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Drafting Manager Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

ROLE: Drafting Manager REPORTS INTO: Director of Technical Production What Is the Drafting Manager The Drafting Manager is responsible for owning and coordinating all technical drafting efforts ...

AutoCAD Drafter

El Segundo, CA ยท On-site

$15.68 - $71.30/hr

Accepts incoming drawing packages from Drafting Manager or Lead Drafter. * When no hardcopies are provided, creates PDF files from stored folder when directed the project is complete. * Maintains a ...

AutoCAD Drafter

El Segundo, CA ยท On-site

$15.68 - $71.30/hr

Accepts incoming drawing packages from Drafting Manager or Lead Drafter. * When no hardcopies are provided, creates PDF files from stored folder when directed the project is complete. * Maintains a ...

SW Drafting Technician

Dixon, CA ยท On-site

$28 - $35/hr

The ideal candidate will have strong drafting and administrative skills, excellent attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple tasks in a fast-paced construction environment.

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Designer Drafting

San Bernardino, CA ยท On-site

$2.0K - $3.0K/mo

This Designer Drafting position is ideal for a bilingual professional fluent in Spanish and English, proficient in Revit Auto Desk Software, and experienced with architectural projects in both ...

Urgent

AUTOCAD 2014 Drafting

Sacramento, CA ยท On-site

$24 - $32.25/hr

AUTOCAD 2014 Drafting Location: Sacramento CA Mandatory Requirements Minimum 5 or more years of experience in utilizing AutoCad 2014 and previous versions to create or edit engineering drawings ...

BIM/Permit Manager

Saratoga, CA ยท On-site

$50 - $60/hr

Assign drafting resources and balance workloads to meet project schedules. * Review work, provide coaching, and ensure compliance with Revit standards and department QA/QC processes. * Support the ...

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Draftsman

Stockton, CA ยท On-site

$19 - $29/hr

Strong communication and project management skills * Diploma in drafting, engineering, or related fields * Minimum of 3-5 years of experience in site planning or a related field * Knowledge of zoning ...

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Drafting Manager information

See California salary details

$52.8K

$87.8K

$128.3K

How much do drafting manager jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 24, 2026, the average yearly pay for drafting manager in California is $87,806.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $71,600.00 and $101,700.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a drafting manager?

Drafting Managers are professionals responsible for overseeing teams of drafters and CAD (Computer-Aided Design) technicians who create detailed technical drawings and plans for construction, engineering, or manufacturing projects. They ensure that all drawings are accurate, adhere to relevant standards, and meet project requirements. Drafting Managers also coordinate with architects, engineers, and project managers to resolve design issues and maintain project timelines. In addition, they supervise staff, manage workflow, and may be involved in hiring and training new drafters.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a drafting manager, and why are they important?

To excel as a Drafting Manager, you need a solid background in drafting principles, CAD software proficiency, and typically a degree in engineering, architecture, or a related field. Familiarity with industry-standard tools like AutoCAD, Revit, and project management platforms, along with relevant certifications, is highly valuable. Strong leadership, communication, and organizational skills set outstanding Drafting Managers apart by enabling effective team coordination and project delivery. These competencies are crucial for ensuring accuracy, efficiency, and timely completion of complex drafting projects.

What are some common challenges faced by a drafting manager when leading a team of drafters or CAD technicians?

Drafting Managers often encounter challenges such as ensuring consistent quality across all drafting outputs, managing tight project deadlines, and balancing multiple projects simultaneously. They must also facilitate clear communication between their team and other departments, such as engineering and construction, to avoid misunderstandings or delays. Additionally, keeping up with the latest drafting software and industry standards, while providing training and support for team members, is crucial for maintaining efficiency and accuracy.

What does a drafting manager do?

A drafting manager oversees the creation and review of technical drawings and plans used in construction, manufacturing, or engineering projects. They coordinate with design teams, ensure drawings meet industry standards, and often use CAD software to produce accurate schematics. The role requires strong leadership, technical knowledge, and attention to detail.

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

The most popular types of Drafting jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Drafting Manager jobs?

Cities in California with the most Drafting Manager job openings:

Infographic showing various Drafting Manager job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $87,806 per year, or $42.2 per hour.

Drafting Manager

Los Angeles, CA โ€ข On-site

Salt Productions
Marketingย โ€ขย 11 - 50 employees

Full-time

Re-posted 29 days ago


Job description

About Salt Productions, LLC
Salt Productions is a full-service production agency rooted in an environment where production thrives, allowing creative work to be executed with precision, and delivering quality work committed to the client's goals. Salt is built on a foundation where Production and Creative go hand in hand with a process that is exciting, collaborative and transparent. With a people-first approach, Salt believes quality can only be achieved with the right team.
As a production agency, we collaborate with creative from the start-whether in-house, brand-side, or a powerhouse partner-to bring clients' design dreams to life, exactly as envisioned. We are logistical magicians and operational experts-a killer combo for flawless execution. And we live for creating challenging builds within budget, but never at the expense of our team's ability to thrive. As a radically compassionate company, we value people over profits and our work is all the better for it. Big ideas are our specialty, start-to-finish integration is our superpower, and we actualize experiences that thrill, engage, and inspire.
ROLE: Drafting Manager
REPORTS INTO: Director of Technical Production
What Is the Drafting Manager
The Drafting Manager is responsible for owning and coordinating all technical drafting efforts across live events, experiential activations, and fabricated environments. This role serves as the central point of accountability for drawing standards, drafting workflows, file management, and quality control-ensuring that all technical drawings are accurate, consistent, and aligned with production, fabrication, and installation requirements.
This is a hands-on management role that blends technical drafting expertise with process ownership. The Drafting Manager works closely with Technical Directors, Senior Technical Directors, Fabrication Producers, and external vendors, while managing internal drafting workflows and freelance drafting resources. This role is critical to translating creative intent and technical design into build-ready documentation.
Roles & Responsibilities
Drafting Leadership & Standards
  • Own drafting standards, templates, layer conventions, and documentation best practices
  • Ensure all drawings meet internal quality, accuracy, and version-control requirements
  • Review and approve venue and master drawing files prior to release to Production and Creative teams
  • Establish clear drafting scopes and deliverable expectations for each project

Workflow & Process Management
  • Serve as the central coordination point for drafting requests in collaboration with Technical Directors and Production team leads across technical production and fabrication teams
  • Lead and facilitate project-level Drafting Kick-Off (KO) meetings to align scope, drafting standards, handoff procedures, cadence, and expectations with Technical Production, Fabrication, and Production teams
  • Prioritize drafting requests based on project timelines and production needs
  • Manage drafting schedules and ensure alignment with production milestones
  • Enforce drafting processes and timelines, including holding stakeholders accountable to required inputs

Technical Coordination
  • Collaborate with Technical Directors and fabrication teams to translate designs into executable drawings
  • Ensure drawings accurately reflect staging, rigging, AV, power, automation, and fabrication integration
  • Coordinate drawing updates and revisions as projects evolve
  • Support venue reviews, site surveys, and feasibility assessments through accurate documentation

File Conversion & Technical Accuracy
  • Execute and oversee file conversions from SketchUp, Rhino (.3dm), AutoCAD, OBJ, Matterport, and LiDAR scan data
  • Validate scale, accuracy, and alignment when converting third-party files into Vectorworks
  • Maintain clean, organized, and accessible drawing file structures

Resource & Vendor Management
  • Manage freelance drafting resources and external drafting partners
  • Assign drafting work and provide clear scopes, deadlines, and feedback
  • Maintain a roster of trusted drafting vendors and freelancers
  • Coordinate with production leadership on resourcing needs and capacity planning
  • Partner with Project Leads and Production leadership to align drafting resources with approved project budgets and monitor drafting spend throughout the project lifecycle

Documentation & Continuous Improvement
  • Maintain a centralized drafting archive and documentation system
  • Identify opportunities to improve drafting efficiency, clarity, and turnaround time
  • Stay current on Vectorworks updates, drafting tools, and industry best practices

Requirements
  • 6+ years of experience in technical drafting for live events, experiential, or fabrication environments
  • Expert-level proficiency in Vectorworks (required)
  • Strong understanding of technical drawings for live events, staging, rigging, AV, and fabrication
  • Ability to read, review, and QA technical drawings across multiple disciplines
  • Experience working with complex, multi-vendor technical environments
  • Proven experience managing drafting workflows and multiple concurrent projects
  • Strong understanding of live event production and fabrication processes
  • Experience working with third-party file formats and scan data (SketchUp, Rhino, AutoCAD, OBJ, Matterport, LiDAR)
  • Excellent organizational and communication skills
  • Ability to enforce process while maintaining collaborative relationships
  • Proficient in Google Workspace (Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides)
  • Availability for in-person collaboration as required

Salt Core Values + You
  • Redefine the Rules: Creative and production fighting like cats and dogs? Not here. We bring creative and production together from the start because a great idea is only as good as how it's brought to life. For us, logistics and aesthetics go hand in hand. We're all about delivering experiences that go beyond the ask.
  • In Search Of: Tackling challenges is our favorite pastime. Obstacles? We call them plot twists. We are creative thinkers and problem-solvers who always find a way forward with curiosity and determination. Our focus is exceeding expectations, turning client asks into an opportunity to deliver something unexpectedly brilliant.
  • Expect More, Get More: We hold ourselves to higher standards than anyone else, always looking for ways to elevate each project. We don't stop at simply checking all the boxes; we push until time runs out. That extra 10% is where we surpass the competition, delivering results beyond what our clients could imagine-or even think to ask for.
  • Compassion is Culture: We are powered by extraordinary humans, and we're dedicated to cultivating an environment where company success is tied to team success. We combat burnout with inspiration, motivation, and genuine support. Without fun, work sucks

You Are:
  • You are the technical authority who owns drafting standards, workflows, and quality control-ensuring every drawing is accurate, consistent, and build-ready.
  • You are the central coordinator who aligns Technical Directors, Production, Fabrication teams, and freelance resources to deliver documentation on time and to spec.

You are a hands-on drafting leader who translates creative and technical design into executable drawings, while driving process improvement and resource efficiency.