CAREERS that use . . .

Technical Drawing Program

CAREERS that use TECHNICAL DRAWING SKILLS

TRACERS

Entry level drafter with basic skills in technical drawing and CAD and able to visualize the shape and size of objects;
Works with Senior Drafter making corrections or changes to detail and assembly drawings;
May become a Drafter after eight to twelve months of work experience;
One or two courses of high school drawing and an aptitude for seeing how things work.

DRAFTERS and DETAILERS

Highly skilled in technical drawing/CAD skills and able to understand applied mathematics and basic physics principles;
Drafters work with Detailers making standardized drawings of basic parts and may become Detailers after eighteen to 24 months;
Detailers work from engineer's layout drawings to prepare scale detail drawings of individual parts and assembly drawings of how parts fit together;
Detailers may become Senior Drafters after three to five years;
Senior Drafters supervise a team of Detailers, Drafters and Tracers;
One or two courses of high school drawing plus a minimum of one year of post high school training.

TECHNICIANS

Highly trained in practical aspects of engineering, manufacturing procedures and technical drawing/CAD principles;
Works with engineers, drafters and tradesmen in the assembly and testing of prototypes;
Minimum of two years of college training in technology fields.

ENGINEERS

Highly trained in mathematics and sciences with emphasis in one of the following areas: architectural, mechanical, civil, electrical, industrial, structural, chemical, etc.
Works with other designers to make an idea work; selects materiels, production methods and prepares final layout drawing of the final design;
Four years of college training in Engineering plus 3 to 5 years of work experience to become a Professional Engineer

PRODUCT ENGINEERS

Highly trained in mathematics and sciences with emphasis in one of the following areas: architectural, mechanical, civil, electrical, industrial, structural, chemical, etc.
Additional training in engineering systems and manufacturing or construction processes as well as supervisory procedures and techniques
Supervises a team of engineers and designers for a product line; schedules work loads and deadlines, checks work of team, prepares reports and makes presentations;
Four years of college training in Engineering, additional course work in supervisory program plus 6 to 10 years of work experience as a Professional Engineer, and may have an MBA

CHECKER

Highly trained in mathematics and sciences with emphasis in one of the following areas: architectural, mechanical, civil, electrical, industrial, structural, chemical, etc.
Works with product engineers to check accuracy of designs, fit of operational assemblies and compatibility of design with company standards;
Four years of college training in Engineering plus 15 to 20 years of work experience as a Professional Engineer

CHIEF ENGINEERS

Highly trained in mathematics and sciences with emphasis in one of the following areas: architectural, mechanical, civil, electrical, industrial, structural, chemical, etc.
Advanced degree in engineering systems and manufacturing or construction processes or business administration
Supervises a department of engineering teams for all products; assigns projects to teams and establishes budgets; meets with product engineers; prepares reports and makes presentations;
Four years of college training in Engineering, Masters Degree in specialized area of enginerring plus 10 to 15 years of work experience as a Professional Engineer, and has received an MBA

DESIGNERS

Thinkers! Very talented, highly creative individuals that are trained in problem solving techniques and making products attractive to consumers;
Works with other designers analyzing problems and developing ideas into solutions;
Four years of college training plus extensive experience in planning and design.

ARCHITECTS

Highly creative individual with a background in planning, design and construction with an emphasis on aesthetic appearance of structure;
Works with other architects, engineers and contractors in the design and construction of structures;
five years of college training plus two to five years of work experience to become a licensed architect.

CRAFTSMEN or TRADESMEN

Highly skilled carpenters, electricians, machinists, welders, plumbers, cabinet makers, sheet metal workers, etc.
Works with tools and machines to produce parts and assemblies of products from the detail drawings;
One or two years of vocational training plus an apprenticeship and several years of experience.

APPRENTICE

Entry level craftsman with basic skills in one of the trades listed above and has aptitude for working with tools and materials;
Works with an experienced craftsman to learn how to use tools and machines to produce parts or construct products;
One or more years of high school or vocational training plus a sponsor from one of the trades.

TECHNICAL ILLUSTRATOR

Highly skilled in pictorial (three dimensional) drawing/CAD skills, and able to visualize the shape of objects from two dimensional drawings;
Works from detail drawings of individual parts and assembly drawings of how parts fit together to prepare three dimensional drawings for owner's manuals, repair instructions, assembly instruction sheets, brochures, charts, graphs, etc.;
Three or four courses of high school drawing and art plus a minimum of two years of post high school training and three to five years of work experience or a four year degree in commercial art.