Principal CAD Designer: SolidWorks & PLM Lead

Alten Technology USA; Westminster (CO); On-site; USD 97,000 - 115,000; Full time

Job summary

ALTEN Technology USA in Westminster, CO seeks a Principal CAD Designer to lead advanced CAD drafting with SolidWorks across the product development lifecycle. You will generate and refine 3D models and drawings, ensure GD&T compliance, and drive documentation quality.

You will collaborate with engineering, manufacturing, quality, and program teams, manage CAD files in PDM, and support ECO/ECR processes, BOM accuracy, and change control.

Qualifications

• Associate degree or technical certification in Drafting, Design Technology, Mechanical Design, Engineering Technology, or related field preferred.
• 7+ years of progressive CAD design and drafting experience in manufacturing, engineering, aerospace, or product development.
• Advanced proficiency in SolidWorks, including part modeling, assemblies, and engineering drawing creation.
• Strong understanding of GD&T, mechanical drafting standards, and engineering documentation best practices.
• Proficiency with drafting and diagramming tools such as DraftSight, Lucidchart, Draw.io.
• Experience with Jira or equivalent issue-tracking/workflow tools.
• Experience with engineering change control and configuration management.
• Ability to interpret engineering specifications, manufacturing requirements, and technical documentation.
• Experience creating and managing BOMs and associated hardware documentation.
• Exposure to ERP and PLM systems (SAP, Windchill, ENOVIA).
• Strong troubleshooting, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Exceptional attention to detail, organization, and documentation accuracy.

Responsibilities

• Provide advanced CAD drafting and design support throughout the product development lifecycle using SolidWorks.
• Generate, modify, and maintain detailed 3D models, assemblies, drawings, and documentation.
• Ensure drawings comply with GD&T, standards, and documentation procedures.
• Collaborate with engineering, manufacturing, quality, and program teams to support design development and product release.
• Support prototype, development, and production design updates.
• Manage and maintain CAD files and BOMs within Product Data Management (PDM) systems; control versions and releases.
• Prepare, process, and implement ECOs and ECRs.
• Maintain accurate BOM structures and hardware configurations.
• Ensure traceability of engineering documentation.
• Review CAD models for manufacturability, accuracy, and compliance.
• Identify design issues and support corrective actions.
• Partner with engineers to resolve drafting/documentation concerns.
• Support root cause analysis for drawing/documentation issues.
• Drive standardization and continuous improvement of CAD processes and templates.
• Develop drafting standards and internal design procedures.
• Provide mentorship to junior designers and drafters.
• Support departmental initiatives focused on efficiency and data integrity.

Skills

SolidWorks

GD&T

Drafting standards

BOM management

ERP/PLM

Troubleshooting

Attention to detail

Education

Associate degree in Drafting

Tools

DraftSight

Lucidchart

Draw.io

Jira

Windchill

ENOVIA

SAP

Job description

ALTEN Technology USA in Westminster, CO seeks a Principal CAD Designer to lead advanced CAD drafting with SolidWorks across the product development lifecycle. You will generate and refine 3D models and drawings, ensure GD&T compliance, and drive documentation quality.

You will collaborate with engineering, manufacturing, quality, and program teams, manage CAD files in PDM, and support ECO/ECR processes, BOM accuracy, and change control.