Posting Title

Technician II/III: Drafter and CAD specialist

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Location

CO - Golden

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Position Type

Regular

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Hours Per Week

40

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Working at NLR

NLR is located at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Golden, Colorado is the nation's primary laboratory for energy systems research and development.

Join the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR), where world-class scientists, engineers, and experts are accelerating energy innovation through breakthrough research and systems integration. From our mission to our collaborative culture, NLR stands out in the research community for its commitment to an affordable and secure energy future. Spanning foundational science to applied systems engineering and analysis, we focus on solving complex challenges to deliver advanced, secure, reliable, and cost-effective energy solutions. Our work helps strengthen U.S. industries, support job creation, and promote national economic growth.

At NLR, you'll find a mission-driven environment supported by state-of-the-art facilities, multidisciplinary research teams, and strong collaborations with industry, academia, and other national laboratories. We offer robust professional development opportunities, and a competitive benefits package designed to support your career and well-being.

Job Description

The National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR) is seeking an experienced Design Drafter and CAD Specialist to create, revise, maintain, and control technical drawing files supporting research operations. In this role, you will collaborate with cross-functional stakeholders—including engineers, technicians, and project managers—to ensure research equipment is accurately designed, approved, fabricated, installed, and maintained. Your work will span a diverse range of projects, from high-level facility layouts to component-level detail drawings.

This position requires strong technical drafting knowledge alongside advanced CAD proficiency. The successful candidate will produce accurate, organized, and reusable drawings.   Effective documentation will support ongoing design, maintenance, troubleshooting, and project planning efforts.  Maintaining organized files will enable long-term record documentation and utilization.

This position is based in Golden Colorado at the South Table Mountain Campus. The successful candidate will be expected to work primarily on site.

Primary Responsibilities

• Drawing Creation & Revision: Develop and update detailed 2D drawings and 3D models using AutoCAD and SolidWorks from field measurements, redlines, sketches, vendor data, and physical photographs.
• Facility & Equipment Documentation: Maintain comprehensive drawings of facility layouts, architectural backgrounds, equipment arrangements, and process systems.
• Architectural Drafting: Apply core architectural drafting principles to existing facility conditions to develop floor plans, elevations, and section views.  Detail drawings to include equipment dimensions, and appropriate clearances to assist in planning efforts.  
• Process Piping Diagrams: Create and maintain internal schematics documenting compressed gas lines, flow paths, valves, regulators, instrumentation, and other components(internal P&ID equivalents).
• Mechanical design: Design 3D models, fully dimensioned 2D drawings for fabrication, and develop bills of materials (BOMs) from assemblies.  Examples would include simple bracket development, custom in vacuum hardware or fixtures, and full compressed gas panel BOMs.  
• CAD File Management Standards: Maintain drawings as structured technical documents utilizing disciplined layer control, XREFs, blocks, viewports, and strict file-naming conventions.  Adhere to use of Model Space for physical design geometry and Paper Space for sheet layouts, annotations, and plotting documentation.
• Data Integrity: Support record drawing control by preserving historic files, separating active project work from master files, and incorporating approved revisions into the record set.
• Field Verification: Work within laboratories to review drawings against physical field conditions to identify and correct discrepancies.
• Stakeholder Communication: Collaborate with engineers, technicians, and maintenance personnel to clarify design intent and verify technical data.
• Standards & Mentorship: Champion internal CAD standards and procedures while providing technical guidance and knowledge transfer to staff without a formal drafting background.

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Basic Qualifications

High School Diploma or equivalent and 4 or more years of experience or equivalent relevant education/experience. Or, relevant Associate's Degree or certification program of comparable scope and 2 or more years of experience or equivalent relevant education/experience. Full knowledge of specialized focused support functions. Complete acquaintance with and understanding of the general and detailed aspects of the supported activities, and their practical applications to problems and situations ordinarily encountered. Proficient in research techniques and practices. Solid communication, interpersonal, project management and customer relations skills.

Eligibility requirements: This position will require access to Controlled Unclassified Information which may include restricted dissemination requirements based on citizenship. As a result, applicants may be excluded from consideration based on citizenship in accordance with DOE O 471.7, Controlled Unclassified Information. https://www.directives.doe.gov/news/new-doe-o-471-7-controlled-unclassified-information

* Must meet educational requirements prior to employment start date.

Additional Required Qualifications

• Strong proficiency in architectural drafting, facility documentation, and CAD best practices.
• Proven machine-design drafting capability, fabricated parts, fixturing, and equipment modifications.
• Familiarity with industry drafting standards (e.g., ASME Y14.5).
• Practical understanding of fabrication methods, mechanical assembly requirements, fasteners, and tolerances.
• Ability to interpret complex technical drawings, redlines, field sketches, and vendor documentation.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams).
• Strong attention to detail, communication skills, and organizational habits.

Preferred Qualifications

• Hands-on experience building, troubleshooting,  or maintaining mechanical, electrical, or process piping systems.  Ability to read, create and revise electrical schematics. 
• Knowledge of fluid/pressure systems and components (specifically Swagelok components).
• Experience with Unistrut, 8020 or other modular industrial framing systems. 
• Experience with metal fabrication tools, such as drill presses, bandsaws, Bridgeport style mills, and or lathes. 
• Experience with 3D printing or other rapid prototyping.

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Job Application Submission Window

The anticipated closing window for application submission is up to 30 days and may be extended as needed.

Annual Salary Range (based on full-time 40 hours per week)

Job Profile: Research Technician III / Annual Salary Range: $57,900 - $95,500

Job Profile: Research Technician II / Annual Salary Range: $51,200 - $81,900

NLR takes into consideration a candidate’s education, training, and experience, expected quality and quantity of work, required travel (if any), external market and internal value, including seniority and merit systems, and internal pay alignment when determining the salary level for potential new employees. In compliance with the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act, a potential new employee’s salary history will not be used in compensation decisions.

Benefits Summary

Benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance; short*- and long-term disability insurance; pension benefits*; 403(b) Employee Savings Plan with employer match*; life and accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance; personal time off (PTO) and sick leave; paid holidays; and tuition reimbursement*. NLR employees may be eligible for, but are not guaranteed, performance-, merit-, and achievement- based awards that include a monetary component. Some positions may be eligible for relocation expense reimbursement. Limited-term positions are not eligible for long-term disability or tuition reimbursement.

* Based on eligibility rules

Badging Requirement

NLR is subject to Department of Energy (DOE) access restrictions. All employees must also be able to obtain and maintain a federal Personal Identity Verification (PIV) card as required by Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12), which includes a favorable background investigation.

Drug Free Workplace

NLR is committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace in accordance with the federal Drug-Free Workplace Act and complies with federal laws prohibiting the possession and use of illegal drugs. Under federal law, marijuana remains an illegal drug.

If you are offered employment at NLR, you must pass a pre-employment drug test prior to commencing employment. Unless prohibited by state or local law, the pre-employment drug test will include marijuana. If you test positive on the pre-employment drug test, your offer of employment may be withdrawn.

Submission Guidelines

Please note that in order to be considered an applicant for any position at NLR you must submit an application form for each position for which you believe you are qualified. Applications are not kept on file for future positions. Please include a cover letter and resume with each position application.

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Equal Opportunity Employer

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard basis of age (40 and over), color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, domestic partner status, military or veteran status, national origin/ancestry, race, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding), sexual orientation, and any other applicable status protected by federal, state, or local laws.

Reasonable Accommodations

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