CAD Drafter / Mechanical Designer

Rapid City•Rapid City, SD

1d•Onsite

About The Position

RFA Engineering is seeking an entry-level CAD Drafter / Mechanical Designer to join its engineering team. The selected candidate will work onsite at a client facility in Rapid City, South Dakota, alongside the client’s engineering teams and RFA’s experienced engineering staff. The role supports product design and manufacturing by creating and updating 3-D CAD models, component and assembly drawings, and engineering documentation. It offers practical experience with CAD, drafting standards, manufacturing practices, and engineering processes while working collaboratively with engineers, project leads, and other technical team members. RFA Engineering provides product development and engineering services to industry-leading customers, with a primary focus on off-highway equipment, including agricultural, construction, mining, recreational, industrial, and special machines. Its work includes concept development, product design, documentation, problem-solving, simulation, optimization, and testing of components, systems, and complete machines. This is a full-time position with a full benefits package and opportunities for professional growth, potential direct hire by clients, and other opportunities within RFA Engineering. Pay is commensurate with experience, with a stated range of $40,000–$44,000. Visa sponsorship is not available.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
Experience, education, training, internship, or coursework in CAD, drafting, mechanical design, engineering technology, or a related technical field.
Basic ability to read and interpret technical drawings and engineering documentation.
Strong attention to detail and problem-solving skills.
Good written and verbal communication skills.
Good organizational and time-management skills.
Ability to manage changing priorities and meet project deadlines.
Ability to work effectively in a collaborative engineering environment.

Nice To Haves

Mechanical drafting experience involving equipment, machinery, or mechanical components.
Experience with 3-D parametric CAD/modeling software such as PTC Creo, SolidWorks, Autodesk Inventor, CATIA, or similar software.
Experience or coursework involving Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T) and ASME Y14.5.
Associate degree, technical degree, certificate, bachelor's degree, or current enrollment in CAD, drafting, mechanical design, engineering technology, or a related technical program.
Experience creating or modifying mechanical component and assembly drawings.
Experience with manufacturing processes, welding, fabrication, machining, automotive systems, heavy equipment, or other hands-on mechanical work.
Experience with product lifecycle management (PLM) or product data management (PDM) software.
Experience creating or maintaining Bills of Material and engineering change documentation.
Experience creating PDF markups or communicating drawing and design questions to engineering teams.
Experience working with engineers, manufacturing teams, or other technical professionals.
Working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications.
Internship, technical-school, project, or professional drafting experience.
Desire to develop a career in CAD, mechanical design, drafting, manufacturing, or engineering technology.

Responsibilities

Create and modify 3-D CAD models and engineering drawings for mechanical components and assemblies.
Create and update part and assembly drawings based on engineering guidance.
Prepare detailed drawings to support manufacturing and assembly operations.
Review models and drawings for accuracy, completeness, and compliance with applicable engineering standards.
Apply geometric dimensioning and tolerancing principles to engineering drawings.
Create and maintain engineering change documentation for new and revised designs.
Maintain CAD files, Bills of Material, and other product documentation using PLM/PDM systems.
Assist engineers with troubleshooting design, drawing, and modeling issues.
Convert design concepts, sketches, specifications, and engineering guidance into accurate models and drawings.
Collaborate with engineers and technical team members to clarify project requirements and resolve design questions.
Communicate project status, questions, delays, and technical issues to project leads.
Complete assigned drafting and design projects according to established schedules.
Support continuous improvement of drafting practices and engineering documentation.