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 andconsistency, 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