CAD Designer

Job Summary
Air Tractor, Inc. currently has an available full-time position for a highly experienced CAD Designer. Unlike a traditional drafting role, this position requires a design champion who can independently develop aircraft parts, assemblies, and installations with minimal engineering oversight.
As our resident Autodesk Inventor expert, you will have the mechanical maturity to take high-level concepts and transform them into production-ready 3D models. You will possess a deep understanding of manufacturing processes and aircraft structures, allowing you to make independent design decisions regarding fit, form, and function.
Job Responsibilities

• Aircraft Design: Independently design, model, and develop complex 3D components, sheet metal parts, and large top-down assemblies/installations in Autodesk Inventor with minimal engineering intervention.
• Independent Problem Solving: Evaluate structural interfaces, spatial constraints, and tolerance stack-ups on the aircraft, making proactive design adjustments without needing detailed engineering instructions.
• Drawing & Layout Creation: Create and maintain highly accurate 3D CAD models, layout drawings, and production-ready manufacturing prints using Autodesk Inventor and AutoCAD.
• Data & Vault Management: Manage, structure, and check design data files utilizing the Autodesk Vault database to ensure strict version control and data integrity.
• Manufacturing Integration: Coordinate directly with the shop floor, toolmakers, and fabrication teams to optimize part geometry for production and resolve manufacturing issues seamlessly.

Applicant Requirements

• Experience: Minimum of 5 – 7+ years of dedicated experience working as a mechanical CAD Designer or Design Technologist in a manufacturing or product development environment.
• Education: 2-year Technical or Associate degree in Mechanical Design, Computer-Aided Drafting/Design (CADD), Mechanical Engineering Technology, Certified Autodesk AutoCAD or Inventor Professional credential or equivalent field experience.
• Autodesk Inventor: Expert-level proficiency in Autodesk Inventor, specifically with advanced parametric modeling, sheet metal design, and large assembly management.
• Autodesk AutoCAD: Expert-level proficiency in AutoCAD, specifically with 2D drafting, drawing setup and layouts.
• Autodesk Vault: Strong working knowledge of the Autodesk Vault database environment.
• Minimal Supervision Drive: A self-starter with a track record of owning design projects from initial concept through final production release with low oversight.
• Legal Requirement: Applicants must be U.S. Persons as defined by the ITAR (22 CFR 120.15).

Preferred Attributes

• Must be highly organized, an effective communicator, and possess an exceptional mechanical aptitude.
• Expert-level capability in reading, interpreting, and validating engineering and technical drawings.
• Experience in Microsoft Word, Excel, Access Database, and Outlook.

Our Company fully subscribes to the principles of Equal Employment Opportunity. It is our policy to provide employment, compensation and other benefits related to employment based on qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, veteran status, genetic information, disability, or any other basis prohibited by federal, state or local law. In accordance with requirements of the American's with Disabilities Act and applicable state laws, it is our policy to provide reasonable accommodation upon request during the application process to eligible applicants in order that they may be given a full and fair opportunity to be considered for employment. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we intend to comply fully with applicable federal and State employment laws and the information requested on this application will only be used for purposes consistent with those laws.

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