Drafter/CAD & PDM Specialist

ENC - ElDorado National California Inc.; Riverside (CA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 82,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision, life and DIS/

EAP and wellness programs

401(k) with employer match

Paid time off and twelve holidays

Career growth opportunities

Job summary

ElDorado National California Inc. in Riverside, CA, is seeking a Drafter/CAD & PDM Specialist to support transit bus platforms from concept to production. You will produce high‑quality CAD models, drawings, and controlled product definitions while enforcing SolidWorks PDM discipline and CAD standards.

The role requires mentoring junior designers, coordinating with U.S. and international teams, and driving CAD governance across engineering, manufacturing, and supply chain.

Qualifications

• 5+ years drafting/CAD design in automotive, heavy-duty vehicle, or industrial equipment environments.
• Advanced proficiency in SolidWorks and SolidWorks PDM experience.
• Strong understanding of GD&T and manufacturing drawing standards.
• Experience managing large assemblies and CAD file structures; CAD governance.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain complex 3D CAD models and 2D drawings for transit bus components using SolidWorks.
• Release CAD data with GD&T, tolerancing, weld symbols, and revision control.
• Mentor junior draftsmen and collaborate with engineering, manufacturing and QA teams.
• Administer SolidWorks PDM, file structure, workflows, and metadata; ensure traceability.
• Interface with suppliers and support CAD/PDM integration and ERP alignment.
• Support prototype builds and production issue resolution with design improvements.

Skills

SolidWorks proficiency

SolidWorks PDM

GD&T knowledge

Mentor/leadership

Attention to detail

Strong communication

Education

Associate degree or technical certification in Drafting/Mechanical Design

Bachelor's degree (preferred)

Tools

SolidWorks

PDM systems

Job description

Join a manufacturing leader with over 50 years of excellence, where every role contributes to building reliable transportation solutions that people depend on everyday across the United States and Canada. At ENC, we prioritize safety, quality, innovation, collaboration, and continuous growth – creating vehicles our teams can take pride in.

Founded in 1975, ENC (ElDorado National – California) is a leading U.S. transportation manufacturer specializing in design, engineering, and end-to-end production of heavy-duty buses, shuttles, and cargo vehicles through a custom-build, mixed-model assembly process. Each vehicle is produced in our purpose-built facility in Riverside, California supporting public agencies and private transportation providers nationwide. We offer one of the industry’s widest portfolios of power options, including 100% battery-electric, diesel-electric hybrid, CNG, and clean diesel.

ENC is committed to revitalizing American manufacturing through innovation, customer focus, and the delivery of high-quality vehicles that keep communities connected, supported, and moving forward.

Drafter/CAD & PDM Specialist

Location: Riverside, CA

Salary Range: $70,000 - $82,000/yr.

The Drafter / CAD & PDM Specialist will play a critical role in supporting the development and execution of ENC's transit bus platforms, including battery-electric, hybrid, CNG, and diesel vehicles. This role is responsible for producing high-quality CAD models, drawings, and controlled product definition while enforcing SolidWorks PDM discipline and CAD standards across the engineering department. This position supports the full product lifecycle from concept and prototype through production release and serves as a technical leader within the drafting function, providing mentoring, CAD governance, and support for CAD/PDM system implementation and continuous improvement. This position is based at ENC's headquarters in Riverside, California, and requires close coordination with U.S. and international engineering teams, suppliers, and manufacturing partners.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain complex 3D CAD models, assemblies, and detailed 2D drawings for transit bus structures, chassis components, mounting systems, brackets, and mechanical subsystems using SolidWorks.
• Produce manufacturing-ready drawings with proper GD&T, tolerancing, weld symbols, and revision control.
• Support engineering teams by translating conceptual layouts and engineering requirements into release-ready CAD and drawings.
• Administer and enforce SolidWorks PDM best practices, including file structure, workflows, revision control, metadata, and release processes.
• Own drawing and CAD release from WIP through production, ensuring accuracy and traceability.
• Create, maintain, and improve CAD standards, templates, libraries, and naming conventions.
• Support BOM creation and accuracy, ensuring alignment between CAD, PDM, and ERP systems.
• Serve as a SolidWorks and PDM subject‑matter expert, supporting software implementation, optimization, and user training.
• Mentor and train junior draftsmen and designers in CAD modeling, drawing practices, and PDM discipline.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with engineering, manufacturing, quality, and supply chain teams.
• Interface with suppliers to review drawings, models, and manufacturing feasibility.
• Support prototype builds, production issues, drawing corrections, and continuous improvement activities.

Position Requirements

• Associate degree or technical certification in Drafting, Mechanical Design, or related field; bachelor's degree is a plus.
• 5+ years of professional drafting or CAD design experience in automotive, heavy-duty vehicle, or industrial equipment environments.
• Advanced proficiency in SolidWorks.
• Strong hands‑on experience with SolidWorks PDM or equivalent systems.
• Solid understanding of GD&T, tolerancing, and manufacturing drawing standards.
• Experience managing large assemblies and complex CAD file structures.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Detail‑oriented with strong ownership of product definition quality and a disciplined CAD/document‑control mindset.
• Natural mentor and technical leader; hands‑on problem solver with strong technical judgment; self‑motivated and collaborative in fast‑paced environments.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience in transit buses or heavy-duty vehicles.

• Experience supporting BOM release and ERP integration.
• Familiarity with vehicle structures and mounting systems.
• Experience establishing or improving CAD/PDM standards.
• SolidWorks PDM Administrator experience.
• Exposure to regulatory-driven design environments.

Work Environment

This is an onsite position based at ENC's headquarters in Riverside, California and requires being 100% onsite. The role requires close coordination with U.S. and international engineering teams, suppliers, manufacturing partners, and cross‑functional teams.

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits package: Medical (including FSA & HSA), dental, vision, life and disability insurance, EAP, mental health, and wellness programs
• 401(k) with employer match
• Paid time off and twelve (12) paid holidays
• Employee referral program
• Career growth and development opportunities

Career Growth at ENC

We believe great careers and leaders are built from within. Many of our team members have advanced into roles that lead or into specialized technical positions. We invest in hands‑on training, skill development, and long‑term career pathways within manufacturing operations.

Equal Opportunity Employer

ElDorado National California Inc. (ENC) is an equal opportunity employer and considers all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other protected class under applicable federal, state, and local laws. We are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace where all employees feel valued and respected.

ENC takes affirmative action to employ and advance employment opportunities for minorities, women, protected veterans, and individuals with disabilities. We actively encourage qualified candidates from all backgrounds to apply and join our team.

ENC is also committed to ensuring that individuals with disabilities have equal access to opportunities. If you require a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process, please contact HR Department for assistance.

In accordance with California's wage transparency law (Senate Bill 1162), we are committed to pay equity and transparency. The salary range reflected on the job positing is our good faith estimate of what we expect to pay for this role at the time of posting. While we do not typically hire at the top of the salary range, initial offers are based on the candidate’s qualifications and experience, with opportunities for growth and increases over time.