Computer Aided Design Apprentice Jobs in Huntington, NY

At Blue Nile, the CAD Operation Specialist manages the operational flow of the CAD team, which includes jobs to and from external casting houses as well as internal communications with inventory management and the production team. This role is scheduling submissions, tracking vendor turnaround, and coordinating job logistics so production keeps moving on schedule. This role sits downstream of CAD file preparation, focusing on job sequencing, vendor coordination, and ERP-driven tracking across the team as well as the full outsourced casting pipeline, working closely with the CAD Technician and Production teams to ensure a steady, well-documented flow of work in and out of the manufacturing.

• Verify CAD files for accuracy and production-readiness prior to submission to casting houses, including polysurface integrity, wall thickness, and model accuracy checks in Rhino 8 and Matrix Gold.
• Schedule and sequence outgoing CAD job submissions to casting house vendors to balance vendor capacity, priority deadlines, and production demand.
• Coordinate day-to-day communication with casting house contacts - confirming submissions, tracking turnaround status, and resolving discrepancies or delays.
• Track and log casting orders, purchase orders, vendor turnaround times, and defect/return rates for reporting purposes.
• Coordinate receipt and intake of returned cast pieces, ensuring accurate labeling, job traceability, and handoff to QC and production teams.
• Coordinate the return of unneeded or excess castings to casting houses, ensuring accurate documentation and timely processing.
• Maintain organized job records and casting order pipelines within the ERP system, keeping job status current for supervisors and the production floor.
• Flag holds, delays, or vendor-side issues promptly and escalate recurring problems to Manufacturing Excellence leadership.
• Partner with the CAD Technician and design team to relay vendor feedback on file readiness and casting outcomes.
• Maintain and monitor casting house purchase orders, invoices, and job references for accuracy against production records.
• Support continuous improvement efforts to reduce casting turnaround variability, rework, and vendor-related delays.
• Organize and maintain structured filing systems for training documents, SOPs, and QC materials to ensure accessibility, consistency, and version control.
• Support preparation and standardization of QC training documentation, including tolerance guidelines, defect definitions, and onboarding materials aligned with workflows.
• Develop and maintain SOPs for manufacturing, QC, and production, ensuring alignment with operational practices and consistency across the team.
• Create, organize, and maintain a detailed CAD-based specification library for core products.
• Develop and refine technical specifications for production and quality control use.
• Translate current production files into clear, accurate technical specifications and documentation.
• Ensure all specifications meet internal standards and quality requirements.
• Collaborate with CAD, Quality, and Production teams to validate specifications and ensure they meet required use cases.

Requirements

• Diploma or degree in Jewelry Design, 3D Design, Manufacturing Technology, or a related technical field preferred. Equivalent hands-on experience will be considered.
• Proficiency in Rhino 8 and Matrix Gold is key - required for CAD file verification prior to casting house submission.
• Ability to use CAD software (Rhino 8, Matrix Gold) to create detailed technical reports and renderings for production and merchandising use.
• General understanding of jewelry casting processes and common casting defects.
• Ability to read and interpret design renderings, job bags, and engineering documents.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills for vendor correspondence and internal coordination.
• Highly organized - able to manage multiple job submissions, vendor timelines, and ERP entries without losing track of priorities.
• Comfortable working independently while collaborating effectively with the CAD, casting, production, and QC teams.
• Adaptable and detail-oriented in a fast-paced, multi-order production environment where accuracy and follow-through matter
• Proficient in Microsoft 365 (Outlook, Excel, Word, Teams) for vendor communication, tracking, and reporting.
• Comfortable working within an ERP system to track job orders, update status, and manage casting house documentation.
• Experience with SharePoint or OneDrive for organized file storage is a plus.

Benefits

The hourly pay range for this job is $22.00 - $28.00. Base pay offered may vary depending on geographic region, internal equity, job-related knowledge, skills & experience, among other factors. Regular positions are eligible for discretionary bonus. Blue Nile offers medical, vision, dental coverage and 401(k) employer match amongst other benefits for eligible positions.

At this time, Blue Nile will not sponsor a new applicant for employment authorization for this position.

Additional Information: Blue Nile is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex (including pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions), race, color, age, national origin, religion, disability, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender reassignment, citizenship, immigration status, protected veteran status or any other basis prohibited under applicable federal, state or local law. Blue Nile will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable law. #LI-WK1