Building Plans Examiner - Code Expert

Obsidian; New York (NY); On-site; USD 62,000 - 83,000; Full time

Job summary

Obsidian is building a focused team of plan reviewers to ensure code compliance on permit drawings across US jurisdictions. You will review construction plans, issue correction letters, and deliver marked-up sets, while coordinating with AHJs or private reviewers to finalize decisions.

The successful candidate will QA colleagues and contribute a reusable comment library. Requirements include 3+ years in a permit review role, ICC Building Plans Examiner certification (B1/B2/B3) or equivalent

Qualifications

• 3+ years in the seat reviewing permit drawings for code compliance.
• ICC Building Plans Examiner certification (B1, B2 or B3), or current/recent equivalent experience in AHJ or third-party plan review.
• Experience across US model codes (IBC, IEBC, IECC) and multiple jurisdictions.

Responsibilities

• Review permit drawing sets for code compliance and accuracy.
• Issue correction letters and final review decisions with markup.
• Coordinate with AHJs, third-party reviewers, and private providers.
• Maintain a comment library and perform QA on other reviewers' work.

Skills

Plan review

QA & mentoring

Code knowledge

Bluebeam Revu

Tools

Bluebeam Revu

Job description

We are building a large set of evaluation tasks for the construction and property field. Each task starts from real drawings, documents and site photos, and asks for the same structured deliverable you would produce at work: a correction letter, a review decision, a marked-up set. You author the task and the correct answer, and a second reviewer in your discipline checks it before it ships.

What you would be buildingTasks drawn from real permit review work, including: building plans examiner review, code consultant plan review, third party and private provider plan review, accessibility and ICC A117.1 review, energy code drawing checks, occupancy classification and storefront change of use, zoning site plan review, permit intake completeness screening, as-built versus permit deviation, and specialty occupancy review for healthcare facilities, schools, food service and public pools.

Who we are looking forYou currently hold, or recently held, the seat that reviews permit drawing sets for code compliance: a building department plans examiner, a third party or private provider plan reviewer, or a code consultant.ICC Building Plans Examiner certification (B1, B2 or B3), or current or recent employment doing AHJ or third party plan review. There is no degree requirement for this role.3 or more years in the seat, US based, working in US model code jurisdictions (IBC, IEBC, IECC, ICC A117.1). We prefer 8 or more years.You can mark up and measure a plan set. Bluebeam Revu or equivalent.

What makes someone excellent hereThe hard part is not applying the code, it is knowing exactly what a careless reviewer would miss. Standouts have usually trained junior examiners, written or maintained a comment library or correction template, done QA on other reviewers' work, or worked across several code editions and jurisdictions and can say precisely what changes between them.

Probably not a fitGeneral contractors and superintendents without plan review responsibility, estimators, CAD drafters, and permit expediters who file applications but do not review them.

Paid hourly at $45 to $60 depending on experience, with a path to grow your rate as the project scales.