CAD Manager

Pinnacle | Executive & Professional Search; Winnipeg; On-site; CAD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Pinnacle | Executive & Professional Search is representing a Senior CAD Manager opportunity in Winnipeg, Canada. The role leads CAD standardization, modeling strategy, and 3D workflows across mechanical, civil, and process disciplines.

The successful candidate will build content libraries, deploy automation, and oversee CAD infrastructure including Vault/PDM, with hands-on drafting and coaching responsibilities. This senior position emphasizes ownership and cross-team collaboration.

Qualifications

• 5+ years direct CAD experience with hands-on production work.
• Expert proficiency with Autodesk tools AutoCAD/AutoCAD LT, Inventor, and/or Revit in a multi-discipline environment.
• Vault and/or SolidWorks PDM administration experience is a strong asset.
• Proven track record authoring CAD standards and automating workflows.
• Diploma/Associate Degree in Drafting or Engineering Technology; Bachelor's is an asset.

Responsibilities

• Own company-wide CAD standards (layers, naming, title blocks, sheet sets).
• Develop templates, handbooks, guides, and gold-standard models/drawings.
• Author and deploy automation tools (LISP, macros, Vault automations).
• Lead the implementation of a new 3D/model-based CAD program for equipment/facilities.
• Administer AutoCAD Vault and SolidWorks PDM environments and coordinate IT needs.
• Design repeatable workflows for submittals, fabrication, and as-built docs; automate BOMs.

Skills

5+ years CAD experience

Technical leadership

Strong communication

Ownership of projects

Education

Diploma or Associate Degree in Drafting/Engineering Technology

Bachelor's degree an asset

Tools

AutoCAD/AutoCAD LT

Inventor

Revit

Vault/PDM administration

SolidWorks PDM

Job description

THE OPPORTUNITY:

Our client is a recognized leader in the environmental water technology space, with a growing portfolio of proprietary treatment solutions deployed across North America and internationally. As a fast-scaling engineering organization, they are building the infrastructure to support their next phase of growth - and the Senior CAD Manager is a pivotal hire in that journey.

This is a rare opportunity to step into a newly elevated, senior-level role with genuine ownership and influence. You won't be inheriting a polished system - you'll be the architect of it. From defining standards and building content libraries to leading 3D model-based workflows across mechanical, civil, and process disciplines, this role sits at the intersection of technical leadership and hands-on production. If you are energized by building something from the ground up in an organization that values your expertise, this is the role for you.

WHAT YOU'LL DO:

Lead & Define CAD Standards

• Own company-wide CAD standards - layers, naming conventions, title blocks, sheet sets, text and dimension styles - across mechanical, civil, and process disciplines.
• Develop and maintain discipline templates, CAD handbooks, quick-reference guides, and gold-standard sample models and drawings.
• Author and deploy automation tools (scripts, LISP routines, Revit/Inventor macros, Vault/PDM automations) to reduce manual effort and minimize errors.

3D Modeling & Implementation

• Define and drive the implementation of a new 3D and model-based CAD program for equipment and facilities - from establishing modeling standards to day-to-day hands-on drafting and modeling.
• Develop and maintain master equipment models, parametric parts, and feature libraries at appropriate levels of deployment for each project stage.
• Serve as the lead drafter and modeler on key projects, standards, and initiatives.

CAD Infrastructure & Administration

• Administer AutoCAD Vault and SolidWorks PDM environments - managing users, groups, lifecycle states, replication, and backups.
• Coordinate with IT on CAD workstation and rendering resources; manage application configurations, tool palettes, and add-ins.
• Evaluate, pilot, and lead CAD software upgrades and integrations with partners, clients, and internal users.

Workflow, Data & Quality Control

• Design repeatable, scalable workflows for submittals, fabrication packages, and as-built documentation; automate BOM's and schedules from models.
• Implement rigorous QA/QC - standards compliance checks, XREF audits, annotation consistency, clash detection, and pre-release checklists.
• Own revision control, transmittal logs, archival processes, and retention policies for all CAD deliverables across departments.

Technical Leadership & Collaboration

• Serve as the escalation point for complex CAD issues and deliver targeted training, skills workshops, and tool orientations to internal users.
• Integrate CAD outputs with engineering analyses; interpret and configure workflows to meet client CAD and digital delivery requirements.
• Coordinate model and data exchanges with vendors, contractors, and external partners to ensure consistency and traceability.

EXPERIENCE THAT MATTERS:

Required:

• 5+ years of direct CAD experience with active, recent hands-on production work; prior CAD administration experience is required.
• Expert proficiency with Autodesk tools - AutoCAD/AutoCAD LT, Inventor, and/or Revit - with demonstrated experience in a multi-discipline engineering environment.
• Vault and/or SolidWorks PDM administration experience is a strong asset.
• Proven track record authoring CAD standards, automating workflows, and improving team-wide processes.
• Diploma or Associate Degree in Drafting, Engineering Technology, or a related field; Bachelor's degree is an asset.

Bonus:

• Familiarity with SolidWorks and experience integrating it alongside Autodesk ecosystems.
• Working knowledge of engineering principles and/or exposure to industrial or infrastructure environments (water, wastewater, municipal, or similar).
• Experience implementing new model-based CAD programs in a growing or evolving organization.

Who You Are:

• A hands-on technical leader who is equally comfortable defining strategy and doing the work.
• Exceptionally organized and detail-oriented, with a strong sense of ownership and accountability.
• An effective communicator who can translate technical CAD concepts for engineering, project and client-facing teams.
• Self-directed and adaptable - you thrive in a fast-paced environment where priorities can shift and your initiative is valued.