Senior Design Engineer Jobs in Detroit, MI (NOW HIRING)

Senior CAD Design Engineer – Paint Systems

Position Summary

The Senior CAD Design Engineer – Paint Systems is responsible for leading the design and development of detailed 2D and 3D drawing packages for industrial ventilation, paint process, and related mechanical systems in automotive and industrial applications. This role supports engineering and project execution by producing layouts, assembly drawings, detail drawings, flow diagrams, and design documentation used for fabrication, installation, bidding, and customer review. The position is expected to work with a high degree of independence, provide technical guidance to junior designers, and coordinate closely with project engineers, manufacturing, quality, field personnel, and customers.

Essential Responsibilities

• Develop and revise detailed 2D and 3D CAD drawings using AutoCAD and related design tools for paint systems, ventilation systems, piping systems, and associated equipment.
• Produce complete drawing packages including general arrangements, detail drawings, assembly drawings, installation drawings, sketches, and flow diagrams needed for manufacturing and field execution.
• Create final drawings from engineering concepts, rough layouts, markups, and field information while verifying dimensions, materials, tolerances, clearances, hole locations, and component relationships
• Support design work involving ventilation fans, pumps, piping, chillers, boilers, and similar equipment to meet customer and project performance requirements.
• Prepare design documentation for automotive paint and finishing applications including spray booths, bake ovens, phosphate or e-coat systems, sludge systems, abatement systems, and general building ventilation.
• Coordinate with engineers, CAD operators, tooling, quality assurance, manufacturing, and project teams to ensure drawings accurately reflect project scope, engineering intent, and revision requirements.
• Maintain drawing files, revision histories, and database records in an organized manner and ensure compliance with internal drafting and engineering standards.
• Convert legacy production drawings into updated CAD standards, including SolidWorks conversion where required.
• Contribute to bid packages by supporting scope-of-work documentation, demolition and installation drawings, and schedule-related deliverables used by customers and contractors.
• Provide technical and design support during project execution, including occasional site visits for field verification, coordination, and as-built updates.
• Mentor less-experienced designers and help establish drafting best practices, drawing consistency, and efficient design workflows based on senior-level experience.

Qualifications

• Associate’s degree in Computer Aided Drafting and Design, Mechanical Design, or a related technical field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• Five or more years of experience in mechanical drafting, CAD design, industrial ventilation, paint process systems, or related industrial equipment design.
• Strong proficiency in AutoCAD for 2D drafting; 3D CAD experience is preferred.
• Solid understanding of drafting techniques, engineering terminology, mechanical systems, and the relationship between parts, assemblies, and complete system layouts.
• Familiarity with automotive manufacturing paint facilities and related process equipment is strongly preferred.
• Ability to create and interpret flow diagrams, production drawings, and installation documentation with minimal oversight.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications including Word, Excel, Outlook, and Project is preferred.
• Strong mathematical, analytical, and problem-solving skills with excellent attention to detail and deadline awareness.

Core Competencies

Key competencies for this role include technical design capability, communication proficiency, collaboration, and problem-solving ability. The position also requires strong organizational discipline, sound judgment, and the ability to balance drafting accuracy with project schedule demands in a team-based environment.

Work Environment and Physical Requirements

The work environment includes office, manufacturing, and customer site conditions, with occasional exposure to moving mechanical parts, fumes, airborne particles, chemicals, vibration, and moderate noise levels. The role regularly requires sitting and computer-based drafting work, with frequent walking, reaching, hand use, and verbal communication. Travel to customer work sites may be required, and the employee must be capable of climbing ladders and stairwells to access rooftops, mezzanines, and elevated equipment locations as needed. The employee may also be required to lift or move items up to 25 pounds on an occasional basis.

Position Details

This is a full-time position with a typical expectation of at least 40 hours per week, with some flexibility and occasional extended hours based on project deadlines. Travel is expected to be occasional and may include local day trips and overnight visits to customer or project sites. Specific duties and responsibilities may change based on project requirements and business needs.

Duckworth & Associates is an engineering consulting firm specializing in Energy Management, Manufacturing Engineering and Consulting Services, Turnkey Controls Systems, and Construction Management. We offer our employees competitive salary and a comprehensive benefits package including medical insurance, flexible spending accounts, 401k, disability/life insurance, vacation pay, holiday pay and more.