Custom Emergency Vehicle Engineering: AutoCAD / Mechanical Designer Wanted in Chehalis!
Do you bring strong AutoCAD drafting skills, mechanical aptitude, and a passion for designing specialized vehicles that protect first responders and save lives?
American Workforce Group has partnered with a nationally recognized manufacturer of custom emergency response vehicles in
Chehalis, WA to hire a full-time
AutoCAD Designer / Mechanical Designer (Designer 1).
DAY SHIFT (6:00/7:00 AM START), STRUCTURED 3-YEAR CAREER PROGRESSION & UP TO $28.00/HR DOE/DOQ! In this collaborative engineering and fabrication role, you will create sales, assembly, fabrication, and as-built drawings for custom ambulances, law enforcement units, mobile command centers, and fire rescue vehicles. You will work closely with design leads, sales engineers, project coordinators, and shop floor fabricators to develop detailed CAD layouts of vehicle superstructures, custom aluminum cabinets, sub-assemblies, and electrical/equipment mounting panels. Offering a negotiable morning start (between 6:00 AM 7:00 AM) Monday through Friday with weekends completely off, this position provides a clear pathway to elevate to Designer 2 within three years. If you hold a degree or technical certification in drafting/design and want your CAD work to hit the road in real emergency rigs, let's connect!
Description for AutoCAD Designer / Mechanical Designer:
- Prepare detailed, production-ready sales, assembly, sub-assembly, fabrication, as-built, and individual parts drawings using Autodesk AutoCAD.
- Translate engineering concepts, bid specifications, client layout requests, technical sketches, and marked-up prints into buildable manufacturing drawings.
- Design custom vehicle compartments, interior/exterior cabinets, mounting panels, structural framing, and custom sheet metal fabrication details.
- Verify that all mechanical drawings meet client payload/dimensional specifications, production fabrication capabilities, and safety regulations.
- Collaborate actively with shop floor welders, electrical techs, and assemblers to inspect builds in progress and resolve design discrepancies quickly.
- Perform drawing revisions and update technical fabrication books following quality assurance inspections and floor feedback.
- Coordinate cross-functionally with sales managers, project coordinators, engineering leads, and fabrication leads to maintain tight delivery timelines.
- Conduct hands-on vehicle fitment audits: climb in, out, on, and under vehicle chassis to verify physical clearances, wire routings, and structural brackets.
Details for AutoCAD Designer / Mechanical Designer:
- Pay Rate:$22.00 $28.00 / hour (DOE / DOQ dependent on mechanical design background, CAD proficiency, and sheet metal experience).
- Schedule: Full-Time Monday Friday (Guaranteed weekday routine with weekends completely OFF!).
- Shift Hours: 8-hour day shifts with a flexible/negotiable morning start time between 6:00 AM and 7:00 AM.
- Career Progression: Structured career development program designed for Designer 1 professionals to progress to Designer 2 status within three years.
- Placement Type: Full-Time (Temp-to-Hire or Direct Hire depending on candidate experience and background).
- Location: Chehalis, WA (Lewis County convenient reverse commute from Thurston and Cowlitz Counties).
- Workplace Environment: Professional engineering office integrated with an active manufacturing and fabrication plant (Casual dress code).
Requirements for AutoCAD Designer / Mechanical Designer:
- Education & Training: Completion of an accredited drafting, mechanical design, or CAD program, OR equivalent documented technical training and experience.
- Software Proficiency: Solid, demonstrated proficiency in Autodesk AutoCAD; experience with Autodesk Inventor or 3D parametric solid modeling is a strong plus.
- Mechanical Design Aptitude: Understanding of mechanical drafting standards, sheet metal fabrication, automotive/body structures, or manufacturing processes.
- Blueprint & Spatial Literacy: Ability to visualize 3D assemblies from 2D sketches, understand manufacturing tolerances, and translate design changes into physical production steps.
- Software Skills: Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook) for production tracking and technical documentation.
- PHYSICAL CAPABILITIES: Ability to climb in, out, on, and under emergency vehicle chassis of various sizes during shop floor audits, with the ability to lift/carry up to 50 lbs as needed.
- Strong technical communication skills, sharp attention to detail, and ability to work effectively with both engineers and shop floor tradespeople.
Comprehensive Benefits Package Upon Permanent Placement:
- Competitive hourly compensation ranging from $22.00$28.00/hr DOE/DOQ.
- Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance options.
- Company-paid Life Insurance.
- Paid Holidays and Generous Vacation/PTO package.
- Washington State Paid Sick Leave tracking.
- Clear 3-year progression track to Designer 2.
- AWG SERVICES ARE ALWAYS 100% FREE TO JOB SEEKERS!
To apply:Email your resume directly for review: piercejobs@americanworkforcegroup.com
Call our recruiting office today: (253) 650-8800
Office Hours: Monday Friday | 8:00 AM 5:00 PM
Already registered with AWG? Call our office directly to express your interestno need to reapply!
American Workforce Group is an equal opportunity employer, dedicated to a policy of nondiscrimination in employment on any basis protected by law.
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