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Associate Cad Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Hitachi

CAD Engineer

Santa Clara, CA · On-site

$30/hr

No CAD Engineer Company: Hitachi Particle Engineering and Services, Inc. Location: Pleasanton, CA Status: 6 - 12 month contract (eligible for extension) The Company Hitachi Particle Engineering and ...

Protingent

Senior Staff CAD Engineer

San Jose, CA · On-site

$65 - $75/hr

Senior Staff CAD Engineer Position Description : Protingent Staffing has an exciting contract Senior Staff CAD Engineer with our client located in San Jose, CA. * We are looking for a senior IC EDA ...

InterSources Inc

CAD Engineer

Fremont, CA · On-site

They are seeking a CAD Engineer to support SoC design teams by managing cloud native EDA design flows, ensuring smooth operations of job schedulers, and overseeing IT infrastructure. Responsibilities ...

Astranis

Senior CAD Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$123K - $169K/yr

Senior CAD Engineer As an Astranis Senior CAD Engineer you will be a leader in the design and configuration of our spacecraft and the documentation and processes used to transfer from design to ...

Flatiron Construction Corp

CAD Designer

Concord, CA · On-site

$74K - $76K/yr

Technical degree or Associate's degree in Computer Aided Design, Engineering, or related technical field required. * 4+ years of experience with CAD required, inclusive of proficiency in using CAD ...

Flatiron Construction Corp

CAD Designer

Concord, CA · On-site

$60 - $80/hr

Technical degree or Associate's degree in Computer Aided Design, Engineering, or related technical field required. * 4+ years of experience with CAD required, inclusive of proficiency in using CAD ...

Industrious Ventures

CAD Design Engineer

El Segundo, CA · On-site

$100 - $125/hr

The CAD Design Engineer will design and build prototypes for Space Kinetic's core technology to achieve our mission of a flight demo within the next 2 years in a fast-paced startup environment. You ...

Supernal

Sr. Aircraft Layout & CAD Engineer

Irvine, CA · On-site

The Sr. Aircraft Layout & CAD Engineer supports aircraft configuration development, vehicle layout, packaging, and structural design integration for advanced air vehicle concepts. This role develops ...

Flatiron Construction Corp

CAD Designer

Concord, CA · On-site

$76K/yr

Technical degree or Associate's degree in Computer Aided Design, Engineering, or related technical field required. * 4+ years of experience with CAD required, inclusive of proficiency in using CAD ...

Socket.dev

CAD Designer

Concord, CA · On-site

$60 - $80/hr

Technical degree or Associate's degree in Computer Aided Design, Engineering, or related technical field required. * 4+ years of experience with CAD required, inclusive of proficiency in using CAD ...

Flatiron Construction Corp

CAD Designer

Concord, CA

$76K/yr

Technical degree or Associate's degree in Computer Aided Design, Engineering, or related technical field required. * 4+ years of experience with CAD required, inclusive of proficiency in using CAD ...

Apple Inc.

Virtuoso Custom CAD Engineer

Sunnyvale, CA · On-site

$125 - $150/hr

As a CAD Engineer of Custom Infrastructure Support, you will provide support for digital, analog and mixed-signal designs using Cadence. Description In this highly visible role, you will:- Provide ...

Flatiron Construction Corp

CAD Designer

Concord, CA · On-site

$74K - $76K/yr

Technical degree or Associate's degree in Computer Aided Design, Engineering, or related technical field required. * 4+ years of experience with CAD required, inclusive of proficiency in using CAD ...

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Showing results 21-40

All JobsAssociate Cad Engineer JobsAssociate Cad Engineer Jobs in California

Associate Cad Engineer information

What is an associate CAD engineer?

Associate CAD Engineers are entry-level professionals who use computer-aided design (CAD) software to create technical drawings and models for engineering projects. They assist senior engineers by preparing layouts, revising designs, and ensuring that engineering documentation meets project specifications. This role often involves collaborating with other team members and learning industry standards and best practices in drafting and design. Associate CAD Engineers typically work in industries such as architecture, manufacturing, civil engineering, and product design.

What are some typical challenges faced by an associate CAD engineer when working on collaborative design projects?

As an Associate CAD Engineer, one common challenge in collaborative projects is ensuring that all design files are properly managed and synchronized, especially when multiple team members are working on different sections of a model. Additionally, adapting to changing project requirements and maintaining clear communication with engineers, architects, and project managers can be demanding. You'll often need to balance precision in your own work with the flexibility to incorporate feedback and revisions from others, making strong organizational and teamwork skills essential for success.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an associate CAD engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Associate CAD Engineer, you need a solid understanding of engineering principles, technical drawing, and a relevant degree in engineering or design. Proficiency in CAD software such as AutoCAD, SolidWorks, or CATIA, and familiarity with industry standards are typically required. Strong attention to detail, effective problem-solving, and clear communication skills help you collaborate with teams and ensure design accuracy. These skills enable efficient creation of precise technical drawings and successful execution of engineering projects.

What is the difference between Associate Cad Engineer vs CAD Designer?

AspectAssociate Cad EngineerCAD Designer
Required CredentialsDiploma or Bachelor's in Engineering or CAD-related fieldDiploma or Certification in CAD software
Work EnvironmentEngineering firms, construction, manufacturingDesign studios, architecture firms, engineering companies
Employer & Industry UsageUsed in engineering and technical projectsPrimarily in design and drafting tasks

Associate Cad Engineers and CAD Designers both work with CAD software, but Associate Cad Engineers typically have a background in engineering and focus on technical design and analysis, while CAD Designers concentrate on creating detailed drawings and visualizations. The roles often overlap, but Associate Cad Engineers usually handle more technical responsibilities within engineering projects.

Are associate CAD engineers in demand?

Associate CAD engineers are in steady demand across industries such as engineering, architecture, and manufacturing, as companies seek skilled professionals to create and modify technical drawings using CAD software. Demand is driven by ongoing infrastructure projects, product development, and the need for precise design documentation, often requiring proficiency in tools like AutoCAD or SolidWorks. Entry-level roles are available, with growth opportunities for those gaining experience and certifications.

What are the most commonly searched types of Cad Engineer jobs in California?

The most popular types of Cad Engineer jobs in California are:

Infographic showing various Associate Cad Engineer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 74% Full Time, 23% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 96% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 3% Remote job distribution.

Generative AI CAD Engineer

Emeryville, CA • On-site, Remote

Atomic Machines
Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing • 1 - 10 employees
Learn more about Atomic Machinesexternal

Full-time

Re-posted 2 days ago

Job description

Atomic Machines is ushering in a new era of micromanufacturing with its Matter Compiler technology platform. This platform enables new classes of micromachines to be designed and built by providing manufacturing processes and a materials library that are inaccessible to semiconductor manufacturing methods. It unlocks MEMS manufacturing not only for device classes that could never be produced by semiconductor methods, but also for entirely new categories. Furthermore, this digital platform is fully programmable in the way 3D printing is digital-but whereas 3D printing produces parts of a single material using a single process, the Matter Compiler technology platform is a multi-process, multi-material system: bits and raw materials go in, and complete, functional micromachines come out. The Atomic Machines team has also created an exciting first device-made possible only through the Matter Compiler technology platform-that we will be unveiling to the world soon.
 
Our offices are in Emeryville and Santa Clara, California.

About this role

As a Generative AI CAD Engineer, you can shape our CAD/automation workflows by developing generative and programmatic CAD pipelines that transform design specifications into manufacturable micro-device assemblies. You'll collaborate closely with our AI, Modeling & Simulation, and Design engineers to build systems that automatically explore, assemble, and optimize designs from a library of components. You will join a tight cross-functional team dedicated to pushing the limits of computational design.

This position is onsite in our Emeryville, CA office, with openness to an occasional work-from-home arrangement when needed.

When referring to the compensation band below, keep in mind that it can vary depending on the candidate's experience and level. This posting is not associated with a specific level, but it spans Junior, Senior, and Staff levels, i.e. L4 to L6. The level will be defined upon application. We actively encourage recent graduates, PhDs, and postdocs to apply. A strong research record can substitute for industry experience, and we will consider strong Junior candidates who are excited to grow into a leadership role.

What You'll Do:

  • Develop GenAI-driven workflows for CAD generation and automated design exploration.
  • Build CAD workflows that programmatically construct, modify, and evaluate 3D assemblies.
  • Create and maintain a library of parametric components for generative design exploration and training.
  • Curate and parse large sets of CAD models with product, manufacturing, and tolerance information into both standardized APIs and batchable datasets for training generative models.

What You'll Need:

Required

  • Knowledge of AI-based CAD generation, generative models for 3D geometry, or generative design algorithms, demonstrated through coursework, research, publications, or substantial projects.
  • Proficiency in interacting with CAD or geometry tooling via APIs (Python, Rust, or other relevant languages).
  • Familiarity with CAD interoperability standards (STEP, IGES, JT, GLTF, or similar).
  • Experience with NURBS and B-Rep.
  • Bachelor's, Master's, or PhD degree in Computer Science, Machine Learning, Computational Design, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Applied Math, or a related field. Recent graduates are welcome.

Nice to have

  • Strong background in programmatic CAD workflows or programmatic 3D geometry (e.g., with Onshape API, SolidWorks API, Fusion API, CadQuery, Build123d, FreeCAD, or similar).
  • Experience with CAD manipulation and parametrization, including scripting and automation.
  • Experience with geometric modeling kernels (e.g., OpenCascade, Parasolid).
  • Experience with implicit geometric representations (SDFs, neural fields, occupancy networks).
  • Experience with meshing, especially for simulation or manufacturing purposes.
  • Experience with Model-Based Definitions.
  • Experience with simulation-in-the-loop design, shape optimization, or topology optimization workflows.
  • Contributions to open-source CAD, geometry, or 3D ML libraries.

Apply