposal systems, and dikes, working from sketches or notes.
  3. 3Coordinate structural, electrical, and mechanical designs and determine a method of presentation to graphically represent building plans.
  4. 4Analyze building codes, by-laws, space and site requirements, and other technical documents and reports to determine their effect on architectural designs.
  5. 5Draw maps, diagrams, and profiles, using cross-sections and surveys, to represent elevations, topographical contours, subsurface formations, and structures.
  6. 6Lay out and plan interior room arrangements for commercial buildings, using computer-assisted drafting (CAD) equipment and software.
  7. 7Supervise and train other technologists, technicians, and drafters.
  8. 8Determine the order of work and method of presentation, such as orthographic or isometric drawing.
  9. 9Finish and duplicate drawings and documentation packages according to required mediums and specifications for reproduction, using blueprinting, photography, or other duplicating methods.
  10. 10Draw rough and detailed scale plans for foundations, buildings, and structures, based on preliminary concepts, sketches, engineering calculations, specification sheets, and other data.
  11. 11Correlate, interpret, and modify data obtained from topographical surveys, well logs, and geophysical prospecting reports.
  12. 12Check dimensions of materials to be used and assign numbers to lists of materials.
  13. 13Determine procedures and instructions to be followed, according to design specifications and quantity of required materials.
  14. 14Supervise or conduct field surveys, inspections, or technical investigations to obtain data required to revise construction drawings.
  15. 15Explain drawings to production or construction teams and provide adjustments as necessary.
  16. 16Obtain and assemble data to complete architectural designs, visiting job sites to compile measurements as necessary.
  17. 17Determine quality, cost, strength, and quantity of required materials, and enter figures on materials lists.
  18. 18Locate and identify symbols on topographical surveys to denote geological and geophysical formations or oil field installations.
  19. 19Create freehand drawings and lettering to accompany drawings.
  20. 20Calculate excavation tonnage and prepare graphs and fill-hauling diagrams for use in earth-moving operations.
  21. 21Prepare colored drawings of landscape and interior designs for presentation to client.
  22. 22Calculate weights, volumes, and stress factors and their implications for technical aspects of designs.
  23. 23Plot characteristics of boreholes for oil and gas wells from photographic subsurface survey recordings and other data, representing depth, degree, and direction of inclination.
  24. 24Reproduce drawings on copy machines or trace copies of plans and drawings, using transparent paper or cloth, ink, pencil, and standard drafting instruments.
  25. 25Calculate heat loss and gain of buildings and structures to determine required equipment specifications, following standard procedures.

Also known as

What this job is called on JobStreet, LinkedIn and in job ads. Search these too.

  • Drafter
  • Designer
  • Detailer
  • Architect
  • Draftsman
  • BIM Modeler
  • CAD Drafter
  • Gas Drafter
  • Oil Drafter
  • BIM Designer

How far is this from you?

Roughly how much preparation this job usually takes. In Malaysia your UPU route and the programme's syarat still decide entry, so treat this as a guide, not a gate.

  1. 1

    Entry straight after SPM

  2. 2

    SPM + sijil / short TVET course

  3. Typical entry

    Diploma / TVET (sijil–diploma)

  4. 4

    Degree (ijazah sarjana muda)

  5. 5

    Postgrad (sarjana / PhD) or professional route

Subjects that matter here

The SPM subjects worth your effort for this career, with the reason for each.

Visual Art (PSV)Draws directly on Design — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
Technical Comm. GraphicsDraws directly on Design — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
Engineering DrawingDraws directly on Design — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
Civil Engineering StudiesDraws directly on Building and Construction — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
Design & Technology (RBT)Draws directly on Building and Construction — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).

What you'd need to know

The subject areas this job leans on most, and the SPM subjects that build them.

  • Design86%

    Visual Art (PSV)Technical Comm. GraphicsEngineering Drawing

  • Building and Construction85%

    Civil Engineering StudiesEngineering DrawingDesign & Technology (RBT)

  • Engineering and Technology84%

    PhysicsAdditional MathematicsDesign & Technology (RBT)

  • English Language76%

    English

  • Computers and Electronics76%

    Computer Science / ICTElectrical & Electronic Eng. Studies

  • Mathematics72%

    Additional MathematicsMathematics

Tools you'd use

Software and equipment that show up in this job, worth learning early.

Where to learn these, free

Scholarships & funding

What the work feels like

Day-to-day working conditions, so you can tell whether the job suits how you like to work.

  • Face-to-face discussionsAlmost never
  • Contact with other peopleNo contact
  • Dealing with customers or the publicNot at all
  • Leading or coordinating othersNot at all
  • Handling conflict situationsAlmost never
  • Indoors, air-conditionedAlmost never
  • Outdoors, in all weatherAlmost never
  • Noisy environmentAlmost never

Where this job is heading

Newer tasks O*NET has flagged for this occupation, a hint at how the role is changing.

  • Use drone technology to capture aerial views and topographical data for civil engineering projects.

AI and demand for this job

A few real, dated data points — not a single score. AI making some tasks faster usually means a job changes, not that it disappears.

18%

Share of everyday tasks today's AI can already help with (2023)

This estimate is from 2023 — already out of date, since AI moves fast. Treat it as a rough, aging starting point, not the current picture.

On Malaysia's official shortage list

TalentCorp and ILMIA's Critical Occupations List — evidence of a real hiring shortage in Malaysia right now.

Draughtspersons and Surveying Technicians · Shortage indicators met: 3/11

Pay in Malaysia

We don't have a sourced Malaysian salary range for this job yet, and we'd rather show nothing than a number we can't stand behind.

Where to check:

  • JobStreet and Hiredly job ads for this title
  • DOSM Salaries & Wages Survey
  • SSPA scheme tables, if you're aiming for a government post

Check what you may qualify for

Enter your SPM grades and see which routes and programmes you may qualify for. An estimate to plan with, not an offer.

Check my eligibility Not sure yet? Take the quiz

How to get here

Post-SPM pathways with programmes in this career's fields. Tap one to see real programmes and entry requirements.

Asasi / Foundation

One-year runway into a specific university: public via UPU or private direct entry.

12 months

Diploma

Skill-first qualification. Work after, or enter degree Year 2. Polytechnics keep it affordable.

2.5–3 years

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About this information

This describes what the job involves. Pay, demand and entry routes differ in Malaysia, so check the Pathways and Programmes pages for local requirements.

O*NET occupation: Architectural and Civil Drafters

Job responsibilities, knowledge areas and work context from O*NET 30.3, US Department of Labor, used under CC BY 4.0. onetcenter.org

Programmes that lead here

Programmes from the official UPU (KPT) and MQA catalogues whose field of study typically leads to this career. Matched by field, not a job guarantee.

Public universities (UPU)

Private institutions (MQA-accredited)

Search the programme catalogue