CAD/GIS/Space Optimizing Technician

CU Boulder; Boulder (CO); Hybrid; USD 48,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

CU Boulder is seeking a CAD/GIS/Space Optimizing Technician in Boulder, CO, to support Planning Design & Construction. The role helps maintain campus floor plans, archives, GIS datasets, and the space database, with tasks ranging from document archiving to field verification.

The position requires a Bachelor's degree in geography/GIS/architecture/engineering or related field, strong Excel and AutoCAD/ESRI skills, and the ability to work in a hybrid schedule with in-person training.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in geography, geographic information science, architecture, engineering, computer science or related field.
• Relevant, professional experience can substitute for the degree on a year-for-year basis.
• Skill with measuring devices and ability to sketch drawing corrections in the field.
• Ability to carefully read and understand construction documents, analyze and observe discrepancies between drawings and built environment indoors and outside.
• Effective verbal and written communications skills.
• Ability to work independently.
• Attention to detail and an ability to perform repetitious tasks for considerable time such as data entry or clean up while maintaining a high level of accuracy.
• Familiarity with the following software: AutoCAD, ESRI or other drafting software, Adobe Photoshop/Illustrator/InDesign.

Responsibilities

• Assist CAD Office customers by locating information from archives; improve metadata.
• Maintain electronic drawing files using CAD software per CAD standards.
• Field-verify existing building conditions and other campus facilities.
• Collect project close-out data (drawings, specifications, O&M manuals).
• Ensure archived record documents accurately reflect built project.
• Archive documents with correct metadata.
• Calculate and report changes to assignable and gross square footage from floor plans.
• Maintain space database; input changes and room numbering impacts.
• Support building surveys and populate AssetWorks Space Module.
• Perform GIS tasks including data cleanup and updating.
• Coordinate Space Data Maintenance and GIS data sharing; visualize data between areas.
• Enter data in GIS web applications.

Skills

Verbal communication

Written communication

Attention to detail

Independent work

Data entry

Education

Bachelor's degree in geography, GIS, architecture, engineering, CS or related field

Tools

AutoCAD

ESRI GIS

Adobe Photoshop

Adobe Illustrator

Adobe InDesign

MS Excel

Job description

Requisition Number

74760

Location

Boulder, Colorado

City

Boulder

State

Colorado

Employment Type

University Staff

Schedule

Full-Time

Posting Close Date

20-Sep-2026

Date Posted

09-Sep-2026

Job Summary

Planning Design & Construction (PD&C) with CU Boulder encourages applications for a CAD/GIS/Space Optimizing Technician! This position helps provide the information and support necessary for various campus entities to plan, design, and maintain the University of Colorado Boulder campus. The primary responsibilities of the department include archival and retrieval of campus construction documents, maintenance of building floor plans, oversight of the campus GIS, and upkeep of the building and campus database. This role will allow you to grow and expand your skills and support the University in its goal of providing a superior campus environment to its students, faculty, and staff.

This position assists team members in many ways, so the applicant must be flexible and willing to learn new skills. A typical workday might include uploading documents to the archives or searching and retrieving documents for customers, assisting with floor plan preparation, or maintaining the campus GIS. Other duties may include data entry or field verification of campus buildings and space. Working in this position will require you to be patient, courteous, reliable, and an effective communicator. Attention to detail is required in all tasks.

Daily tasks include:

• Respond to and assist customers.
• Update building floor plans using AutoCAD software.
• Upload project documents to the archives.
• Search and retrieve documents from the archives for customers.
• Refine metatdata associated with archived documents.
• Use ESRI software to update campus GIS.
• Field verification of campus assets including buildings, site elements, and space.
• Use ESRI to update spatial information and databases as new data is received relative to new construction, capital improvement projects, collection of GPS field data, and other sources of data.
• Maintain and update geospatial databases.
• Use AIMCad to help maintain the space database.
• Create new and edit rooms as changes are made to floor plans.
• Manage digital space surveys.
• Organize and complete physical space audits.
• Maintain space coordinator network.

Who We Are

The PD&C department is responsible for the planning, design and construction of buildings on campus, in support of CU Boulder's academic mission. Campus Planning focuses on long-range planning and capital development functions of the organization as a balanced counterpart to the project-related functions of Campus Design & Construction. Campus Planning staff strive to guide campus development in a way that gives physical form to the university's mission, vision, and programs through the effective use of human, environmental, and financial resources.

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

CAD Office Tasks

• Assist CAD Office customers by locating requested information from construction document archives and/or electronic database. Improve metadata of existing archival documentation based on current standards.
• Assist in the maintenance of electronic drawing files by using CAD software per established CAD standards.
• Field-verify existing building conditions and other campus facilities.
• Collect all pertinent close-out information for a project, including drawings (.dwg, PDF, etc.), Specifications, Operations and Maintenance Manuals, and other data (according to the CAD/GIS Office CAD Standards).
• Exercise careful judgment to ensure the Record Documents we archive are a correct representation of what was built for the project.
• Archive record docs ensuring metadata is correct.

Space Data Maintenance

• Calculate and report on changes to the assignable and gross square footage of buildings due to remodeling and construction by retrieving essential data from the electronic floor plan drawing files.
• Maintain space database by accurately inputting changes in space-related information captured from building floor plan modifications and interviewing project delivery teams. Determine how specific projects impact room numbering and square footage changes and impact space use.
• Work with members of the Office of Space Optimization to perform building surveys. Interact with building occupants to collect data necessary to populate and correct the AssetWorks Space Module.

GIS Spatial Database Maintenance, Data Collection and Data Delivery

• Learn and perform GIS Tasks, including data cleanup and updating.
• Help coordinate the efforts of Space Data Maintenance and GIS by looking for opportunities and ways to leverage, share, and visualize data between these two areas.
• Work with GIS web applications and complete data entry.

What You Should Know

This position is able to work in a hybrid work modality with in-person training required, and in-person attendance required as needed. This role has an anticipated work schedule of Monday - Friday during regular business hours.

What We Can Offer

The salary for this position is $55,000 annually.

Benefits

At the University of Colorado Boulder, we are committed to supporting the holistic health and well-being of our employees. Our comprehensive benefits package includes medical, dental, and retirement plans; generous paid time off; tuition assistance for you and your dependents; and an ECO Pass for local transit. As one of Boulder County's largest employers, CU Boulder offers an inspiring academic community and access to world‑class outdoor recreation. In fact, CU Boulder has been named one of Forbes' America’s Best Large Employers, ranking #4 among large employers in Colorado and #28 among universities nationwide. Explore additional perks and programs through the CU Advantage program.

Be Statements

Be impactful. Be strategic. Be Boulder.

CU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to creating a workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

What We Require

Bachelor's degree in geography, geographic information science, architecture, engineering, computer science or related field. Relevant, professional experience can substitute for the degree on a year-for-year basis.

What You Will Need

• Skill with measuring devices and ability to sketch drawing corrections in the field.
• Ability to carefully read and understand construction documents, analyze and observe discrepancies between drawings and built environment indoors and outside.
• Effective verbal and written communications skills.
• Ability to ask questions and receive feedback.
• Ability to work independently.
• Attention to detail and an ability to perform repetitious tasks for considerable time such as data entry or clean up while maintaining a high level of accuracy.

What We Would Like You to Have

• Skill with MS Excel.
• Skill with the following software and platforms: AutoCAD, ESRI or other drafting software.
• Skill with Adobe products (Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign).
• Familiarity with the FICM classification manual and the ability to apply it.
• Ability to document existing conditions of buildings and sites accurately.
• Familiarity with coding, business analytics, and with document filing and organization.