CAD Designer

Darling Ingredients Inc.; Cold Spring (KY); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Darling Ingredients Inc. is seeking a CAD designer to create 3D models and layouts for plant equipment and facilities. You will work with the engineering team to develop detailed drawings and BOMs, collaborating with other CAD staff to ensure accurate, timely completion.

The role requires independence, strong design decision-making, and the ability to travel to plant sites as needed to verify field dimensions and layouts.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• 3+ years of experience in CAD design.
• Proficiency in Autodesk Inventor and Vault; SolidWorks acceptable at an equivalent level.
• Familiarity with AutoCAD for occasional 2D drafting needs.

Responsibilities

• Create detailed 3D models and drawings of plant equipment and layouts.
• Work independently to support engineering and validate final designs.
• Generate bills of materials with part numbers and descriptions.
• Organize and manage project drawings using Autodesk Vault.
• Collaborate with CAD designers while maintaining high self-sufficiency.
• Meet project deadlines for drawing workflows; travel to facilities as needed.

Skills

Independent worker

Self-starter

Time management

Education

High School diploma or equivalent

Tools

Autodesk Inventor

Autodesk Vault

SolidWorks

AutoCAD

Job description

Job Description

This position is responsible for 3D modeling, layout, and detailing of plant systems and specific heavy processing equipment.

Working closely with the corporate engineering team, this position requires a self-starter who can make preliminary design decisions with minimal supervision. The designer will collaborate with our existing team of full-time CAD designers to support ongoing projects and ensure accurate, timely completion of equipment details and plant layouts.

Essential Duties/Responsibilities

Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.

• Creates detailed 3D models and drawings of rendering plant equipment (e.g., screw conveyors, hoppers) and larger plant facility layouts
• Works independently to support the engineering team, making informed design decisions for final engineering validation
• Generates accurate bills of materials with part numbers and detailed descriptions
• Organizes and manage project drawings systematically using Autodesk Vault
• Collaborates effectively with other CAD designers, seeking input when necessary while maintaining a high degree of self-sufficiency
• Maintains project priorities, keeping drawing workflows moving to meet strict completion dates.
• Occasionally travel to plant facilities as deemed necessary by engineering management to verify field dimensions and layouts
• Other duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications

• High School diploma or equivalent required
• 3+ years of experience
• High level of proficiency in Autodesk Inventor and Vault (or an equivalent level of expertise in Solidworks or similar 3D CAD software)
• Familiarity with AutoCAD for occasional 2D drafting needs
• Proven ability to work independently and drive tasks to completion without requiring extensive supervision

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience designing and modeling heavy industrial equipment or structural layouts.
• Mechanical knowledge to assemble complex components and understand simple ratios (such as motor torque, sprocket ratios, and drive capacities)
• Building construction knowledge to draw foundations, plots, and structural supports

Working Conditions and Physical Demands - CORPORATE

• Position is based in an office environment
• Occasional travel to off-site locations is required.
• Requires prolonged sitting and movement throughout office/work locations, as well as occasional use of computers and office equipment.
• Must occasionally stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, and climb or balance.
• Must be able to communicate effectively and identify potential workplace hazards.
• Requires the ability to occasionally lift and/or move up to 25lbs.

About Us

We’re one of the world’s leading practitioners of circularity, transforming materials from the animal agriculture and food industries into valuable ingredients. Ingredients that nourish people, feed animals and crops, and fuel the world with renewable energy.

About The Team

Darling Ingredients is an equal opportunity employer and gives consideration to qualified applicants without regard to race, color, creed, religion, age, pregnancy, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, genetic information, physical or mental disability, military service, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state and local law. Know Your Rights: If you would like more information, please click on the link and paste into your browser: https://www.eeoc.gov/poster of this job.