Design Manager

Design Manager The Design Manager is responsible for overseeing the CAD team and ensures all drawings produced are accurate, consistent, and aligned with customer and production requirements. This role builds upon the CAD Technician function by adding ownership of drafting standards and consistency, error reduction and revision control, team leadership and development, and process improvement across all drawing phases. The position manages a team of three CAD Technicians and works closely with project managers, sales, engineering, and production to ensure high-quality drawing output across all project phases: preliminary drawings, shop drawings, and fabrication drawings.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

1. CAD Team Leadership & Oversight

Lead, mentor, and support a team of three CAD Technicians

Assign and balance workloads to meet project deadlines while maintaining quality

Provide regular feedback and coaching to improve accuracy, efficiency, and clarity

Serve as the primary escalation point for design and drafting issues

2. Drafting Standards & Consistency (Top Priority)

Develop, implement, and enforce CAD standards across all technicians

Standardize:

Drawing formats

Detailing practices

Naming conventions

Revision tracking methods

Ensure all drawings—preliminary, shop, and fabrication—are consistent in structure and quality

Maintain standardized templates and a central library of commonly used components

3. Reduce Revisions and Errors

Identify root causes of frequent revisions, including:

Incomplete preliminary drawings

Misalignment with customer expectations

Missing fabrication details

Implement improvements to reduce:

Rework in drawing updates

Back-and-forth with customers and project managers

Errors impacting production

Review drawings at key stages to ensure completeness before release

4. CAD Process & Workflow Management

Oversee CAD workflow from project handoff through fabrication release

Improve coordination between CAD, Project Managers, Sales, and Field teams

Standardize drawing deliverables across each project phase

Ensure effective use of revision tracking for full traceability

Anticipate scheduling conflicts and proactively adjust team priorities

5. Technical CAD Responsibilities (Player/Coach Role)

Utilize SolidWorks to create and modify models and drawings

Interpret architectural and structural drawings to understand design intent

Support:

Preliminary design and take-offs

Engineering drawings for structural review

Fabrication drawings for production

Accurately apply revisions and maintain drawing integrity

Step in on complex or high-priority projects as needed

6. Cross-Functional Collaboration

Partner with Project Managers and Sales during project handoff to clarify scope

Work with Field Managers to ensure accurate field measurements are captured and reflected

Collaborate with production to ensure drawings are clear and fabrication-ready

Participate in project meetings to align expectations and resolve issues early

Qualifications

Required

5+ years of CAD experience (Architectural/Mechanical experience preferred).

Strong experience interpreting architectural and structural drawings

Experience producing fabrication-ready drawings in a manufacturing or construction environment

Proven ability to improve drawing accuracy, consistency, or processes

Strong organizational and project management skills

Preferred

Prior leadership or supervisory experience

Experience implementing CAD standards and workflow improvements

Experience in architectural metal systems, aluminum products, or related fields

Familiarity with Bluebeam Revu and Microsoft Office tools

Skills & Attributes

Exceptional attention to detail with a focus on accuracy and consistency

Strong problem-solving skills with ability to correct root causes of errors

Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously

Clear and professional communication across departments and customers

Leadership mindset with a focus on coaching and accountability