How to Hire a Remote BIM Team: UK and US Guide
To hire a remote BIM team, decide which roles you need, write a brief with your standards and level of detail, interview each candidate on a real task, and agree the working hours and review process before work starts. Do that and a remote BIM modeller can be productive in a couple of weeks, whether your project is in the UK or the US.
By Fayez 4 min read
Which BIM roles do you need?
- BIM modeller. Builds architectural, structural or MEP models in Revit from your drawings and requirements.
- Revit technician or detailer. Produces coordinated drawings, sections, schedules and details from the model.
- BIM coordinator. Federates models in Navisworks, runs clash detection and tracks issues to resolution.
- Shop drawing and rebar detailer. Prepares fabrication and installation drawings for structural packages.
- Scan to BIM modeller. Turns point-cloud data into a model of existing conditions.
Many projects start with one or two modellers and add a coordinator once models from several disciplines need to be combined.
What should a good candidate be able to do?
- Work to the level of detail you specify, from LOD 100 to 500.
- Use your template, families and naming conventions without being reminded.
- Read an unclear drawing, flag the problem and ask, instead of guessing.
- Check their own model for errors and clashes before handing it over.
- Write short, clear updates in English.
How to interview a BIM candidate
CVs do not show how someone models. Use a short practical task:
- Give a small, real extract: a floor plan or a structural detail with a few deliberate ambiguities.
- Ask for a model or a sheet within a fixed time, and a note listing the assumptions made.
- Review the result for accuracy, tidy modelling and the quality of the questions asked.
- Ask them to explain a past clash they found and how it was resolved.
A good provider lets you interview every candidate before they start. At OEG you interview every candidate, and if someone is not the right fit, OEG replaces them at its own cost.
What should your brief include?
- Scope: which models, levels, sheets or packages.
- Source information: drawings, surveys, point clouds and previous models.
- Standards: Revit template, layer and naming conventions, title block, units.
- Deliverables and file formats, such as native Revit, IFC or PDF.
- Review process: who reviews, how comments are sent and how many rounds are included.
- Deadlines and a single named contact for questions.
Our guide on how to brief a CAD drafter covers the same ground for drafting work.
UK projects
On UK projects, agree how the team will work to ISO 19650 before modelling begins: the information requirements, the BIM execution plan and the common data environment. A UK working day also fits well with a team based in GMT+2/+3, because the two hours of difference leave a full overlap. See our page on BIM services for UK projects.
US projects
On US projects, agree units, sheet sizes, the CAD standard you follow and the working window. The time difference is seven to ten hours depending on the US time zone, so a team that starts later in its day overlaps your morning. See our page on BIM services for US projects.
Employment model and contract terms
Ask who employs the people. With OEG, the people are employed by OEG, which handles payroll, contributions, equipment and leave cover, and you hold one service agreement. Check these points in any contract:
- Is there a recruitment fee or a percentage of salary?
- Is there a minimum term, and what notice is needed? OEG has no minimum term and 30 days' notice.
- Who owns the models and drawings? At OEG, IP is assigned to you.
- Is an NDA signed before you send the brief?
- Can the team work inside your systems and VPN?
The first two weeks
- Days 1 to 3: kick-off call, access to systems, templates and a first small task.
- Days 4 to 7: review the first output closely and give one set of consolidated comments.
- Week 2: move to the real scope, agree the daily check-in and who answers questions.
Check the first output in detail. It sets the pattern for everything that follows.
Frequently asked questions
How fast can a remote BIM team start?
OEG gives named profiles and a rate within 24 to 48 hours. For CAD and BIM roles a start about two weeks out is normal.
Can I start with one BIM modeller?
Yes. One person is a normal start. You can add more people or a coordinator later.
Which software should a remote BIM team know?
Revit for modelling, AutoCAD for drawings and Navisworks for coordination are the usual tools. OEG's team works in all three, from LOD 100 to 500.
To talk through your project, book a consultation or read about the dedicated CAD and BIM team model.