Electrical and Electronics Drafters

Also called: Analog Design Engineer, AutoCAD Drafter (Auto Computer-Aided Design Drafter), AutoCAD Technician (Auto Computer-Aided Design Technician), CAD Designer (Computer Aided Design Designer), CAD Drafter (Computer Aided Design Drafter)

Varies

estimated salary

Electrical and electronics drafters prepare wiring diagrams, circuit board assembly diagrams, and layout drawings used for the manufacture, installation, or repair of electrical equipment.

  • Draft working drawings, wiring diagrams, wiring connection specifications, or cross-sections of underground cables, as required for instructions to installation crew.
  • Assemble documentation packages and produce drawing sets to be checked by an engineer or an architect.
  • Consult with engineers to discuss or interpret design concepts, or determine requirements of detailed working drawings.
  • Review completed construction drawings and cost estimates for accuracy and conformity to standards and regulations.
  • Examine electronic schematics and supporting documents to develop, compute, and verify specifications for drafting data, such as configuration of parts, dimensions, or tolerances.
  • Confer with engineering staff and other personnel to resolve problems.
  • Draft detail and assembly drawings of design components, circuitry or printed circuit boards, using computer-assisted equipment or standard drafting techniques and devices.
  • Measure factors that affect installation and arrangement of equipment, such as distances to be spanned by wire and cable.
  • Locate files relating to specified design project in database library, load program into computer, and record completed job data.
  • Design electrical systems, such as lighting systems.
  • Draw master sketches to scale showing relation of proposed installations to existing facilities and exact specifications and dimensions.
  • Study work order requests to determine type of service, such as lighting or power, demanded by installation.
  • Explain drawings to production or construction teams and provide adjustments, as necessary.
  • Review work orders or procedural manuals and confer with vendors or design staff to resolve problems or modify design.
  • Reproduce working drawings on copy machines or trace drawings in ink.
  • Generate computer tapes of final layout design to produce layered photo masks or photo plotting design onto film.
  • Key and program specified commands and engineering specifications into computer system to change functions and test final layout.
  • Supervise and coordinate work activities of workers engaged in drafting, designing layouts, assembling, or testing printed circuit boards.
  • Compare logic element configuration on display screen with engineering schematics and calculate figures to convert, redesign, or modify element.
  • Determine the order of work and the method of presentation, such as orthographic or isometric drawing.
  • Review blueprints to determine customer requirements and consult with assembler regarding schematics, wiring procedures, or conductor paths.
  • Visit proposed installation sites and draw rough sketches of location.
  • Select drill size to drill test head, according to test design and specifications, and submit guide layout to designated department.
  • Plot electrical test points on layout sheets and draw schematics for wiring test fixture heads to frames.
  • Write technical reports and draw charts that display statistics and data.
  • Copy drawings of printed circuit board fabrication using print machine or blueprinting procedure.
  • Train students to use drafting machines and to prepare schematic diagrams, block diagrams, control drawings, logic diagrams, integrated circuit drawings, or interconnection diagrams.
  • Prepare and interpret specifications, calculating weights, volumes, or stress factors.
  • Supervise or train other technologists, technicians, or drafters.
  • Use computer-aided drafting equipment or conventional drafting stations, technical handbooks, tables, calculators, or traditional drafting tools, such as boards, pencils, protractors, or T-squares.
Work Context
  • Electronic Mail
  • Face-to-Face Discussions
  • Spend Time Sitting
  • Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
  • Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
  • Work With Work Group or Team
  • Telephone
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Work Activities
  • Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Interacting With Computers — Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
  • Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment — Providing documentation, detailed instructions, drawings, or specifications to tell others about how devices, parts, equipment, or structures are to be fabricated, constructed, assembled, modified, maintained, or used.
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates — Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
  • Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work — Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
  • Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge — Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems — Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
  • Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards — Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
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Detailed Work Activities
  • Create electrical schematics.
  • Create electrical schematics.
  • Document technical design details.
  • Confer with technical personnel to prepare designs or operational plans.
  • Evaluate designs or specifications to ensure quality.
  • Review technical documents to plan work.
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Knowledge

Engineering and Technology
  • Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
Design
  • Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
English Language
  • Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
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Skills

Speaking
  • Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Reading Comprehension
  • Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Active Listening
  • Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Critical Thinking
  • Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
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Abilities

Oral Comprehension
  • The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Written Comprehension
  • The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Oral Expression
  • The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Near Vision
  • The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
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Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include ideas, thinking, and figuring things out.
They do well at jobs that need:
  • Achievement/Effort
  • Persistence
  • Initiative
  • Leadership
  • Cooperation
  • Concern for Others
  • Social Orientation
  • Self Control
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Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Computer aided design CAD software
  • Zuken CADSTAR Hot Technology
  • Mentor Graphics Xpedition xDX Designer Hot Technology
  • Mentor Graphics PADS Hot Technology
  • Mentor Graphics Expedition Enterprise Hot Technology
  • PTC Creo Parametric Hot Technology
  • UGS Solid Edge Hot Technology
  • SofTech CADRA Hot Technology
  • PTC Pro/Pipe Hot Technology
  • PTC Pro/CABLE Hot Technology
  • Intergraph INtools Hot Technology
  • Bentley PlantSpace SupportModeler Hot Technology
  • Bentley MicroStation Hot Technology
  • Bentley I/RAS B Hot Technology
  • Bentley AutoPLANT Hot Technology
  • Aveva Group Plant Design Management System PDMS Hot Technology
  • Autodesk Revit Hot Technology
  • Autodesk AutoCAD Hot Technology
  • COADE CADWorx P&ID Hot Technology
  • ECT International Raceway Multi-Pack Hot Technology
  • Dassault Systemes SOLIDWORKS Hot Technology
  • Dassault Systemes CATIA Hot Technology
  • Computer aided design and drafting software CADD Hot Technology
Project management software
  • Microsoft Project Hot Technology
  • PTC Pro/INTRALINK
  • Oracle JD Edwards EnterpriseOne Project Management
Office suite software
  • Microsoft Office Hot Technology
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