CAD Designer / Mechanical Design Technician

Outer Armor by Commercial Sewing, Inc.; Torrington (CT); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Insurance

Dental Insurance

401(k) Retirement Plan

End-of-Year Bonus Opportunities

Paid Holidays

Paid Time Off

Job summary

Outer Armor by Commercial Sewing, Inc. is seeking a CAD Designer / Mechanical Design Technician to transform ideas into real-world products.

You will design 3D CAD models and manufacturing drawings, develop production-ready designs, and support tooling and fixtures to improve safety and efficiency on the shop floor. You will collaborate with engineering, production, and operations to move concepts from prototype to production, ensuring manufacturability and cost targets are met.

Qualifications

• Associate Degree in Mechanical Design, Engineering Technology, CAD Technology, or related field; equivalent experience considered.
• 5–7 years of CAD design experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Strong understanding of mechanical design principles.
• Experience creating detailed manufacturing drawings and assemblies.
• Excellent organizational, analytical, and troubleshooting skills.

Responsibilities

• Design & Product Development: Create detailed 3D CAD models, assemblies, and manufacturing drawings using SolidWorks.
• Develop production-ready designs that balance functionality, quality, manufacturability, and cost.
• Apply GD&T principles and engineering standards to ensure accuracy and consistency.
• Support new product development from concept through production implementation.
• Create and maintain Bills of Materials (BOMs), drawings, and revision-controlled documentation.
• Tooling, Fixtures & Manufacturing Support: Design tooling, fixtures, jigs, and manufacturing aids that improve safety, quality, and efficiency.
• Evaluate products and processes for manufacturability and assembly optimization.
• Partner with production teams to troubleshoot design and manufacturing issues.
• Support prototype development, testing, and validation activities.
• Assist with plant layout, workflow, and production improvement projects.
• Continuous Improvement: Identify opportunities to reduce waste, improve productivity, and enhance product quality.
• Participate in root cause analysis and corrective action activities.
• Help implement engineering and manufacturing process improvements.
• Maintain accurate engineering records and documentation within company systems.

Skills

CAD design

SolidWorks

GD&T

Project management

ERP systems

Education

Associate Degree in Mechanical Design

Tools

ERP (Epicor)

Job description

CAD Designer / Mechanical Design TechnicianDesign Solutions That Get BuiltDo you enjoy transforming ideas into real-world products? Are you passionate about CAD design, manufacturing, and problem-solving?Commercial Sewing is seeking an experienced CAD Designer / Mechanical Design Technician to join our Engineering team. In this role, you'll combine creative design work with hands-on manufacturing support to develop products, tooling, fixtures, and production solutions that improve quality, efficiency, and performance.This isn't just a desk job. You'll work closely with engineering, production, and operations teams to see your designs move from concept to prototype to production.If you enjoy solving technical challenges and seeing your work come to life on the manufacturing floor, we'd love to hear from you.What You'll DoDesign & Product DevelopmentCreate detailed 3D CAD models, assemblies, and manufacturing drawings using SolidWorks.Develop production-ready designs that balance functionality, quality, manufacturability, and cost.Apply GD&T principles and engineering standards to ensure accuracy and consistency.Support new product development from concept through production implementation.Create and maintain Bills of Materials (BOMs), drawings, and revision-controlled documentation.Tooling, Fixtures & Manufacturing SupportDesign tooling, fixtures, jigs, and manufacturing aids that improve safety, quality, and efficiency.Evaluate products and processes for manufacturability and assembly optimization.Partner with production teams to troubleshoot design and manufacturing issues.Support prototype development, testing, and validation activities.Assist with plant layout, workflow, and production improvement projects.Continuous ImprovementIdentify opportunities to reduce waste, improve productivity, and enhance product quality.Participate in root cause analysis and corrective action activities.Help implement engineering and manufacturing process improvements.Maintain accurate engineering records and documentation within company systems.What Success Looks LikeIn this role, you'll contribute to:Efficient transitions from design to productionImproved manufacturing processes and workflowReduced production issues and reworkBetter tooling, fixtures, and manufacturing aidsIncreased product quality and customer satisfactionFaster implementation of engineering improvementsWhat We're Looking ForRequired QualificationsAssociate Degree in Mechanical Design, Engineering Technology, CAD Technology, or related field; equivalent experience considered.5–7 years of CAD design experience in a manufacturing environment.Strong understanding of mechanical design principles.Experience creating detailed manufacturing drawings and assemblies.Excellent organizational, analytical, and troubleshooting skills.Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities.Preferred QualificationsAdvanced SolidWorks proficiency.Experience with GD&T and engineering drawing standards.Experience with ERP systems (Epicor preferred).Tooling, fixture, and jig design experience.Fabrication, machining, or manufacturing experience.Experience with textiles, sewn products, or assembly-based manufacturing.Knowledge of continuous improvement and lean manufacturing practices.Why Join Commercial Sewing?At Commercial Sewing, you'll work on meaningful projects that directly impact our products, customers, and manufacturing operations.Benefits & PerksHealth & Financial BenefitsMedical InsuranceDental InsuranceSupplemental Insurance Options401(k) Retirement PlanCompetitive CompensationEnd-of-Year Bonus OpportunitiesWork-Life BalancePaid HolidaysSummer ShutdownChristmas BreakSpring Day OffPaid Time OffEmployee AppreciationSummer BBQ Gift CardsThanksgiving Dinner Gift CardsEmployee Recognition ProgramsCasual Dress FridaysCulture & GrowthFamily-oriented work environmentHalloween Costume ContestChristmas PartyWellness ChallengesProfessional development opportunitiesAdvancement from withinMany of our employees have been with Commercial Sewing for 20, 30, and even 40+ years, a testament to our culture and commitment to our team.