Computer Aided Design Associate Jobs in Champaign, IL

Job Title: CAD Technician

Job Description

This CAD Technician role focuses on collaborating closely with engineers to create, refine, and manage detailed drawings for new and existing products. You will support the development of new designs, implement drawing changes, and act as a key administrator within the CAD management system. This position offers the opportunity to contribute creatively to product concepts while gaining hands-on experience with CAD systems and engineering workflows in a flexible, supportive environment.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with engineers to complete accurate and detailed drawings for new products.
• Implement drawing changes based on marked-up drawings or example prints, ensuring all updates are precise and aligned with engineering intent.
• Support the development of potential new designs through creative collaboration with the engineering team.
• Assist in refining initial design concepts and filling in design gaps to create complete, manufacturable drawings.
• Work within the CAD management system to upload drawings, check statuses, and advance drawings through the approval process.
• Act as a CAD administrator for a small engineering team, ensuring smooth operation of CAD tools and processes.
• Stay current with the latest CAD software updates and features, and apply new capabilities to improve drawing quality and efficiency.
• Maintain and update drawing templates as needed to align with current standards and best practices.
• Manage drawing workflows through defined approval processes, ensuring proper documentation and traceability.
• Apply version control and adhere to documentation standards within the engineering environment.
• Balance and prioritize multiple projects and requests from several engineers at the same time.
• Work independently to drive assigned tasks to completion while maintaining high levels of accuracy and attention to detail.

Essential Skills

• Proficiency in CAD software, with strong ability to create, modify, and manage detailed drawings.
• Experience using Autodesk Inventor or similar 3D CAD tools to support mechanical design and documentation.
• Solid understanding of mechanical design principles, including the ability to refine initial concepts and fill in design gaps.
• Ability to interpret example prints and marked-up drawings and implement changes accurately.
• Experience managing drawing workflows through formal approval processes.
• Understanding of version control practices and documentation standards in engineering environments.
• Ability to juggle priorities and manage a high volume of projects and requests from multiple engineers.
• Strong attention to detail and the ability to follow direction while driving tasks to conclusion independently.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience with AutoCAD or other CAD platforms in addition to Inventor.
• Experience in mechanical design or drafting within a manufacturing or product development environment.
• Interest in contributing creative ideas to new product concepts and design improvements.
• Comfort working in a fast-paced setting with multiple active projects.
• Ability to thrive in a collaborative environment while also working effectively with minimal supervision.

Work Environment

The work environment is fast-paced, with multiple active projects running concurrently and a strong emphasis on accuracy and detail. The team operates in a collaborative setting that also values independent work and personal accountability. You will work as part of a small, focused engineering group with clear reporting lines and access to mentorship opportunities. The culture is flexible and supportive, offering autonomy to manage your workload while partnering closely with engineers on real-world product designs. The typical schedule follows standard hours of 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM, with some flexibility as needed. The dress code is business casual or smart casual. The role includes paid time off of 40 hours and 10 paid holidays, contributing to a balanced and sustainable work-life environment.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of Champaign, IL.

The pay range for this position is $20.00 - $31.25/hr.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:
• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long-term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

This is a fully onsite position in Champaign,IL.

This position is anticipated to close on Jul 20, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.