Lead Drafter

Palm Harbor Homes•Richland Township, PA

16h•$60,000 - $75,000

About The Position

The Lead Drafter is responsible for coordinating and overseeing the daily drafting activities required to produce accurate, complete, code-compliant, and production-ready drawings for modular homes. This role serves as the primary technical resource for the drafting team and acts as a liaison between Drafting, Engineering, Production, Sales, Estimating, and other departments. The Lead Drafter is expected to lead by example, maintain drafting standards, identify errors before they reach production, assist in resolving design and construction issues, and develop less-experienced drafters. This position requires maintaining a high level of accuracy while meeting established production schedules and company quality standards.

Requirements

Strong CAD/BIM drafting skills.
Ability to read and interpret architectural and structural drawings.
Strong understanding of residential construction.
Understanding of modular construction methods.
Understanding of building codes applicable to modular construction.
Knowledge of construction materials and methods.
Ability to interpret engineering documents.
Strong understanding of dimensions, tolerances, specifications, and construction details.
Strong computer skills.
Ability to learn and utilize company-specific drafting and manufacturing software.
Ability to train and mentor employees.
Ability to prioritize work.
Ability to make sound technical decisions.
Strong problem-solving ability.
Strong attention to detail.
Ability to hold team members accountable to established standards.
Ability to communicate professionally with multiple departments.
Ability to work effectively under production deadlines.
High school diploma or equivalent.
Typically, 3–5 years of relevant drafting experience.
Demonstrated ability to independently complete complex drafting assignments.
Demonstrated ability to review and correct the work of other drafters.
3-5 years experience as a Drafter
High School Diploma with Drafting Fundamentals exposure
One or more years of manufacturing assembly experience or one or more years of drafting experience
Strong computer skills and understanding of relevant software packages
Strong mechanical skills
Motivated self-starter with a strong tolerance for change

Nice To Haves

Technical drafting, CAD, architectural, engineering, or construction education preferred.
Modular or residential construction experience is strongly preferred.
An associate degree or technical-school background can be valuable, although demonstrated drafting competency and industry experience are also important.

Responsibilities

Prepare and review architectural, structural, manufacturing, and installation drawings for modular homes.
Develop floor plans, elevations, sections, details, schedules, and related construction documents.
Incorporate customer options, engineering requirements, manufacturing requirements, and approved changes into drawings.
Ensure drawings accurately reflect approved home designs and specifications.
Review dimensions, materials, structural components, openings, mechanical locations, and other critical construction information.
Maintain accurate CAD/BIM files and drawing records.
Make revisions and corrections as required.
Assist with development and maintenance of standard home plans, details, and drafting templates.
Review drawings for accuracy and completeness before release to production.
Identify drafting errors, conflicts, omissions, and inconsistencies.
Verify drawings against approved specifications, options, engineering requirements, and company standards.
Reduce drafting-related production errors, rework, delays, and material waste.
Participate in root-cause analysis when drafting errors reach production.
Maintain and improve departmental quality control procedures.
Provide daily technical guidance to drafters.
Assign or coordinate drafting work as directed by management.
Review work produced by junior and intermediate drafters.
Assist with training and onboarding of new drafting employees.
Mentor employees seeking advancement within the drafting department.
Establish consistent drafting practices and standards.
Help resolve difficult drafting and design problems.
Serve as a technical escalation point before issues are sent to management or engineering.
Work closely with Production to identify and resolve drawing-related issues.
Respond to production questions concerning drawings and specifications.
Investigate manufacturing problems that may originate from design or drafting.
Participate in continuous improvement initiatives.
Visit the manufacturing floor when necessary to understand construction methods and improve drawings.
Ensure drafting practices support efficient manufacturing and minimize unnecessary complexity.
Work effectively with Engineering, Production, Purchasing, Estimating, Sales, Project Management, Quality Control, and Installation / Field Operations.
Communicate technical information clearly to individuals who may not have a drafting or engineering background.