CAD Technician

About the role

McAdams is a full-service land planning, landscape architecture, civil engineering, transportation, and geomatics firm located in North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, and Florida. We seek to partner with our clients to create meaningful experiences through inspired design. The CAD Technician provides support to the Site/Civil Department as well as collaborates with other market sectors and service lines within the firm to produce high-quality technical drawings, plan sets, and other associated materials.

Responsibilities

• Efficiently process incoming survey data and external .dwg files, ensuring they align with McAdams' established layer standards and maintaining uniformity across projects.
• Set up and manage drawing sheets with precision to ensure they adhere to project specifications and company standards, enabling seamless project workflow and efficient updates.
• Support the development of lot and site layout plans by applying a foundational understanding of local and state buffer requirements, zoning regulations, and ordinance standards, ensuring that all preliminary designs comply with regulatory guidelines.
• Collaborate with project teams to assist in performing preliminary planning layouts and test fits under direction, contributing to the early-stage design process that informs feasibility studies and project proposals.
• Assist in creating detailed engineering drawings using AutoCAD Civil 3D, including tasks from processing base files and initial setup through to preparing final construction documents, following redlines and guidance from senior staff to maintain accuracy and completeness.
• Support engineering teams by conducting accurate quantity take-offs for materials and resources, contributing to the preparation of project estimates and planning.
• Prepare and update drawings to consistently reflect McAdams’ design and CAD standards, ensuring high-quality deliverables that maintain brand and project integrity.
• Work closely with project engineers, planners, and other internal stakeholders to support the drafting needs of projects, demonstrating a collaborative approach and a commitment to shared goals.
• Adapt to project changes efficiently by revising and updating drawings as directed, maintaining project schedules and deadlines.
• Assist in managing project file organization to ensure that CAD data is accessible, well-structured, and stored in a manner that supports team collaboration and future retrieval.
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Diploma, associate degree, or certification in CAD technology, drafting, civil engineering technology, or a related field preferred.
• Minimum of 1-3 years’ experience in a CAD Technician or similar role preferred.
• Strong understanding of civil engineering principles, including grading and drainage preferred.
• Excellent attention to detail and the ability to produce accurate, high-quality drawings.
• Strong communication and teamwork skills to collaborate effectively with engineers and other departments.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Problem-solving skills and a proactive approach to addressing design issues.

Work Environment + Physical Demands

The characteristics described below are representative of those encountered while performing the essential functions of this position. When properly requested and when feasible (without undue hardship to the company), reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.

• Work will primarily be in an office setting with limited opportunities to be exposed to adverse environmental conditions.
• Work will be primarily working with fingers by picking, pinching, typing, and grasping often with repetitive motion.
• Must have visual acuity for viewing a computer screen, the ability to talk, hear and sit for extended periods of time.
• Must be able to carry, lift and push/pull up to 5 pounds frequently and up to 30 pounds occasionally.
• Additional physical duties may be required as necessary.