What does a mechanical design drafter do?
Mechanical design drafter develops detailed mechanical equipment designs and specifications needed for assembly and modifies them to repair defects and to minimize problems in the production. He/she often works with architects and engineers either in an office or via job sites with hands-on experience in computer-aided design (CAD) software and building processes, visual aptitude, and mathematical skills. However, the demand for drafters tempered as CAD and building information modeling (BIM) technologies allows architects and engineers to perform tasks that are usually done by a mechanical design drafter.
Mechanical design drafter responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real mechanical design drafter resumes:
- Calculate requirements and manage HVAC systems, including design, development, compliance, testing, troubleshooting and repair.
- Incorporate ECO's to update and revise the drawings and BOM's on military aircraft antenna test equipment.
- Generate ECR's and ECN's to accommodate customer's requirements.
- Convert 2D drawings into 3D assemblies that can be include into SolidWork's PDM environment.
- Train manufacturing employees on CNC tube benders and how to utilize manufacturing jig and fixtures.
- Supervise 8-member shop including : 2 CNC lathes , 2 manual lathes , 1 milling machine and 3 motor technicians.
- Design mechanical parts for engineering using SolidWorks.
- Enter all engineering and manufacturing information into Windchill.
- Submit BOM and drawing to manufacturing for building Antenna/Multiplexer parts
- Revise product designs and update documentation per ECO requirement.
- Release and update documentation through formalize ECO control procedures.
- Create ECN to capture and correct existing engineering documentation errors.
- Perform finite element analysis of petroleum refinery tower structures and inner components by ANSYS.
- Complete and maintain all necessary documentation in sustaining engineering PDM system in accordance to company procedure.
- Used SolidWorks to design various manufacturing fixtures to provide a more economical and higher quality product.
Mechanical design drafter skills and personality traits
We calculated that 6% of Mechanical Design Drafters are proficient in Design Layouts, Creo, and Assembly Drawings. They’re also known for soft skills such as Detail oriented, Technical skills, and Time-management skills.
We break down the percentage of Mechanical Design Drafters that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Design Layouts, 6%
Job requirements include: documentation of fabrication and assembly drawings, design layouts, and bill of materials.
- Creo, 6%
Utilized and trained company associates on how to use Pro-E (Wildfire IV), CREO and Key Creator.
- Assembly Drawings, 6%
Generated drawings of individual parts and Assembly drawings and bills-of-material for engineering & manufacturing personnel.
- Aided Design, 5%
Utilized CADKEY'99 (3D) and Solidworks'99 (3D) computer aided design tools.
- GD, 5%
Designed and modeled parts and create detailed drawings for procurement with applicable GD and T (ASME Y14.5M) utilizing SolidWorks.
- Auto CAD, 4%
Designed and created modeling for Intel's semiconductor cleaning equipment 8 and 12 product line using PRO-E and Auto CAD software.
Common skills that a mechanical design drafter uses to do their job include "design layouts," "creo," and "assembly drawings." You can find details on the most important mechanical design drafter responsibilities below.
Detail oriented. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a mechanical design drafter to have is detail oriented. Their role and responsibilities require that "drafters must take care that the plans they convert are technically accurate according to the outlined specifications." Mechanical design drafters often use detail oriented in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "release detailed mechanical and assembly drawings to shop floor for manufacturing of machinery and equipment. "
Technical skills. Many mechanical design drafter duties rely on technical skills. "drafters in all specialties must be able to use computer software, such as cad, and work with database tools, such as building information modeling (bim).," so a mechanical design drafter will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways mechanical design drafter responsibilities rely on technical skills: "create technical drawings, specification sheets, packaging, labeling and bom forms. "
Time-management skills. mechanical design drafters are also known for time-management skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to mechanical design drafter responsibilities, because "drafters often work under deadline." A mechanical design drafter resume example shows how time-management skills is used in the workplace: "set multiple goals and met deadlines regularly created mechanical drawings and layouts for coal preparation plants designed rigging loads for plant construction"
Creativity. For certain mechanical design drafter responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "creativity." The day-to-day duties of a mechanical design drafter rely on this skill, as "drafters must be able to turn plans and ideas into technical drawings of buildings, tools, and systems." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what mechanical design drafters do: "create detail, sheet metal, casting, machining and assembly drawings for a new rig by using inventor 2013. "
Math skills. Another crucial skill for a mechanical design drafter to carry out their responsibilities is "math skills." A big part of what mechanical design drafters relies on this skill, since "drafters work on technical drawings." How this skill relates to mechanical design drafter duties can be seen in an example from a mechanical design drafter resume snippet: "created engineering drawings and made 3-dimensional geometry changes to high volume consumer electronic products using ptc creo 2.0 (pro/engineer). "
The three companies that hire the most mechanical design drafters are:
- Nexus Staffing Solutions80 mechanical design drafters jobs
- Great Northern4 mechanical design drafters jobs
- Kiewit4 mechanical design drafters jobs
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Compare different mechanical design drafters
Mechanical design drafter vs. Draftsman
Draftsmen are professionals with expertise in computer-aided design and drafting (CADD) drawings. They perform similar tasks as architects, such as preparing CADD drawings. They typically specialize in different areas, including construction, architecture, or civil engineering. They also prepare drawings for manufacturing. These drawings include technical specifications and details such as dimensions, procedures, and materials. Draftsmen also utilize technical handbooks, tables, and calculators, in addition to CADD. Employers often prefer a draftsman with drafting training, which you can obtain from community colleges or technical institutes.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a mechanical design drafter are more likely to require skills like "design layouts," "creo," "gd," and "plumbing." On the other hand, a job as a draftsman requires skills like "autocad lt," "layout drawings," "construction drawings," and "structural steel." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Draftsmen really shine in the finance industry with an average salary of $52,988. Comparatively, mechanical design drafters tend to make the most money in the technology industry with an average salary of $62,716.The education levels that draftsmen earn slightly differ from mechanical design drafters. In particular, draftsmen are 0.2% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a mechanical design drafter. Additionally, they're 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Mechanical design drafter vs. Drafting engineer
A Drafting Engineer designs and draws the blueprints needed to bring new concepts and products to life. There are three major types of drafting positions: mechanical drafters, electrical and electronics drafters, and architectural and civil drafters.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that mechanical design drafter responsibilities requires skills like "design layouts," "creo," "plumbing," and "fabrication drawings." But a drafting engineer might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "as-built drawings," "architectural drawings," "civil engineering," and "gis."
Drafting engineers may earn a lower salary than mechanical design drafters, but drafting engineers earn the most pay in the utilities industry with an average salary of $63,683. On the other hand, mechanical design drafters receive higher pay in the technology industry, where they earn an average salary of $62,716.drafting engineers earn similar levels of education than mechanical design drafters in general. They're 0.5% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for mechanical design drafters in the next 3-5 years?
Dan Rodenbaugh
Vice President of Education, Director, ADDA
Mechanical design drafter vs. Computer draftsman mechanical
When it comes to a design engineer internship, an intern is primarily responsible for performing support tasks while under the supervision and directives of a manager or a more experienced engineer. Their duties typically revolve around processing documents, updating records and populating databases, responding to inquiries and correspondence, running errands, sharing insights, and even participating in designing projects. Furthermore, as an intern, it is essential to report to the supervising manager and adhere to the company's policies and regulations.
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, mechanical design drafters are more likely to have skills like "creo," "gd," "bom," and "engineering drawings." But a computer draftsman mechanical is more likely to have skills like "cadd," "solidworks," "architectural drawings," and "as-built."
Computer draftsman mechanicals typically earn similar educational levels compared to mechanical design drafters. Specifically, they're 0.9% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.0% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Mechanical design drafter vs. Design engineer internship
Types of mechanical design drafter
Updated January 8, 2025
