Technician II/III: Drafter and CAD specialist at Nlr — Golden, CO

Posting Title

Technician II/III: Drafter and CAD specialist.

Location

CO - Golden.

Position Type

Regular.

Hours Per Week

40.

Working at NLR

Job Description

The National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR) is seeking an experienced Design Drafter and CAD Specialist to create, revise, maintain, and control technical drawing files supporting research operations. In this role, you will collaborate with cross-functional stakeholders—including engineers, technicians, and project managers—to ensure research equipment is accurately designed, approved, fabricated, installed, and maintained. Your work will span a diverse range of projects, from high-level facility layouts to component-level detail drawings.

This position requires strong technical drafting knowledge alongside advanced CAD proficiency. The successful candidate will produce accurate, organized, and reusable drawings. Effective documentation will support ongoing design, maintenance, troubleshooting, and project planning efforts. Maintaining organized files will enable long-term record documentation and utilization.

This position is based in Golden Colorado at the South Table Mountain Campus. The successful candidate will be expected to work primarily on site.

Primary Responsibilities

• Drawing Creation & Revision: Develop and update detailed 2D drawings and 3D models using AutoCAD and SolidWorks from field measurements, redlines, sketches, vendor data, and physical photographs.
• Facility & Equipment Documentation: Maintain comprehensive drawings of facility layouts, architectural backgrounds, equipment arrangements, and process systems.
• Architectural Drafting: Apply core architectural drafting principles to existing facility conditions to develop floor plans, elevations, and section views. Detail drawings to include equipment dimensions, and appropriate clearances to assist in planning efforts.
• Process Piping Diagrams: Create and maintain internal schematics documenting compressed gas lines, flow paths, valves, regulators, instrumentation, and other components(internal P&ID equivalents).
• Mechanical design: Design 3D models, fully dimensioned 2D drawings for fabrication, and develop bills of materials (BOMs) from assemblies. Examples would include simple bracket development, custom in vacuum hardware or fixtures, and full compressed gas panel BOMs.
• CAD File Management Standards: Maintain drawings as structured technical documents utilizing disciplined layer control, XREFs, blocks, viewports, and strict file-naming conventions. Adhere to use of Model Space for physical design geometry and Paper Space for sheet layouts, annotations, and plotting documentation.
• Data Integrity: Support record drawing control by preserving historic files, separating active project work from master files, and incorporating approved revisions into the record set.
• Field Verification: Work within laboratories to review drawings against physical field conditions to identify and correct discrepancies.
• Stakeholder Communication: Collaborate with engineers, technicians, and maintenance personnel to clarify design intent and verify technical data.
• Standards & Mentorship: Champion internal CAD standards and procedures while providing technical guidance and knowledge transfer to staff without a formal drafting background.

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Basic Qualifications

High School Diploma or equivalent and 4 or more years of experience or equivalent relevant education/experience. Or, relevant Associate's Degree or certification program of comparable scope and 2 or more years of experience or equivalent relevant education/experience. Full knowledge of specialized focused support functions. Complete acquaintance with and understanding of the general and detailed aspects of the supported activities, and their practical applications to problems and situations ordinarily encountered. Proficient in research techniques and practices. Solid communication, interpersonal, project management and customer relations skills.

Eligibility requirements: Government Access Controlled Systems - This position will require access to sensitive information, Government facilities, and/or Government information systems restricted to individuals with US citizenship. Only applicants that are US Citizens at the time of application will be considered.

Controlled Unclassified Information - This position will require access to Controlled Unclassified Information which may include restricted dissemination requirements based on citizenship. As a result, applicants may be excluded from consideration based on citizenship in accordance with DOE O 471.7, Controlled Unclassified Information. https://www.directives.doe.gov/news/new-doe-o-471-7-controlled-unclassified-information

• Must meet educational requirements prior to employment start date.

Additional Required Qualifications

• Strong proficiency in architectural drafting, facility documentation, and CAD best practices.
• Proven machine-design drafting capability, fabricated parts, fixturing, and equipment modifications.
• Familiarity with industry drafting standards (e.g., ASME Y14.5).
• Practical understanding of fabrication methods, mechanical assembly requirements, fasteners, and tolerances.
• Ability to interpret complex technical drawings, redlines, field sketches, and vendor documentation.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams).
• Strong attention to detail, communication skills, and organizational habits.

Preferred Qualifications

• Hands-on experience building, troubleshooting, or maintaining mechanical, electrical, or process piping systems. Ability to read, create and revise electrical schematics.
• Knowledge of fluid/pressure systems and components (specifically Swagelok components).
• Experience with Unistrut, 8020 or other modular industrial framing systems.
• Experience with metal fabrication tools, such as drill presses, bandsaws, Bridgeport style mills, and or lathes.
• Experience with 3D printing or other rapid prototyping.

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Job Application Submission Window

Job Profile: Research Technician III / Annual Salary Range: $57,900 - $95,500

Job Profile: Research Technician II / Annual Salary Range: $51,200 - $81,900

Benefits Summary

Benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance; short*- and long-term disability insurance; pension benefits*; 403(b) Employee Savings Plan with employer match*; life and accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance; personal time off (PTO) and sick leave; paid holidays; and tuition reimbursement*. NLR employees may be eligible for, but are not guaranteed, performance-, merit-, and achievement- based awards that include a monetary component. Some positions may be eligible for relocation expense reimbursement. Limited-term positions are not eligible for long-term disability or tuition reimbursement.

• Based on eligibility rules

Badging Requirement

Drug Free Workplace

Submission Guidelines

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Equal Opportunity Employer

Reasonable Accommodations