Drafter/designer

Actalent; Frederick (MD); On-site; USD 82,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Actalent is seeking a Mechanical Design Drafter to design and draft mechanical components and assemblies, with emphasis on sheet metal enclosures and HVAC products. The role requires strong 2D/3D CAD skills and hands-on SolidWorks experience, with collaboration across engineering and manufacturing teams to ensure manufacturability and accuracy.

Responsibilities include leading design projects from concept to completion, preparing detailed documentation, and maintaining BOMs within ERP/MRP

Qualifications

• 25 years of on-the-job experience with 3D CAD, specifically SolidWorks.
• Proficiency with 2D and 3D CAD tools.
• Experience as an individual contributor owning design projects from concept through completion.
• Strong understanding of sheet metal enclosure materials and their behavior.
• Knowledge of mechanical assembly processes such as fasteners, riveting, welding.

Responsibilities

• Manage design and drafting projects from initial concept to completion, ensuring accuracy and timeliness.
• Provide design solutions balancing performance, manufacturability, and cost.
• Prepare complete product documentation including BOM relationships and part dimensions.
• Create and update drawings: system and component models, layouts, weldment, assemblies, part drawings, isometrics.
• Collaborate with engineering and manufacturing to resolve issues during production and document corrective actions.

Skills

3D CAD

2D CAD

Attention to detail

Independent contributor

Dimensional analysis

Tools

SolidWorks

ERP/MRP

PLM/PDM

Job description

Job Title: Mechanical Design Drafter

Job Description

This role focuses on designing and drafting mechanical components and assemblies used in manufacturing, with an emphasis on sheet metal enclosures and HVAC-related products. You will manage design and drafting projects from concept through completion, develop detailed product documentation, and provide practical design solutions for new product development and product changes. The position requires strong 2D/3D CAD skills, hands-on experience with SolidWorks, and the ability to collaborate closely with engineering and manufacturing teams to ensure designs are feasible, manufacturable, and accurate.

Responsibilities

• Manage design and drafting projects from initial concept through to completion, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and adherence to project requirements.
• Provide design solutions for new design and development projects as well as product change requests, balancing performance, manufacturability, and cost.
• Prepare complete product documentation, including checking dimensions of parts, material specifications, relationships between individual components, and the relationship of various parts to the overall structure.
• Create and update a wide range of drawings such as system and component models, installation layouts, weldment drawings, assembly drawings, piece-part drawings, and isometric drawings.
• Use red-lined drawings, engineering change requests, and written instructions to revise and update drawings, incorporating dimensional changes and other pertinent data.
• Apply knowledge of machines, engineering practices, mathematics, building materials, and physical sciences to develop accurate and functional drawings.
• Use computer-assisted design tools and software, including 2D and 3D CAD applications, to produce and maintain design models and drawings.
• Collaborate with engineering and manufacturing personnel to resolve issues that arise during the manufacturing process and document corrective actions taken.
• Participate in design reviews to assess the feasibility of proposed designs and provide recommendations for product improvements and design optimization.
• Maintain accurate bills of materials and related documentation in alignment with ERP/MRP processes where applicable.
• Support product lifecycle and data management activities by ensuring design documentation remains current and well organized.
• Perform other related design and drafting duties as assigned to support engineering and manufacturing objectives.

Essential Skills

• 25 years of on-the-job experience with 3D CAD, specifically SolidWorks, creating models and detailed drawings.
• Proficiency with computer-assisted design tools, including both 2D and 3D CAD applications.
• Demonstrated experience as an individual contributor owning design projects, products, or major design elements from concept through completion.
• Strong understanding of common materials used in sheet metal enclosures and their behavior in manufacturing and assembly.
• Knowledge of common mechanical assembly processes such as the use of hardware and fasteners, riveting, welding, and related fabrication methods.
• Experience preparing and maintaining bills of materials (BOM) and related documentation.
• Familiarity with ERP and MRP systems for material management, routing, and production-related data.
• Understanding of design for manufacturing (DFM) principles in a manufacturing environment.
• Exposure to HVAC manufacturing or related mechanical manufacturing environments.
• Ability to use PLM and PDM concepts or tools for managing product lifecycle and design data.
• Strong attention to detail in checking dimensions, materials, and part relationships within assemblies.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with engineering and manufacturing teams to solve problems and implement corrective actions.
• Competence in applying mathematics and basic physical sciences to engineering drawings and designs.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience with design in a manufacturing environment, particularly for mechanical or HVAC-related products.
• Experience designing sheet metal components and assemblies specifically for manufacturing processes.
• Hands-on experience with ERP/MRP systems, including bills of materials, item or product setup, material management, and routing configuration.
• Experience performing design work in refrigeration applications within a manufacturing setting.
• Familiarity with product lifecycle management (PLM) systems and processes.
• Familiarity with product data management (PDM) tools for controlling and organizing design files and documentation.
• Desire to grow within a high-growth organization offering upward mobility and expanded responsibilities over time.
• Strong problem-solving mindset and willingness to participate actively in design reviews and continuous improvement initiatives.

Work Environment

The role primarily operates in an office environment where you will work with CAD software, documentation systems, and collaboration tools to support engineering and manufacturing activities. At times, you will work in the manufacturing area to gather data, observe processes, or investigate issues, which may involve exposure to higher noise levels and lower air quality compared to the office. You may also be required to document equipment in outdoor conditions or in environments typical of air-conditioning equipment installations. The organization supports reasonable accommodations to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job. The company is in a high-growth phase, offering opportunities for professional development and upward mobility within a collaborative engineering and manufacturing culture.

Job Type & Location

This is a Permanent position based out of Frederick, MD.

Pay And Benefits

The pay range for this position is $82000.00 - $90000.00/yr. Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Nov 3, 2026.

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Frederick,MD.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email [e-mail] for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance:

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector:

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI):

We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.