CAD Operations Manager

Castillo Engineering Inc.; United States; Remote; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote work arrangement

Competitive salary

Health, dental, and vision insurance

Paid time off

Professional development opportunities

Opportunity to scale CAD operations

Job summary

Castillo Engineering is seeking a CAD Operations Manager to lead and optimize CAD production, standards, and resources for utility-scale renewable projects. You will bridge engineering and drafting, drive quality, and scale operations while mentoring a growing CAD team.

The role emphasizes developing standards, templates, and workflows, managing resources, and implementing continuous improvements across multiple engineering disciplines.

Qualifications

• Associates or Bachelor’s degree in Engineering Tech, Drafting, Design Tech, or related field, or equivalent experience.
• 7+ years AutoCAD drafting and design experience.
• 3+ years managing CAD teams or drafting operations.
• Advanced proficiency in AutoCAD and drafting best practices.
• Experience creating CAD standards, workflows, and quality programs.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day CAD operations and ensure efficient project deliverables.
• Maintain company-wide CAD standards, procedures, and best practices.
• Develop and maintain drawing templates, title blocks, symbol libraries, and CAD resources.
• Oversee CAD quality control for consistency and client requirements.
• Manage workload distribution, resources, and team utilization.
• Mentor and develop CAD Technicians, Drafters, and Designers.
• Review drawings for compliance with standards and client needs.
• Establish performance metrics and monitor productivity and timelines.
• Lead continuous drafting workflow improvements and automation initiatives.
• Create dynamic blocks and advanced drafting tools.
• Collaborate with engineering to standardize drafting across disciplines.
• Manage AutoCAD configurations, file structures, and shared resources.
• Evaluate new CAD technologies and workflows to improve performance.
• Coordinate training for CAD systems, standards, and best practices.
• Provide CAD troubleshooting support.
• Forecast staffing needs and support growth.
• Participate in hiring and career development of CAD staff.
• Support teams during peak workloads and deadlines.

Skills

AutoCAD drafting

Team leadership

CAD standards

Process improvement

Mentoring

Education

Associates or Bachelor's degree in Engineering Technology or related field

Tools

AutoCAD

Civil 3D

GIS

Document management systems

Job description

Build What’s Next With Castillo Engineering

At Castillo Engineering, you will play a critical role in supporting the design and delivery of utility-scale solar and battery energy storage projects that are shaping the future of energy. We are seeking a CAD Operations Manager who is passionate about drafting excellence, operational efficiency, process improvement, and team development. This individual will lead our CAD operations, standards, workflows, and drafting resources while driving consistency, quality, and scalability across the organization.

Why You’ll Love Working Here

We are a fast-growing, mission-driven firm where leaders are empowered to make a meaningful impact. As a CAD Operations Manager, you'll have the opportunity to influence company-wide drafting standards, support innovative renewable energy projects, and mentor a growing team of CAD professionals. You'll work in a collaborative environment that encourages innovation, continuous improvement, and professional growth.

Position Overview

The CAD Operations Manager has two primary functions: (1) developing, maintaining, and enforcing company-wide CAD standards and processes, and (2) leading and managing a team of CAD professionals, both directly and indirectly.

The CAD Operations Manager is responsible for leading and optimizing the company's CAD production operations, drafting standards, quality processes, and design support resources. This role serves as the bridge between engineering teams and drafting operations, ensuring that project deliverables are produced efficiently, accurately, and consistently across the organization.

The successful candidate will oversee CAD workflows, standards development, resource planning, quality assurance, and team performance while driving continuous improvement initiatives that enhance productivity and support the company's growth. This position combines technical expertise, operational leadership, and strategic planning to ensure the successful execution of drafting activities across multiple engineering disciplines.

What You’ll Do

• Lead the day-to-day operations of the CAD function, ensuring efficient execution of project deliverables.
• Manage and maintain company-wide CAD standards, procedures, and best practices.
• Develop, organize, and maintain drawing templates, title blocks, symbol libraries, and CAD resources.
• Oversee CAD quality control processes to ensure consistency, accuracy, and compliance with company standards.
• Manage workload distribution, resource planning, and drafting team utilization.
• Support, mentor, and develop CAD Technicians, Drafters, and Designers across the organization.
• Review drawing packages and deliverables for compliance with company standards and client requirements.
• Establish performance metrics and monitor productivity, quality, and delivery timelines.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives related to drafting workflows, automation, and operational efficiency.
• Create and maintain dynamic blocks, smart blocks, and other advanced drafting tools.
• Collaborate with engineering leadership to implement standardized drafting methodologies across disciplines.
• Manage AutoCAD configurations, file structures, and shared CAD resources.
• Evaluate and implement new CAD technologies, tools, and workflows to improve drafting performance.
• Coordinate training and onboarding for CAD systems, standards, and best practices.
• Provide technical support and troubleshooting for CAD-related issues.
• Partner with engineering leadership to forecast staffing needs and support business growth.
• Participate in hiring, onboarding, performance management, and career development of CAD personnel.
• Support project teams during peak workloads and critical project deadlines as needed.

What You Bring

Required Qualifications

• Associates or Bachelor's degree in Engineering Technology, Drafting, Design Technology, or related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• 7+ years of AutoCAD drafting and design experience.
• 3+ years of experience managing CAD teams, drafting operations, or technical design groups.
• Advanced proficiency in AutoCAD and drafting best practices.
• Demonstrated experience developing CAD standards, workflows, and quality control programs.
• Strong knowledge of AutoCAD XRefs, sheet sets, dynamic blocks, and CAD file management.
• Proven success leading teams in a deadline-driven engineering, consulting, or design environment.
• Experience managing resources, priorities, and staffing across multiple concurrent projects.
• Strong leadership, coaching, and mentoring skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong organizational, analytical, and project management abilities.
• Ability to collaborate effectively across engineering disciplines and organizational levels.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting utility-scale solar, battery energy storage, electrical, civil, or utility infrastructure projects.
• Experience working within consulting engineering or EPC environments.
• Familiarity with CAD automation tools, scripting, or workflow optimization technologies.
• Experience with document management systems and engineering project workflows.
• Knowledge of Civil 3D, GIS, or other industry-standard design software.
• Autodesk certifications or other relevant technical certifications.
• Experience leading remote or geographically distributed teams.

Leadership & Professional Development

We are seeking a leader who combines technical expertise with operational excellence. The ideal candidate is passionate about building efficient processes, developing high-performing teams, and creating an environment where quality, accountability, and continuous improvement thrive.

We value individuals who invest in their own professional growth while helping others achieve success. Our leaders are expected to drive innovation, champion best practices, and create opportunities for team members to learn and advance.

Our philosophy: It is not only about where you have been, but your willingness to move forward, elevate those around you, and achieve even greater goals.

Work Environment & Benefits

• Remote work arrangement
• Competitive salary based on experience.
• Health, dental, and vision insurance (if applicable).
• Paid time off, company holidays, and professional development opportunities.
• Opportunity to build and scale CAD operations within a growing engineering organization.
• Exposure to innovative utility-scale renewable energy projects across the United States.
• Supportive culture committed to mentorship, collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement.