CAD Drafter & 3D Modeling Specialist

National Renewable Energy Laboratory; Colorado; On-site; USD 51,200 - 95,500; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Retirement plan with employer match (3

Paid personal time off, holidays, and.

Relocation expense reimbursement

Job summary

National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, CO, seeks a Technician II/III: Drafter and CAD Specialist to develop detailed 2D drawings and 3D models for facility layouts, equipment, and process systems. The role emphasizes CAD proficiency, rigorous drafting standards, and collaboration with engineers and maintenance staff.

Work is primarily on-site at the South Table Mountain Campus. The position requires strong attention to detail, experience with AutoCAD/SolidWorks, and the ability to

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent with 4+ years relevant experience.
• Associate’s degree or certification with 2+ years relevant experience.
• Proficient in research techniques and practices.
• Strong communication, interpersonal, project management, and customer relations skills.
• U.S. citizenship required – access to Government Controlled Information and other DOE security requirements.

Responsibilities

• Develop and update detailed 2D drawings and 3D models in AutoCAD and SolidWorks using field measurements, redlines, sketches, vendor data, and photographs.
• Maintain comprehensive drawings of facility layouts, architectural backgrounds, equipment arrangements, and process systems.
• Apply architectural drafting principles to existing facility conditions to produce floor plans, elevations, sectional views, and detail drawings.
• Create and maintain internal schematics for process piping (compressed gas lines, flow paths, valves, instrumentation).
• Design 3D models and produce fully dimensioned 2D drawings, including bills of material (BOMs) for fabrication and custom hardware.
• Maintain drawings using disciplined layer control, XREFs, blocks, viewports, and strict naming conventions; use Model Space for geometry and Paper Space for sheet layouts.
• Support record drawing control by preserving historic files, separating active project work from master files, and incorporating approved revisions into the record set.
• Conduct field verification by reviewing drawings against physical conditions to identify and correct discrepancies.
• Collaborate with engineers, technicians, and maintenance personnel to clarify design intent and verify technical data.
• Champion internal CAD standards and provide mentoring and guidance to staff lacking formal drafting experience.

Skills

CAD software

Drafting proficiency

Communication

Project management

MS Office

Education

High school diploma or equivalent with 4+ years experience

Associate’s degree or certification with 2+ years experience

Tools

AutoCAD

SolidWorks

Unistrut framing

BOMs

Job description

National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, CO, seeks a Technician II/III: Drafter and CAD Specialist to develop detailed 2D drawings and 3D models for facility layouts, equipment, and process systems. The role emphasizes CAD proficiency, rigorous drafting standards, and collaboration with engineers and maintenance staff.

Work is primarily on-site at the South Table Mountain Campus. The position requires strong attention to detail, experience with AutoCAD/SolidWorks, and the ability to