Skip to content

Engineering > Mechanical Designer/ Drafter

Salary National Average

Low Medium High
55940.0000 61340.0000 74080.0000

Supply and Demand

Candidate Supply: 599 Job Openings: 107

0 50 100

More Difficult Less Difficult

Salary Variance

Enter City, State to view local salaries and candidate demand.

Short Description:

A Mechanical Designer/Drafter creates detailed technical drawings and designs for mechanical systems and components using CAD software. They work closely with engineers and project teams to develop accurate blueprints, ensuring designs meet project specifications, industry standards, and safety regulations. The role involves revising designs based on feedback, conducting calculations, and selecting appropriate materials for manufacturing. Mechanical Designers/Drafters must have strong technical skills, attention to detail, and the ability to interpret complex engineering concepts. Their work supports the production and functionality of mechanical equipment and systems across various industries.

Duties / Responsibilities:

  • Read and interpret blueprints, technical drawings, schematics, or computer-generated reports.
  • Research, design, evaluate, install, operate, or maintain mechanical products, equipment, systems or processes to meet requirements.
  • Confer with engineers or other personnel to implement operating procedures, resolve system malfunctions, or provide technical information.
  • Develop, coordinate, or monitor all aspects of production, including selection of manufacturing methods, fabrication, or operation of product designs.
  • Investigate equipment failures or difficulties to diagnose faulty operation and recommend remedial actions.
  • Develop or test models of alternate designs or processing methods to assess feasibility, sustainability, operating condition effects, potential new applications, or necessity of modification.
  • Specify system components or direct modification of products to ensure conformance with engineering design, performance specifications, or environmental regulations. 
  • Recommend design modifications to eliminate machine or system malfunctions.
  • Assist drafters in developing the structural design of products, using drafting tools or computer-assisted drafting equipment or software.
  • Oversee installation, operation, maintenance, or repair to ensure that machines or equipment are installed and functioning according to specifications.

Skills / Requirements / Qualifications

  • 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.
  • Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
  • Mathematics: Using mathematics to solve problems.
  • Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
  • Science: Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
  • Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
  • Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
  • Operations Analysis: Analyzing needs and product requirements to create a design.
  • Active Learning: Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
  • Systems Evaluation: Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.

Job Zones

  • Title: Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
  • Education: Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
  • Related Experience: A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
  • Job Training: Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
  • Job Zone Examples: Many of these occupations involve coordinating, supervising, managing, or training others. Examples include real estate brokers, sales managers, database administrators, graphic designers, chemists, art directors, and cost estimators.
  • SVP Range: (7.0 to < 8.0)

Share Role Details

Return to job listings