Cad Designer

ACTalent; Allenton (WI); On-site; USD 41,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

Actalent is hiring a CAD Designer to develop precise 3D models and 2D drawings for data center sheet metal cabinets. You will leverage Pro/E, SolidWorks, and Creo to ensure manufacturability and cost efficiency, collaborating with internal teams and customers.

The role is based at a manufacturing plant in Allenton, WI, with an onsite, contract-to-hire structure and a pay of $30.00-$35.00 per hour. This position involves documenting changes and supporting manufacturing transitions.

Qualifications

• Associate degree or higher in Mechanical Design, Drafting, Engineering Technology, or related field.
• Hands-on CAD drafting and 3D modeling experience in mechanical/sheet metal contexts.
• Experience creating 2D production drawings and flat patterns for sheet metal.

Responsibilities

• Create, modify, and maintain detailed 3D CAD models and 2D production drawings for mechanical and sheet metal components and assemblies.
• Interpret customer CAD models and engineering data, and adjust designs to improve manufacturability and reduce cost.
• Develop accurate flat-pattern and formed-view drawings for sheet metal parts that align with manufacturing capabilities.
• Support engineering change processes, including revisions, BOM updates, and drawing releases.
• Troubleshoot drawing and design issues related to manufacturing and propose practical solutions.
• Partner with customers and internal teams to maintain accurate models, drawings, and revision histories.
• Participate in NRE projects, contributing to design for manufacturability.
• Ensure all drawings are properly dimensioned and documented per standards.

Skills

3D modeling

2D drawings

Drafting accuracy

Cross-functional collaboration

BOM management

DFM understanding

Documentation

Communication

Education

Associate degree in Mechanical Design, Drafting, Engineering Technology, or related field

Tools

Pro/E

SolidWorks

Creo

AutoCAD

Job description

Job Description

This CAD Designer role focuses on creating precise 3D models and 2D production drawings to support the design and manufacture of sheet metal products, including cabinets for data centers. You will use your strong drafting skills and experience with Pro/E, SolidWorks, and/or Creo to develop accurate, manufacturable designs, support engineering changes, and collaborate closely with internal teams and customers to improve cost and quality.

Job Title: CAD Designer

Job Description

This CAD Designer role focuses on creating precise 3D models and 2D production drawings to support the design and manufacture of sheet metal products, including cabinets for data centers. You will use your strong drafting skills and experience with Pro/E, SolidWorks, and/or Creo to develop accurate, manufacturable designs, support engineering changes, and collaborate closely with internal teams and customers to improve cost and quality.

Responsibilities

• Create, modify, and maintain detailed 3D CAD models and 2D production drawings for mechanical and sheet metal components and assemblies.
• Interpret customer CAD models and engineering data, and adjust designs to improve manufacturability and reduce cost.
• Develop accurate flat-pattern and formed-view drawings for sheet metal parts that align with manufacturing capabilities.
• Support engineering change processes, including revisions, bill of materials (BOM) updates, and drawing releases.
• Troubleshoot drawing and design issues related to manufacturing and propose practical solutions.
• Partner with customers and internal teams to maintain accurate models, drawings, and revision histories.
• Participate in new product development and new product introduction (NRE) projects, contributing to design for manufacturability (DFM) implementation.
• Ensure all drawings are properly dimensioned, clearly documented, and compliant with internal standards and customer requirements.
• Use Microsoft Office tools to document work, communicate design changes, and support project reporting.
• Communicate effectively with production, engineering, and quality teams to ensure smooth transition from design to manufacturing.

Essential Skills

• Strong core drafting skills with the ability to create, read, interpret, modify, and dimension engineering drawings.
• 35 years of hands-on mechanical CAD drafting and 3D modeling experience using SolidWorks or Creo (Pro/E).
• Certification in Pro/E and/or SolidWorks.
• Experience with sheet metal design and fabrication drawings.
• Proficiency in AutoCAD, SolidWorks, and Creo for mechanical and sheet metal design work.
• Ability to develop accurate 3D models and associated 2D production drawings, including flat-pattern and formed views.
• Experience working with bills of materials (BOMs) and supporting engineering change and release processes.
• Strong communication skills to collaborate with customers and internal teams.
• Strong problem-solving abilities and attention to detail in all drafting and modeling tasks.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications for documentation and communication.
• Associate degree in Mechanical Design, Drafting, Engineering Technology, or a related field.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Modeling experience beyond basic drafting, particularly for complex mechanical and sheet metal assemblies.
• Prior experience in a contract manufacturing environment, especially with sheet metal products.
• Experience designing sheet metal cabinets or enclosures for data centers or similar applications.
• CSWPA-SM (Certified SolidWorks Professional Advanced Sheet Metal) certification is a plus.
• Familiarity with design for manufacturability (DFM) principles and their application in production environments.
• Ability to support new product and NRE projects from concept through release.

Work Environment

This position is based at a manufacturing plant in Allenton, WI, within a contract manufacturing environment that specializes in sheet metal products, including cabinets for data centers. You will divide your time between an office setting, where you will focus on CAD design and documentation, and the production floor, where you will collaborate with manufacturing teams and review how designs translate into physical parts. The environment emphasizes growth, collaboration, and continuous improvement, with regular interaction between engineering, production, and customer-facing teams.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Allenton, WI.

Pay And Benefits

The pay range for this position is $30.00 - $35.00/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: Medical, dental & vision Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital 401(k) Retirement Plan Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) Short and long-term disability Health Spending Account (HSA) Transportation benefits Employee Assistance Program Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Allenton, WI.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Nov 20, 2026.

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Allenton,WI.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email [e-mail] for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance:

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector:

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI):

We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.