Occupation

Electrical and Electronics Drafters

Human Advantage 66%

Significant human skills needed

AI Automation Risk Moderate Risk
3.9 / 10

Some tasks in this role may be augmented by AI, but human oversight and interpersonal skills remain important.

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

Also Known As: Analog Design Engineer, Analog Integrated Circuits Design Engineer (Analog IC Design Engineer), AutoCAD Drafter, AutoCAD Technician, CAD Drafter (Computer-Aided Design Drafter), CAD Draftsman (Computer-Aided Design Draftsman), CADD Drafter (Computer-Aided Design and Drafting Drafter), Circuit Board Drafter +39 more

Video

Core Tasks

  1. Draft detail and assembly drawings of design components, circuitry or printed circuit boards, using computer-assisted equipment or standard drafting techniques and devices.
  2. Draft working drawings, wiring diagrams, wiring connection specifications, or cross-sections of underground cables, as required for instructions to installation crew.
  3. Assemble documentation packages and produce drawing sets to be checked by an engineer or an architect.
  4. Review completed construction drawings and cost estimates for accuracy and conformity to standards and regulations.
  5. Consult with engineers to discuss or interpret design concepts, or determine requirements of detailed working drawings.
  6. Confer with engineering staff and other personnel to resolve problems.
  7. Measure factors that affect installation and arrangement of equipment, such as distances to be spanned by wire and cable.
  8. Design electrical systems, such as lighting systems.
  9. Draw master sketches to scale showing relation of proposed installations to existing facilities and exact specifications and dimensions.
  10. Review work orders or procedural manuals and confer with vendors or design staff to resolve problems or modify design.
  11. Locate files relating to specified design project in database library, load program into computer, and record completed job data.
  12. Examine electronic schematics and supporting documents to develop, compute, and verify specifications for drafting data, such as configuration of parts, dimensions, or tolerances.
  13. Compare logic element configuration on display screen with engineering schematics and calculate figures to convert, redesign, or modify element.
  14. Review blueprints to determine customer requirements and consult with assembler regarding schematics, wiring procedures, or conductor paths.
  15. Study work order requests to determine type of service, such as lighting or power, demanded by installation.
  16. Explain drawings to production or construction teams and provide adjustments, as necessary.
  17. Reproduce working drawings on copy machines or trace drawings in ink.

Supplemental Tasks (10)

  1. Generate computer tapes of final layout design to produce layered photo masks or photo plotting design onto film.
  2. Determine the order of work and the method of presentation, such as orthographic or isometric drawing.
  3. Visit proposed installation sites and draw rough sketches of location.
  4. Key and program specified commands and engineering specifications into computer system to change functions and test final layout.
  5. Copy drawings of printed circuit board fabrication using print machine or blueprinting procedure.
  6. Select drill size to drill test head, according to test design and specifications, and submit guide layout to designated department.
  7. Plot electrical test points on layout sheets and draw schematics for wiring test fixture heads to frames.
  8. Write technical reports and draw charts that display statistics and data.
  9. Supervise and coordinate work activities of workers engaged in drafting, designing layouts, assembling, or testing printed circuit boards.
  10. Train students to use drafting machines and to prepare schematic diagrams, block diagrams, control drawings, logic diagrams, integrated circuit drawings, or interconnection diagrams.

Education & Training

Job Zone 3 Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Education: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Experience: Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
On-the-Job Training: Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.

Education Level Distribution

Percentage of workers in this occupation with each education level.

Bachelor's Degree
40%
Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
24%
Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production)
21%
Some College Courses
7%
High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
6%
Master's Degree
2%

Technology & Tools

Hot Technologies

  • Adobe Illustrator
  • Autodesk AutoCAD
  • Autodesk Revit
  • Bentley MicroStation
  • C
  • C++
  • Dassault Systemes SolidWorks
  • Linux
  • Microsoft Access
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Office software
  • Microsoft Outlook
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Microsoft Project
  • Microsoft SharePoint
  • Microsoft Visio
  • Microsoft Word
  • Perl
  • Python
  • SAP software
  • The MathWorks MATLAB
  • UNIX

Software (76)

  • 1CadCam Unigraphics
  • Aveva Group Plant Design Management System PDMS
  • Bentley AutoPLANT
  • Bentley I/RAS B
  • Bentley PlantSpace SupportModeler
  • Bentley Systems ProjectWise
  • Bowen & Groves M1 ERP
  • COADE CADWorx P&ID
  • Cadence OrCAD software
  • Cadence PSpice
  • Cadence Virtuoso Layout Suite
  • Computer aided design and drafting software CADD
  • Corel CorelDraw Graphics Suite
  • Dassault Systemes CATIA
  • Design specification database software
  • ECT International Raceway Multi-Pack
  • Enterprise resource planning ERP software
  • Epicor Vantage ERP
  • Exact Software Macola ERP
  • Field programmable gate array FPGA design software
  • Geographic information system GIS systems
  • IBM Lotus Notes
  • Intergraph INtools
  • Linux Virtual Server
  • Made2Manage Systems M2M ERP
  • Magellan Firmware
  • Manufacturing resource planning MRP software
  • MathWorks Simulink
  • Mentor Graphics Expedition Enterprise
  • Mentor Graphics PADS
  • Mentor Graphics Xpedition xDX Designer
  • NavisWorks Jetstream
  • Operating system software
  • Oracle JD Edwards EnterpriseOne Project Management
  • PCI Express PCIe
  • PEDYN P2000
  • PTC Creo Parametric
  • PTC Pro/Cable
  • PTC Pro/INTRALINK
  • PTC Pro/Pipe
  • PTC Windchill
  • Programmable logic controller PLC software
  • SKM Systems Analysis Power Tools
  • Sage ERP Accpac
  • Simulation program with integrated circuit emphasis SPICE
  • SofTech CADRA
  • SoftBrands Fourth Shift Edition
  • Supervisory control and data acquisition SCADA software
  • SystemVerilog
  • Tool command language Tcl
  • UGS Solid Edge
  • Verilog
  • Very high speed integrated circuit VHSIC hardware description language VHDL simulation software
  • Zuken CADSTAR

Tools & Equipment (10)

  • Compasses
  • Desktop computers
  • Dividers
  • Drafting curves
  • Drafting machines
  • Drafting triangles
  • Personal computers
  • Protractors
  • Steel rules
  • T-squares

Where This Career Leads

Career progression organized by specialty track and experience level.

Engineering Advanced Manufacturing

Zone 3
Electrical and Electronics Drafters You are here

Architecture & Civil Engineering Advanced Manufacturing

Zone 3
Electrical and Electronics Drafters You are here

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