Mechanical Drafter

Actalent; Pittsburgh (Allegheny County); On-site; USD 80,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental & vision

401(k) retirement plan

Paid time off

Job summary

Actalent in Pittsburgh is seeking a Mechanical Drafter to develop precise design drawings and coordinate technical requirements across project teams. You will work with project management, engineering disciplines, suppliers, and clients to ensure designs meet specifications and project schedules.

The role requires 1–3 years of drafting experience, proficiency with AutoCAD, Inventor, and SolidWorks, and a strong emphasis on cost awareness and contractual compliance.

Qualifications

• 1-3 years of mechanical drafting, design, or related engineering roles.
• Proficiency with AutoCAD 2D drafting and CAD software.
• Experience with Inventor and SolidWorks for mechanical design.
• Piping design experience and familiarity with mechanical layouts.
• Ability to estimate design costs and understand cost of deliverables.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate with Project Manager to manage technical relations with customers and identify design solutions that balance cost with contractual requirements.
• Plan engineering activities and contribute to project planning and scheduling to ensure timely delivery of design deliverables.
• Ensure effective information flow between engineering disciplines (process, mechanical, piping, structural, electrical).
• Participate in project setup, defining technical scopes and design approaches.
• Identify and resolve design problems in collaboration with clients and site teams; generate accurate design drawings.
• Prepare and verify technical specifications and BOMs in line with contractual conditions; submit to purchasing/production.
• Collaborate on supplier search, selection, and qualification from a technical perspective.
• Participate in commissioning and acceptance activities to confirm systems meet specs.
• Support analysis of commercial opportunities and risks with the risk committee.
• Contribute to negotiations by providing technical clarification and support.
• Maintain client relationships and identify additional business opportunities.
• Study and define technical offers with departments; highlight critical issues to the Department Director.
• Review contract drawings to ensure specifications are met.

Skills

AutoCAD

Autodesk Inventor

SolidWorks

Piping design

Cost estimation

Project coordination

Communication

MS Office

Engineering drafting

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

AutoCAD

Autodesk Inventor

SolidWorks

MS Office

Job description

Job Description

The Mechanical Drafter supports multidisciplinary engineering projects by developing precise design drawings, coordinating technical requirements with customers, and helping to optimize solutions for cost, quality, and contractual compliance. This role collaborates closely with project management, engineering disciplines, suppliers, and clients to ensure that designs meet specifications, support project schedules, and contribute to successful project execution throughout the entire lifecycle.

Job Title: Mechanical Drafter

Job Description

The Mechanical Drafter supports multidisciplinary engineering projects by developing precise design drawings, coordinating technical requirements with customers, and helping to optimize solutions for cost, quality, and contractual compliance. This role collaborates closely with project management, engineering disciplines, suppliers, and clients to ensure that designs meet specifications, supports project schedules, and contribute to successful project execution throughout the entire lifecycle.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate with the Project Manager to manage technical relations with customers and identify design solutions that balance cost savings with full respect of contractual requirements.
• Plan engineering activities and contribute to overall project planning and scheduling to ensure timely delivery of design deliverables.
• Ensure an effective flow of information between engineering disciplines, including process, mechanical, piping, structural, and electrical teams.
• Participate in the project setup phase when required, helping to define technical scopes and design approaches.
• Identify, tackle, and resolve design problems in collaboration with clients, partners, and site teams, compiling and generating accurate design drawings.
• Prepare and verify technical specifications and bills of materials in compliance with contractual conditions, and submit them to purchasing and production functions.
• Collaborate with the Project Manager on the search, selection, and qualification of suppliers from a technical perspective.
• Participate in commissioning and acceptance activities to confirm that installed systems and equipment meet design and contractual specifications.
• Support the analysis of commercial opportunities in the assigned geographic area, including potential commercial agreements with agents.
• Examine risk aspects associated with offers in collaboration with the risk committee and provide technical input for risk assessment.
• Contribute to negotiations with prospects by providing technical clarification and support.
• Maintain and strengthen relationships with clients to support ongoing business and create new opportunities.
• Work with technical departments to study and define technical offers and related attachments, highlighting any critical issues to the Department Director.
• Review contract drawings and verify that all specifications and requirements are met before and during execution.
• Apply and improve technical knowledge to develop design criteria that meet project requisitions and support the design of new components and equipment.
• Estimate design and deliverable-generation costs for projects or specific activities and incorporate cost considerations into design decisions.

Essential Skills

• Between 1 and 3 years of experience in mechanical drafting, mechanical design, or related engineering roles.
• Proficiency with AutoDesk CAD software, particularly AutoCAD, including 2D drafting capabilities.
• Experience with Autodesk Inventor and SolidWorks for mechanical design and drafting.
• Piping design experience and familiarity with mechanical and piping layouts.
• Strong understanding of the cost of design, including the cost of generating deliverables, and the ability to estimate costs for projects or specific activities.
• Ability to apply technical knowledge to develop design criteria that align with project requirements and support the design of new components and equipment.
• Knowledge of engineering models and drafting environments, including applications and products across electrical, mechanical, and related disciplines.
• Understanding of engineering interfaces and dependencies among different disciplines.
• Basic knowledge of project management methods and familiarity with all phases of the project lifecycle.
• Ability to interact and communicate effectively with individuals at all levels inside and outside the organization.
• Strong prioritization skills and the ability to execute tasks effectively in a project-driven environment.
• Proven analytical, evaluative, and problem-solving abilities in a technical context.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications for documentation, reporting, and communication.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related field.
• Experience coordinating with Project Managers, clients, and multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• Background in drafting and mechanical engineering design across process, mechanical, piping, structural, and electrical interfaces.
• Experience preparing and controlling technical specifications and bills of materials in line with contractual conditions.
• Exposure to supplier search, selection, and qualification from a technical perspective.
• Participation in commissioning and acceptance activities for mechanical or piping systems.
• Experience reviewing contract drawings and verifying compliance with specifications.
• Comfort supporting commercial activities, including analysis of opportunities, risk review, and participation in negotiations.
• Ability to build and maintain long-term client relationships and identify additional business opportunities.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills for clear documentation and technical correspondence.

Work Environment

This is an in-office role with a Monday through Friday schedule. The team typically starts the workday between 6:30 a.m. and 7:00 a.m., with some flexibility in start times. Work is performed in a professional office setting, collaborating closely with engineering, project management, and other functional teams while using CAD tools such as AutoCAD, Autodesk Inventor, and SolidWorks, as well as Microsoft Office applications. The environment supports close coordination with internal departments and external stakeholders throughout all phases of the project lifecycle.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Pittsburgh, PA.

Pay And Benefits

The pay range for this position is $80000.00 - $95000.00/hr.

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.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:

• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long-term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave) Workplace Type This is a fully onsite position in Pittsburgh,PA. Application Deadline This position is anticipated to close on Oct 5, 2026.

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.