Mechanical Drafter

About the role

The Mechanical Drafter develops and maintains detailed mechanical design documentation in support of unmanned systems, including Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USVs). This role translates engineering concepts, sketches, and models into accurate 3D CAD models, detailed drawings, and production-ready documentation. The Mechanical Drafter collaborates closely with mechanical, electrical, and aerospace engineers to ensure designs are properly documented, manufacturable, and scalable for production across structural components, propulsion integration, payload systems, launch systems, and other critical subsystems.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain detailed 3D CAD models, assemblies, and mechanical drawings for UAV and USV platforms.
• Translate engineering concepts, sketches, analysis results, and high-level napkin sketches into complete mechanical documentation packages suitable for vendors and manufacturing partners.
• Create detailed component and assembly drawings that clearly define tolerances, material thicknesses, materials, finishes, and manufacturing notes.
• Generate and maintain Bills of Materials (BOMs) and other documentation required to support manufacturing and procurement activities.
• Collaborate with mechanical, electrical, and aerospace engineers to ensure accurate system integration and complete, consistent documentation across subsystems.
• Review engineering designs and drawings to ensure compliance with internal standards, specifications, and manufacturing requirements.
• Identify manufacturability challenges and work with engineering and production teams to refine and improve designs.
• Update and revise CAD models and drawings to support design changes, prototyping iterations, and production improvements.
• Support prototype builds, system integration, and testing by maintaining accurate, current, and configuration-controlled design documentation.
• Manage large CAD assemblies and ensure configuration control of documentation throughout the product lifecycle.
• Maintain drawing standards, CAD libraries, and documentation best practices to ensure consistency and quality across projects.
• Ensure that considerations such as forces, loading, tolerances, material thicknesses, and material definitions are accurately captured in final prints.
• Manage large CAD assemblies and ensure configuration control of documentation throughout the product lifecycle.

Essential Skills

• Associate degree in Mechanical Drafting, Mechanical Design Technology, or a related field, or equivalent industry experience.
• 5+ years of experience creating mechanical CAD models and technical drawings in a manufacturing or engineering environment.
• Advanced mechanical drafting and 3D CAD modeling skills.
• Proficiency with CAD software such as SolidWorks, Siemens NX, Solid Edge, or similar platforms.
• Strong understanding of mechanical assemblies, materials, tolerancing, and manufacturing processes.
• Experience developing complex assemblies and system-level mechanical drawings.
• Strong understanding of mechanical tolerancing, fits, and GD&T principles (preferred).
• Familiarity with manufacturing processes including machining, sheet metal fabrication, composite structures, and additive manufacturing.
• Ability to manage large CAD assemblies and maintain configuration-controlled documentation with strong attention to detail.
• Excellent organizational and configuration management skills.
• Able to collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and engineering documentation tools.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Able to work independently and manage multiple design documentation tasks in a fast-paced development environment.
• Experience supporting aerospace, defense, robotics, automotive, or other complex electromechanical systems (preferred).

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience working on unmanned systems such as UAVs and USVs or similar complex platforms.
• Mechanical focus and comfort translating high-level engineering sketches, including force and loading considerations, into detailed vendor-ready prints.
• Familiarity with Teamcenter or similar product lifecycle management (PLM) tools.
• Experience with composite structures and additive manufacturing in a production or prototyping environment.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain high documentation accuracy and consistency across multiple projects.
• Interest in working on mission-critical, nationally significant programs in an agile engineering environment.