Freelance Structural Steel Designer Jobs in Arizona

POSITION SUMMARY

The Structural Steel Detailer is responsible for developing accurate, coordinated, and fabrication-ready 3D models and shop drawings that support the successful execution of structural steel and miscellaneous metals projects.

This role transforms contract documents into detailed fabrication packages while ensuring compliance with project specifications, industry standards, and company quality requirements. The Detailer serves as a critical link between Engineering, Project Management, Procurement, Production Control, Fabrication, and Field Operations by proactively identifying design conflicts, coordinating constructability issues, and producing accurate deliverables that support efficient fabrication and installation.

Success in this role requires strong technical expertise in Tekla Structures, attention to detail, collaboration, and a commitment to quality, schedule, and continuous improvement.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develop and maintain accurate 3D Tekla models for structural steel and miscellaneous metals projects.
• Produce fabrication-ready shop drawings, erection drawings, assembly drawings, single-part drawings, CNC files, and bills of material.
• Interpret structural and architectural contract documents, project specifications, and engineering calculations.
• Maintain model integrity throughout the project lifecycle.
• Ensure all detailing complies with project specifications, AISC standards, AWS requirements, and company detailing standards.
• Incorporate approved RFIs, ASIs, CCDs, and revised design documents into the model.
• Participate in coordination meetings with Project Management, Engineering, and Field Operations.
• Coordinate detailing with other building systems including mechanical, electrical, plumbing, concrete, and architectural components.
• Identify design conflicts and constructability issues early and submit RFIs to resolve missing or conflicting information.
• Coordinate with engineers for delegated connection designs when required.
• Generate fabrication packages that support efficient shop production and release work packages in accordance with fabrication priorities.
• Produce accurate material takeoffs and bills of material and create CNC data for automated fabrication equipment.
• Coordinate fabrication assembly sequencing to align with project schedules and field installation needs.
• Perform self-checks on all models and drawings prior to release.
• Verify dimensions, welds, bolt information, member marks, material grades, and connection details.
• Ensure consistency between model data and fabrication drawings.
• Minimize detailing errors that impact fabrication, field installation, or project schedule.
• Support continuous improvement of detailing standards, templates, components, modeling standards, and best practices.
• Manage assigned detailing workload to meet project milestones and communicate schedule risks early.
• Support accelerated schedules when required.
• Respond to fabrication questions, provide drawing clarifications, and assist with field support as needed.
• Maintain project documentation within Trimble Connect and other document management systems.
• Assist in implementing new detailing technologies and automation.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Minimum of 3 years' experience of structural steel detailing experience using 3D modeling software.
• Proficiency in Tekla Structures is required.
• Experience detailing structural steel, miscellaneous metals, stairs, railings, platforms, and architectural metals.
• Experience working with fabrication shops and a strong understanding of fabrication processes.
• Knowledge of structural steel erection practices and constructability.
• Experience coordinating with structural engineers, architects, and project management teams.
• Experience with Trimble Connect, Tekla Model Sharing, or similar collaboration platforms is preferred.
• Experience in commercial, industrial, healthcare, data center, manufacturing, or water/wastewater projects is preferred.
• Ability to generate shop drawings, erection drawings, assembly drawings, single-part drawings, CNC files, and bills of material.
• Ability to read and interpret structural drawings, architectural drawings, project specifications, and engineering calculations.
• Understanding of structural steel connections and detailing principles.
• Working knowledge of fabrication equipment and CNC manufacturing processes.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel, Outlook, Word, and Teams.
• Familiarity with document management systems and project collaboration platforms.
• Working knowledge of the AISC Steel Construction Manual, AISC Code of Standard Practice, AWS D1.1 Structural Welding Code, and OSHA safety requirements related to fabrication and construction.
• Knowledge of structural steel fabrication processes, miscellaneous metals fabrication, shop production workflows, erection sequencing, constructability principles, material grades, bolt specifications, weld symbols, and steel shapes.

McCarthy is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, including disability and protected veteran status.
NOTICE TO EXTERNAL SEARCH FIRMS: McCarthy’s Talent Acquisition Team is the only authorized representative permitted to engage with external search firms, staffing agencies, or other third-party recruiting partners. McCarthy maintains an Approved Agency List for recruiting partners, which is reviewed and updated annually.
McCarthy will only consider submissions from agencies with a signed fee agreement in place for the current year. McCarthy does not accept unsolicited resumes, candidate submissions, or referrals from agencies that do not meet these requirements.
If a candidate is submitted without an active agreement, McCarthy will have no obligation to pay any fees and reserves the right to contact, engage, interview, or hire such candidate(s) without any financial or other responsibility to the submitting agency. Unsolicited resumes, including those sent directly to hiring managers or other employees, will be considered the property of McCarthy.