$45–60/hr · Mercor · Hourly, 40 hours a week
A building code expert who examines construction permit drawings for compliance with local and national standards before projects receive approval.
What you would do
- Review permit applications for completeness and regulatory compliance
- Analyze construction drawings against current building codes
- Issue correction notices or approval decisions on submitted plans
- Perform quality checks on other reviewers' decisions and work products
- Mentor junior examiners and develop standardized correction frameworks
Who they want
- 3-8+ years conducting permit review, code consulting, or third-party plan examination
- ICC B1, B2, or B3 Building Plans Examiner certification or equivalent authority
- Fluent with Bluebeam Revu or comparable plan annotation software
- Deep knowledge of IBC, IEBC, IECC, and ICC A117.1 standards
- Based in the United States, working within U.S. model code jurisdictions with multiple code edition experience
Main skills
What the interview asks about
1.Spotting code violations
Catching errors others miss is the core skill. The interviewer wants to know you understand common mistakes and can articulate what separates careful reviewers from careless ones.
For example: “A stair is 48 inches wide instead of 44 inches required. Applicant claims intentional extra safety. Document the violation and cite the code section.”
2.Jurisdiction code differences
Projects span multiple codes and municipalities. You must know which standards apply where and communicate changes when requirements shift between jurisdictions.
For example: “You reviewed the same occupancy type in both California (IECC 2022) and your home state jurisdiction on last year's code. How did energy requirements differ, and did that change the scope of work the applicant needed to submit?”
3.Using markup and measurement tools
Clear documentation and precise measurements prevent rework and disputes. Interviewers check whether you use annotation tools efficiently and communicate findings to applicants and drafters.
For example: “A drawing shows a storefront opening but is missing dimensions for the header height and rough opening width. Walk through how you would mark this in Bluebeam, what measurements you'd ask the applicant to provide, and how you'd communicate the correction.”
4.Training junior examiners
Standouts often train staff or mentor peers, which shows you can systematize knowledge. Interviewers assess whether you recognize teaching moments and can transfer expertise.
For example: “A junior you mentored approved a plan with incorrect occupancy classification; the extra kitchen makes it mixed-use with different exits. Teach them why this matters and propose a review process to prevent recurrence.”
5.Specialty occupancy reviews
Healthcare, schools, pools, and food service buildings have unique code requirements. Your experience with specialized facilities shows you can handle high-stakes, complex submissions.
For example: “Healthcare facility: applicant disputes your position that the waiting area requires occupant load calculations under patient care classification. Cite the code section and explain your interpretation.”
A task you may get
Review a 4-page commercial building plan set with mixed-use occupancy and identify 3-5 code violations, marking them up in a tool, documenting the violation, referencing the code section, and explaining why each violation matters for safety and compliance.
How to prepare
- Review a recent version of the IBC, IEBC, and IECC, focusing on occupancy classification, fire-rated assemblies, and accessibility (A117.1) rules
- Study code changes between the last two editions you've used, noting how requirements shifted in one area you've worked on
- Prepare 2-3 examples of subtle errors you have caught that junior reviewers initially missed, and practice explaining why they matter
- Assemble 3-4 challenging real submissions you have reviewed and practice articulating your decisions and code citations clearly
The facts
- Pay
- $45–60/hr
- Hours
- Hourly, 40 hours a week
- Where
- Remote · Remote (US)
- Open to
- USA
- Field
- Other Engineering
- Posted
- 9/15/2026
- Places left
- 16
We wrote this page from the public Mercor listing. It may be out of date, so read the full posting before you apply.