AV Engineering CAD Technician

At Unispace, we are committed to transforming workplaces to meet the diverse needs of today’s dynamic global brands. Our agile, end-to-end approach is delivered seamlessly across borders, fueled by strong client partnerships and supported by insightful workplace intelligence and innovative technology.

We believe that everyone deserves to work in an environment that inspires productivity, fosters peak performance, and promotes overall well-being. Across our 48 global studios, we recognize that positive work environments cultivate open, collaborative, and supportive cultures, enriched by the contributions of independent and motivated individuals from all backgrounds.

While our core business revolves around strategizing, designing, and building workplaces for some of the world's leading brands, we understand that our people are our greatest asset. We prioritize their growth and well-being through a comprehensive Employee Value Proposition program that includes rewards and recognition, career development opportunities, and a strong focus on mental and physical well-being.

To further support our team, we embrace flexible working arrangements, including hybrid working options that empower our employees to balance in-office collaboration with remote work flexibility. This approach not only enhances work-life balance but also allows us to harness the full potential of our diverse and talented workforce.

Role: AV Engineering CAD Technician (Amsterdam, Netherlands)

Reports to: AV Engineering Manager, EMEA, and matrix reporting to AV Engineering CAD Manager, US. 

About Downstream:

Downstream is a community of visionary thinkers, technologists, graphic and branding designers, software developers, content creators, illustrators, strategists, UX experts, account directors, and project managers all working collectively on the forefront of brand communications.

We reach around the globe, building compelling brand experience spaces for some of the largest and most dynamic companies in the world.

Within our holistic design process, AV systems and customized digital content are designed and infused into highly creative spaces and experiences. Artful or exhilarating moments could be created alongside engaging platforms that empower our clients to tell their stories through mediums of touch, movement, gestures, or other creative interactions.

Downstream’s design team are the driving force in the creation of this work. We embody the vision, ideation, and creative process of the company and its employees to lead, grow and innovate.

Job Description:

The AV Engineering CAD Technican plays a key role within the AV and Experiential Technology team, capturing technical designs from AV engineers into cohesive and thorough drawing packages in AutoCAD. These are the drawings that represent the best of Downstream, used by AV integrators to guide their proposals and deployments, and to inform other trades and disciplines at various stages of a project. This position requires a highly organised individual who understands industry drawing standards, has a flair for AV, and with an enthusiasm to adapt to Downstream's unique processes and deliverables.

As an AV Engineering CAD Technician, you will be responsible for drafting technical solutions for a myriad of unique and cutting-edge AV systems, including a wide variety of interactive touchpoints in built environments. You will be adept at developing and maintaining drawing sets which adhere to our standard templates for setting-out, layouts, sequencing, referencing, and plotting, but also in proactively working to develop these standards as part of wider departmental improvements. These improvements may include growth into 3D utilisation or using other vector-based software tools.

You will work closely with Downstream AV Engineers and Project Managers to progress and complete AV designs as well as collaborate with interior 3D designers working in Sketchup and occasionally Revit. You will ensure the AV drawings capture not only the AV design correctly with all the necessary attention to detail but are drafted and published as a cohesive Downstream package when viewed with the 3D environmental drawings.

The AV CAD drawing package that you will produce includes Elevations, Sections, Details, Riser/s cabling, M&E requirements, rack elevations, projection geometry, schematic wiring, cover pages and references.

From time-to-time the ideal candidate, with the necessary guidance, will compose other documents such as cable schedules, heat/electrical load schedules, data/VLAN schedules, Bills of Quantities (BoQ) and technical narratives. It is preferable that you are self-sufficient and able to put together designs from less thorough direction, such as from BoQs or systems descriptions, especially during busy periods.

The ideal candidate would on occasion be willing and able to expand on their core remit, to attend project sites in the EMEA region for surveys, project signoffs and attend some client-facing meetings.

As part of the role, collaborative interaction with wider Downstream teams such as UX, branding, strategy, Labs (Software), digital content creators may be required and is encouraged.

The ideal candidate will have a strong drive for self-development including a keen inquisitiveness for learning the intricacies of more complex AV systems, as part of a wider goals to become more self-sufficient, as well as actively developing methods for improving work-flow efficiency and quality.

Requirements

• At least two (2) years’ experience in the position of AutoCAD technician or drafter, producing drawings and complete, cohesive drawing packages. Subject matter could be architectural, engineering, IT, product design, the more closely related to AV the better.
• Autodesk Certified Associate or Professional qualification is preferred.
• All levels of AV familiarity considered, however a strong understanding/ passion/ familiarity of a variety of AV systems is preferred., including LED/LCD video arrays, Projection, Video Conferencing, AV signal processing, distribution, IP-based control systems, especially Q-Sys or Crestron.
• Experience with drawing custom mounting solutions is preferred, especially in the field of dvLED design.
• Bachelor's degree preferred, especially in a technical or mechanical field.
• Strong written communication and customer service skills.
• Strong communicator within the team and wider company, with confidence to speak out and be curious.
• Strong desktop software skills including Excel, Word, Adobe/Foxit PDF, Google Sheets/Slides.
• Experience with Photoshop or other image manipulation software is beneficial.
• Experience with document control platforms such as Procore or Project+ is beneficial.
• AVIXA qualifications are highly beneficial, such as CTS, CTS-D, CTS-I.
• Ability to work well under pressure and prioritise work for multiple concurrent projects.
• Revit (skills and qualifications) is considered as an alternative to AutoCAD.
• Experience with 3D design would be of great benefit.
• Willingness for hybrid work including attendance at the Amsterdam studio each week is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Create high-quality and accurate audio-visual drawings using AutoCAD.
• Develop drawing packages as detailed in the job description, to set deadlines .
• Stay current with the latest software and design practices for AV design engineering.
• Research and specify hardware solutions for video distribution, video processing, motion tracking, and user interaction.
• Collaborate with the Downstream design team to integrate technology into the built environment.
• Assist with in-studio or on-site build-outs of project prototypes and mockups (e.g., projector mounting, Unistrut assembly, cabling).assembly, cabling.
• Opportunities for project travel for the right candidate, including for site surveys and in-person meetings with client and/or external project team members (such as architects or contractors).

The statements in this job description are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by the person(s) assigned to this job. This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties required.

We encourage applicants of all backgrounds to apply, and we are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities, allowing them to perform essential job functions as determined on a case-by-case basis.

Inclusion and Diversity Commitment:

At Unispace, we are committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace. We proudly embrace equal opportunity hiring and will evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, religion, color, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, ancestry, marital status, medical condition (as defined by state law), physical or mental disability, military service, veteran status, pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

We are proud that our leadership reflects this commitment, with persons of color, women, neurodiverse and LGBTQ+ individuals playing pivotal roles in shaping the future of our organization. Their unique perspectives and experiences drive innovation and help us create a truly inclusive culture. We are dedicated to ensuring that every voice is heard and that our workplace is a space where diversity is not only celebrated but is integral to our success.