CAD Designer are people who enjoy tinkering and creating. Fortunately, CAD Designers may select from a number of disciplines, such as architecture or engineering, each with its own set of income prospects and employment development statistics.
Let us know about Career as a CAD Designer!
About CAD Designer
CAD designers create drawings, blueprints, plans, and other design documents for use in a number of disciplines using specialised computer software (mechanical design, architecture, construction, engineering, etc.). An associate’s degree is usually required for entry into this industry. Someone who loves problem solving, sketching, or working with engineers might be interested in this area.
Roles and Responsibilities
There are various responsibilities on the shoulder of a CAD professional. To begin with, you will be responsible for working with architects and design engineers to understand the requirements of their initial designs and turn them into accurate and detailed technical drawings in 2D and 3D models. Moreover, being creative and full of designs is one of the most important skills required to become a successful CAD professional. To add on, you will be building projects starting from estimating cost and feasibility to creating the blueprints for manufacturing and instructions for installation.
Eligibility
A suitable degree, college course, or apprenticeship can help you become a CAD technician. A bachelor’s degree is not required for employment as a CAD technician, although it can help with engineering and technical expertise. All engineering disciplines, architecture, manufacturing, information technology, and design are relevant degrees. Graduates can obtain entry-level jobs as CAD designers to get industry experience before moving on to other engineering positions like design engineer, civil engineer, or architect. The most common path to becoming a CAD technician is to complete an apprenticeship or advanced apprenticeship in engineering design and drafting or computer-aided design with a company.
| Required Education | Associate’s degree or certificate |
| Other Requirements | Optional certification available from the American Design Drafting Association |
| Projected Job Outlook (2019-2029)* | 4% decline for all drafters |
| Median Salary (May 2019)* | $57,060 (architectural and civil drafters); $57,060 (mechanical drafters); $61,530 (electrical and electronics drafters) |
Job profiles
Mechanical Design and CAD
A mechanical designer and CAD technician is someone who enjoys working with engineers and assisting with the design and specifications of drawings. This curriculum, which is usually provided as an associate’s degree, prepares students for entry-level drawing employment or for transfer to a four-year engineering degree programme.
Architectural/Construction Engineering
An architectural/construction engineering technician is someone who is interested in all aspects of construction and structural design. Technicians study green construction methods in addition to aiding engineers and architects. Courses in CAD, engineering drawing, mechanical and electrical systems, green building approaches, and architectural drawing are all part of an associate degree programme in architectural/construction technology.
Aerospace Engineering
Aircraft designs and blueprints are created by those who engage in aeronautical engineering drawing. This programme is for people who want to work in the aerospace industry or go on to graduate school in this or similar disciplines. The programme integrates engineering fundamentals and aerospace engineering courses. CAD, engineering graphics, fluid physics, and aerodynamics are among the subjects covered in this course.
Biomechanical Engineering
A career in mechanical engineering may be appealing to those who desire to apply mechanical engineering concepts to the medical area. Graduates might work in the sports and rehabilitation business, medical institutions, or research. Students take CAD-related courses in addition to learning about physiology and anatomy, human joint mechanics, and biomedical materials.
Salary Insights
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), overall drafter employment is predicted to decline by 4% between 2018 and 2028, while electrical and electronics drafter employment is expected to grow by 1% over the same period (www.bls.gov). In May of this year, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the median annual salary for architectural and civil drafters was $56,340. The median annual salary for electrical and mechanical drafters was $61,530 and $57,060, respectively.
Scope
In the beginning, newly certified and junior CAD technicians may work on modest tasks, such as making adjustments to existing drawings or transferring paper drawings to computer. Your job may evolve as you acquire experience, allowing you to be more involved in the design process and work on larger projects. Junior CAD technicians can advance to senior CAD technician positions, which may include leading a team of technicians, supervising work in the design office, and directing overall project management. Apprenticeships and college programmes can lead to a bachelor’s degree in a relevant subject, such as civil engineering, and EngTech certification.
Resources for CAD Designer
Before you can become an expert in desired areas, you must first build a solid base. Before you can move on to practical teaching, you’ll need to have the right applied skills. To gain better understanding of the domain, you can use the following tools:
- Firstly, Online Tutorials for CAD Designer
- Also, Certification Courses from verified sources such as Vskills, Coursera, Udemy and so on.
- In addition, Online communities
- Moreover, Blogs and study material from experts in this field and many more.
Here are some examples of how you can improve your abilities:
- Freelancing
- Internships
- Apprenticeship programs
The above steps will help you to get this domain started. It’s a long way to go, however. You can take an advanced course to reach a new level of skills.
Some resources offered by Vskills
Vskills offer CAD Designer professional certification for all those interested in working in this field or in advancing their career. This certification course covers the following topics –
- Introduction to CAD
- AutoCAD User Interface
- AutoCAD Drawing File
- CAD Work Process
- Precision Tools
- Drawing Views
- CAD Drawing
- Objects
- Blocks
- 3D Views
- 3D Models
- Shading and Rendering
- Annotate Drawings
- Plot, Publish and Share Drawings
Vskills also offers free practice tests and online tutorials to supplement the learning process. You can check them by clicking on the following links –
Discover the career opportunities and other prospects of Career as CAD Designer. Hurry up and start preparing now with Vskills.in!
