CAD Technician

Overview and Key Facts

What Do They Do?

A CAD technician could...

Overview Listen to this section

CAD (computer-aided design) technicians combine art and engineering to prepare the technical drawings and plans from which everything in the world is made—from toys to toasters, houses to hoses, satellites to sewer systems. CAD technicians are essential to the design and construction of everything you see around you.

Do You Have the Skills and Characteristics of a CAD Technician?

1. Active Listening: ? Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
2. Critical Thinking: ? Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
3. Reading Comprehension: ? Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
4. Speaking: ? Talking to others to convey information effectively.
5. Writing: ? Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

6. Judgment and Decision Making: ? Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
7. Systems Analysis: ? Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
8. Complex Problem Solving: ? Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
9. Time Management: ? Managing one's own time and the time of others.
10. Monitoring: ? Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Core Tasks

Think about if you'd like the typical tasks a CAD Technician might do:

• Produce drawings, using computer-assisted drafting systems (CAD) or drafting machines, or by hand, using compasses, dividers, protractors, triangles, and other drafting devices.
• Draft plans and detailed drawings for structures, installations, and construction projects, such as highways, sewage disposal systems, and dikes, working from sketches or notes.
• Coordinate structural, electrical, and mechanical designs and determine a method of presentation to graphically represent building plans.
• Analyze building codes, by-laws, space and site requirements, and other technical documents and reports to determine their effect on architectural designs.
• Draw maps, diagrams, and profiles, using cross-sections and surveys, to represent elevations, topographical contours, subsurface formations, and structures.
• Lay out and plan interior room arrangements for commercial buildings, using computer-assisted drafting (CAD) equipment and software.
• Supervise and train other technologists, technicians, and drafters.
• Determine the order of work and method of presentation, such as orthographic or isometric drawing.
• Finish and duplicate drawings and documentation packages according to required mediums and specifications for reproduction, using blueprinting, photography, or other duplicating methods.
• Draw rough and detailed scale plans for foundations, buildings, and structures, based on preliminary concepts, sketches, engineering calculations, specification sheets, and other data.
• Correlate, interpret, and modify data obtained from topographical surveys, well logs, and geophysical prospecting reports.
• Check dimensions of materials to be used and assign numbers to lists of materials.
• Determine procedures and instructions to be followed, according to design specifications and quantity of required materials.
• Supervise or conduct field surveys, inspections, or technical investigations to obtain data required to revise construction drawings.
• Explain drawings to production or construction teams and provide adjustments as necessary.
• Obtain and assemble data to complete architectural designs, visiting job sites to compile measurements as necessary.
• Determine quality, cost, strength, and quantity of required materials, and enter figures on materials lists.
• Locate and identify symbols on topographical surveys to denote geological and geophysical formations or oil field installations.
• Create freehand drawings and lettering to accompany drawings.
• Calculate excavation tonnage and prepare graphs and fill-hauling diagrams for use in earth-moving operations.
• Prepare colored drawings of landscape and interior designs for presentation to client.
• Calculate weights, volumes, and stress factors and their implications for technical aspects of designs.
• Prepare cost estimates, contracts, bidding documents, and technical reports for specific projects under an architect's or engineer's supervision.
• Represent architect or engineer on construction site, ensuring builder compliance with design specifications and advising on design corrections, under supervision.
• Review rough sketches, drawings, specifications, and other engineering data to ensure that they conform to design concepts.