Senior Cad Designer

Actalent; Woburn (MA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Actalent is seeking a CAD Designer to develop mechanical and electrical designs in SolidWorks, focusing on sheet metal components and large assemblies for data-center related products. You will balance performance, quality, cost, and schedule while driving continuous improvement from concept through production.

The role requires 3+ years CAD experience, strong SolidWorks skills, and ability to work with PLM/MRP systems. Onsite in Woburn, MA with occasional travel is expected.

Qualifications

• BSME or equivalent technical education with substantial applicable experience.
• At least 3 years hands-on experience creating models and drawings in CAD software, preferably SolidWorks.
• Proven ability to manage complex assemblies in CAD with many parts and off-the-shelf components.
• Strong SolidWorks proficiency for part modeling, sheet metal design, and complex assembly creation.
• Experience with sheet metal enclosures and manufacturing processes.
• Familiarity with PLM and MRP software including Oracle Cloud is a plus.
• Daily use of Microsoft Office for documentation and communication.

Responsibilities

• Develop detailed mechanical and electrical designs in SolidWorks from rough sketches and customer drawings.
• Design sheet metal components and enclosures meeting product specs within cost and schedule constraints.
• Evaluate trade-offs to meet project goals for performance, quality and cost.
• Identify and mitigate design risks and incorporate risk reduction into designs.
• Create new part numbers and BOMs for new and existing designs.
• Build and manage complex SolidWorks assemblies, including large configurations.

Skills

SolidWorks

Sheet metal design

Complex assemblies

Dimensional tolerancing

PLM

MRP

Problem solving

MS Office

Education

Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering (BSME)

BSME or similar technical education

Tools

Oracle Cloud

PLM software

CAD software

Job description

Job Description

The CAD Designer develops mechanical and electrical designs in SolidWorks based on rough sketches, design concepts, verbal instructions, and customer drawings with minimal engineering supervision. This role focuses on sheet metal design, complex mechanical assemblies, and product specifications, while balancing performance, quality, cost, and schedule. The CAD Designer actively contributes from early concept through product development and into production, driving continuous improvement and supporting data centerrelated growth initiatives.

Job Title

CAD Designer

Responsibilities

• Develop detailed mechanical and electrical designs in SolidWorks from rough sketches, design concepts, verbal instructions, and customer drawings with minimal engineering supervision.
• Design sheet metal components and enclosures that meet product specifications while considering performance, functionality, quality, cost, and schedule constraints.
• Evaluate and manage trade-offs between performance, functionality, quality, cost, and schedule to ensure project goals are consistently achieved.
• Actively identify and manage design risks, propose mitigation strategies, and incorporate risk reduction into design decisions.
• Investigate key design factors such as ease of manufacture, interchangeability, weight, tolerance stack-up, and material availability to optimize designs.
• Provide alternative and optional design approaches during preliminary design stages to support informed decision-making.
• Create new part numbers, items, and bills of materials (BOMs) for new and existing designs.
• Build and manage complex assembly models in SolidWorks, including large assemblies with numerous custom and off-the-shelf components.
• Produce clear, accurate, and fully dimensioned drawings in SolidWorks, applying appropriate geometric dimensioning and tolerancing practices.
• Follow established engineering and documentation procedures, while proactively driving continuous improvement and updating procedures within your area of responsibility.
• Provide product support from early concept through development and into full production, collaborating with cross-functional teams as needed.
• Use engineering tools such as PLM and MRP software to manage product data, configurations, and material requirements.
• Apply technical problem-solving skills to analyze system risks, identify options, and make recommendations that improve design robustness and manufacturability.
• Collaborate with engineering and other stakeholders to ensure designs are practical, manufacturable, and aligned with overall project requirements.
• Use Microsoft Office applications daily to document work, prepare reports, and communicate project status.
• Travel occasionally, typically less than 5% per year, with the possibility of domestic and international trips for project or product support.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering (BSME), or similar technical education with substantial directly applicable experience.
• At least 3 years of hands‑on experience creating models and drawings in CAD software, preferably SolidWorks, for mechanical assemblies.
• Proven ability to manage complex assemblies in CAD, including up to approximately 100 custom parts combined with more than 800 off‑the‑shelf components.
• Strong proficiency in SolidWorks for part modeling, sheet metal design, and complex assembly creation.
• Demonstrated ability to create accurate, well‑documented drawings with proper dimensioning and tolerancing.
• Experience designing sheet metal enclosures, including consideration of hardware and manufacturing processes.
• Working knowledge of PLM (Product Lifecycle Management) software for managing product data and revisions.
• Working knowledge of MRP (Material Requirements Planning) software; experience with Oracle Cloud is a plus.
• Knowledge and experience with sheet metal components, hardware integration, and plumbing elements such as fittings and hosing.
• Ability to work independently, organize tasks, and prioritize workload based on understanding of overall project and organizational requirements.
• Strong technical problem‑solving skills, including analyzing system risks, identifying options, and making sound recommendations.
• Daily proficiency with Microsoft Office software for documentation, analysis, and communication.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience designing sheet metal enclosures for technical products, preferably in environments related to data centers or similar applications.
• Familiarity with refrigeration systems is a major plus and beneficial for products involving thermal management.
• Experience supporting products throughout their lifecycle, from concept through development and into production.
• Ability to contribute to continuous improvement efforts by refining procedures and design practices.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to creating manufacturable, reliable, and cost‑effective designs.
• Effective communication skills for collaborating with engineering teams and other stakeholders.
• Comfort working with large and complex CAD assemblies and associated documentation.
• Flexibility to travel occasionally for project or product support, including potential domestic and international trips.

Work Environment

The role operates within an engineering team office environment focused on designing and supporting technically complex products, including those used in data center expansions. Work is primarily performed on computers using SolidWorks, PLM and MRP systems, and Microsoft Office, with close collaboration among engineering and cross‑functional team members. The environment emphasizes precision, continuous improvement, and practical, manufacturable design solutions, with occasional domestic and international travel typically limited to less than 5% per year.

Job Type & Location

This is a Permanent position based out of Woburn, MA.

Pay And Benefits

The pay range for this position is $80000.00 - $100000.00/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.

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)

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Oct 27, 2026.

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Woburn,MA.

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.