Hiring the right junior support can save a project’s timeline and budget. This article puts architectural, MEP, and structural assistants side by side so busy AEC leaders see the gaps and overlaps at once. You’ll get a quick chart, real salary data, and remote workflow tips. By the end, you’ll know exactly which role to post, how to brief them, and how Remote AE’s vetted talent pool cuts onboarding time in half.
Quick example – A Chicago renovation required over 300 door swaps inside Revit. An architectural assistant finished the job in two nights, freeing the lead architect for client meetings.
ASE’s 2025 Remote Work Pulse Survey found 48.2 % of Michigan employers offer formal remote-work options (ASE Pulse Survey, 2025).
A clear tool stack keeps junior staff effective from day one. Below is the tech each assistant must master, plus where a Virtual Engineering Assistant adds the most value.
Core apps
Pro tips for remote AEC hiring
A junior doing these steps saves the senior engineer 7 billable hours per week.
Need on-call structural load-check support? Our vetted juniors are ready in < 72 hrs — send a request.
Stat – A Dodge report cited by Construction Dive (2024) found BIM-enabled MEP contractors trimmed labor costs by about 10 % and rework by 25 %. (Construction Dive, 2024).
Remote delivery flips the traditional office workflow. Clear hand-offs avoid midnight RFI storms.
Confusion over titles is the #1 delay in remote onboarding (Remote AE Intake Audit, 2024).
Benefits of crystal-clear job scopes
How Remote AE does it
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No. An architectural assistant can create drawings, schedules, and BIM content without holding an architectural license. But any document issued for permitting still needs a licensed architect’s seal. Assistants log NCARB AXP hours under a mentor to stay on the licensure path. Large firms often pair a junior with a Project Architect so redlines come back within 24 hours, keeping the remote cycle tight.
It’s the full stack, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing. Yet 70 % of requests on Remote AE focus on HVAC sizing, duct routing, and clash detection. Electrical support usually covers panel schedules and light-fixture placement, while plumbing tasks include fixture counts and sloped drain lines. Make the scope explicit in the job post so the assistant installs the right Revit families on day one.
No. Only a licensed Professional Engineer (PE) can stamp drawings in the United States. A structural assistant prepares load calculations, models steel members, and drafts detail sheets up to LOD 300. The PE reviews and stamps once satisfied. Many Remote AE clients set a 48-hour review SLA to keep submittals flowing even across time zones.
These figures come from BLS wage tables plus Remote AE payroll data. Update numbers every January to stay competitive in remote AEC hiring.
The MEP assistant usually pivots fastest. Daily clash detection trains the eye for federated‐model issues, and Navisworks Manage already sits in their tool stack. Many firms upskill MEP juniors with a two-month sprint covering structural grids, architectural clearances, and issue tracking in BIM 360 Coordinate. After 400 clash reports, promotion to BIM Coordinator is common.
Schedule a call today and meet qualified architectural, MEP, or structural assistants in 24 hours.
