Manager, Design & Drafting

We are partnering with a Calgary-based industrial manufacturer to find an experienced Manager, Design & Drafting to lead an established technical team through an important period of change. This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who brings both strong people leadership and significant technical depth, and who is comfortable staying close to the work, providing credible technical direction and helping an experienced team strengthen its processes, standards and overall performance.

The Manager will lead a team of designers and drafters across multiple Calgary locations. With the department navigating changes in its design processes and technology, including the use and integration of both Autodesk Inventor and SolidWorks, the successful candidate will help stabilize and strengthen the function, support employees at varying levels of experience, and bring greater consistency to the department's people, processes, tools and technical output.

Key Responsibilities

- Provide hands-on technical and people leadership to a team of designers and drafters across multiple locations
- Assess current workflows, capabilities and priorities and identify opportunities to strengthen the overall effectiveness of the design and drafting function
- Coach and develop junior and intermediate employees while effectively leading highly experienced technical professionals
- Manage scheduling, capacity planning, project priorities and resource allocation across multiple concurrent projects
- Oversee the quality, accuracy, completeness and manufacturability of fabrication drawings, models and drawing packages




- Support the effective use and integration of Autodesk Inventor and SolidWorks within a PDM environment
- Establish and continuously improve drafting standards, templates, component libraries and departmental processes
- Conduct regular one-on-one meetings, performance reviews and professional development planning
- Work closely with engineering, project management, procurement and production to identify and resolve design and fabrication issues
- Build a team culture grounded in technical excellence, collaboration, accountability, knowledge sharing and continuous improvement

Qualifications

- Significant technical experience within industrial equipment design, drafting, fabrication, mechanical engineering or a related environment
- A proven track record of successfully leading and developing a technical design or drafting team
- Experience managing a team with varying levels of experience, ideally including junior, intermediate and senior technical professionals
- Robust knowledge of 3D modelling, 2D detailing, fabrication drawings, assembly documentation and drafting standards
- Strong proficiency with SolidWorks and/or Autodesk Inventor
- Experience with PDM systems and digital document-management workflows




- The ability to critically review drawings and designs for accuracy, completeness and practical manufacturability
- Experience working collaboratively with engineering, project management and production teams
- The ability to remain technically engaged while effectively leading, developing and holding a team accountable
- Strong communication skills and a coaching-oriented leadership approach
- A diploma or degree in Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Technology, Drafting & Design or a related discipline

An engineering background and P.Eng. designation would be an asset given the technical nature of the position. Candidates without an engineering background should bring significant hands-on technical experience in design and drafting.

Nice to have

- Experience with pressure vessels or other complex industrial equipment
- Knowledge of ASME, TEMA or API codes and standards
- Experience in the design of steel structures, pipe racks or skids
- Experience supporting changes to CAD platforms, systems or processes
- Familiarity with Autodesk Vault or comparable document-control systems
- Experience developing or modernizing drafting standards, templates or component libraries
- Formal leadership training, an MBA or other business education

Pay: $120,000.00-$160,000.00 per year

Application question(s):

- Do you have strong proficiency with SolidWorks and/or Autodesk Inventor?
- Do you have experience managing a team with varying levels of experience?

Education:

- Bachelor's Degree (preferred)

Licence/Certification:

- P. Eng (preferred)

Work Location: In person

📌 Design & Drafting Manager (Calgary)
🏢 Debbie Mastel and Associates
📍 Calgary