Senior Drafter (NW Houston | On-site | Manufacturing)

The Senior Drafter at Travis® Body & Trailer, Inc. is responsible for creating, maintaining, and revising detailed engineering drawings, 3D models, bills of materials (BOMs), and technical documentation for trailer and truck body products. This position plays a critical role in supporting custom and standard product configurations through advanced CAD drafting and DriveWorks design automation.

Essential Job Responsibilities

• Create and maintain detailed engineering drawings, layouts, and specifications for new and existing products.
• Develop accurate bills of materials (BOMs) in accordance with engineering and manufacturing standards.
• Design custom trailer and body configurations using CAD systems based on customer requirements.
• Utilize DriveWorks automation tools to configure, generate, and manage custom and repeatable designs, drawings, and BOMs.
• Apply sound engineering principles to ensure designs meet strength, safety, manufacturability, and quality requirements.
• Process engineering change requests (ECRs), revisions, and product updates in coordination with production and quality teams.
• Support the full product lifecycle from concept through production and post-release support.
• Afford assistance with root cause analysis and corrective actions related to design-related issues.
• Collaborate with production, purchasing, and quality teams to resolve design and manufacturing challenges.
• Provide technical support to manufacturing to improve efficiency, fit, form, and function of products.
• Incorporate lean manufacturing principles and design-for-manufacturability (DFM) concepts into designs.
• Provide technical assistance to sales and customer service for quoting, pricing, and order clarification.
• Review customer specifications and ensure accurate translation into engineering documentation.
• Participate in technical discussions with customers as needed to support design solutions.
• Maintain accurate part numbers, BOMs, and item data within the Infor Syteline ERP system.
• Develop and maintain DriveWorks projects, rules, and forms to support design automation and standardization initiatives.
• Develop or assist with technical illustrations for owner’s manuals, service bulletins, and marketing materials.
• Ensure engineering documentation complies with company standards and revision control requirements.
• Identify opportunities to improve design standards, processes, and automation through tools such as DriveWorks.
• Stay current with industry trends, materials, manufacturing methods, and CAD/DriveWorks technologies.
• Support standardization efforts to improve efficiency, reduce lead time, and minimize design variability.
• Perform additional duties as assigned by management.

Essential Skills, Experience And Education

• Associate Degree in Technical Drafting, Design Technology, Engineering Technology, or a related field required; or Minimum of fifteen (15) years of progressive drafting and design experience in a manufacturing environment in lieu of formal education.
• Minimum of ten (10) years of advanced AutoCad/SolidWorks drafting experience supporting manufacturing operations.
• Minimum of five (5) years of advanced DriveWorks experience supporting manufacturing operations.
• Experience in trailer, truck body, transportation equipment, fabrication, or heavy manufacturing environments preferred but not required.

Essential Physical Requirements

• Occasionally lifting and carrying 25 lbs. unassisted
• Occasionally pulling and pushing 25 lbs. unassisted
• Repeatedly reaching overhead
• Occasionally kneeling, stooping, bending, and turning at the waist
• Occasionally climbing ladder above 2 ft.
• Able to wear PPE when working in the production area: safety glasses, steel-toe shoes, etc.

Required Work Hours And Schedules

• 8 hour shift to be scheduled Monday thru Friday between 7:00 AM– 05:00 PM
• Additional overtime as needed

Key Competencies

• Consistently Achieves Results - Effectively manages budgets; meets planned financial targets; achieves both top and bottom line growth objectives; readily produces strategies for reducing or avoiding costs without compromising quality; meets the Customer's satisfaction level; meets or exceeds the standards set for the position specific responsibilities.
• Analytical Abilities - Makes recommendations based on solid assumptions when solving complex problems; analyzes data to obtain meaningful information; identifies conflicting or inaccurate information.
• Problem Solving - Uses rigorous logic and methods to solve difficult problems with effective solutions; probes all fruitful sources for answers; can see hidden problems; is excellent at honest analysis; looks beyond the obvious and doesn't stop at first answers.
• Interpersonal Skills - Relates well to all kinds of people, up, down, and sideways, inside and outside the company; builds appropriate rapport; listens; builds constructive and effective relationships; uses diplomacy and tact; truly values people; can diffuse even high-tension situations comfortably.
• Customer Focus - Is dedicated to meeting the expectations and requirements of internal and external Customers; gets Customer information and uses it for improvements in products and services; considers Customers in all business practices; establishes and maintains effective relationships with Customers.