Lead Drafter

ABOUT THE ROLE The Lead Drafter is responsible for coordinating and overseeing the daily drafting activities required to produce accurate, complete, code-compliant, and production-ready drawings for modular homes. The Lead Drafter serves as the primary technical resource for the drafting team and acts as a liaison between Drafting, Engineering, Production, Sales, Estimating, and other departments. This position is expected to lead by example, maintain drafting standards, identify errors before they reach production, assist in resolving design and construction issues, and develop less-experienced drafters. The Lead Drafter is responsible for maintaining a high level of accuracy while meeting established production schedules and company quality standards. ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES Drafting & Design Prepare and review architectural, structural, manufacturing, and installation drawings for modular homes. Develop floor plans, elevations, sections, details, schedules, and related construction documents. Incorporate customer options, engineering requirements, manufacturing requirements, and approved changes into drawings. Ensure drawings accurately reflect approved home designs and specifications. Review dimensions, materials, structural components, openings, mechanical locations, and other critical construction information. Maintain accurate CAD/BIM files and drawing records. Make revisions and corrections as required. Assist with development and maintenance of standard home plans, details, and drafting templates. Quality Control Review drawings for accuracy and completeness before release to production. Identify drafting errors, conflicts, omissions, and inconsistencies. Verify drawings against approved specifications, options, engineering requirements, and company standards. Reduce drafting-related production errors, rework, delays, and material waste. Participate in root-cause analysis when drafting errors reach production. Maintain and improve departmental quality control procedures. Accuracy, technical knowledge, CAD proficiency, and the ability to interpret construction drawings are fundamental drafting competencies. Lead Responsibilities Provide daily technical guidance to drafters. Assign or coordinate drafting work as directed by management. Review work produced by junior and intermediate drafters. Assist with training and onboarding of new drafting employees. Mentor employees seeking advancement within the drafting department. Establish consistent drafting practices and standards. Help resolve difficult drafting and design problems. Serve as a technical escalation point before issues are sent to management or engineering. Production Support Work closely with Production to identify and resolve drawing-related issues. Respond to production questions concerning drawings and specifications. Investigate manufacturing problems that may originate from design or drafting. Participate in continuous improvement initiatives. Visit the manufacturing floor when necessary to understand construction methods and improve drawings. Ensure drafting practices support efficient manufacturing and minimize unnecessary complexity. Cross Department Communication Work effectively with: Engineering Production Purchasing Estimating Sales Project Management Quality Control Installation / Field Operations The Lead Drafter must be able to communicate technical information clearly to individuals who may not have a drafting or engineering background. REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Technical Strong CAD/BIM drafting skills. Ability to read and interpret architectural and structural drawings. Strong understanding of residential construction. Understanding of modular construction methods. Understanding of building codes applicable to modular construction. Knowledge of construction materials and methods. Ability to interpret engineering documents. Strong understanding of dimensions, tolerances, specifications, and construction details. Strong computer skills. Ability to learn and utilize company-specific drafting and manufacturing software. Leadership Ability to train and mentor employees. Ability to prioritize work. Ability to make sound technical decisions. Strong problem-solving ability. Strong attention to detail. Ability to hold team members accountable to established standards. Ability to communicate professionally with multiple departments. Ability to work effectively under production deadlines. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS High school diploma or equivalent. Technical drafting, CAD, architectural, engineering, or construction education preferred. Typically, 3–5 years of relevant drafting experience. Modular or residential construction experience is strongly preferred. Demonstrated ability to independently complete complex drafting assignments. Demonstrated ability to review and correct the work of other drafters. An associate degree or technical-school background can be valuable, although demonstrated drafting competency and industry experience are also important. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that drafters commonly enter the field through postsecondary drafting education and that CAD, technical knowledge, communication, and time management are important skills. PERFORMANCE STANDARDS The Lead Drafter will be evaluated using measurable performance standards. Quality – 30% Drawing accuracy Number of drafting errors Production-related drawing errors Rework caused by drafting Completeness of drawing packages Compliance with company drafting standards Productivity – 20% Completion of assignments within established deadlines Ability to manage multiple projects Efficient use of drafting software Ability to prioritize work based on production requirements Technical Knowledge – 20% CAD/BIM proficiency Residential construction knowledge Modular construction knowledge Code and specification knowledge Ability to resolve complex drafting problems Leadership – 15% Training and mentoring of employees Quality of work produced by the drafting team Ability to provide technical guidance Communication with other departments Professionalism and accountability Continuous Improvement – 10% Identification of recurring problems Development of improved drafting procedures Reduction of errors and rework Standardization of drawings and details Participation in process-improvement projects Attendance & Professionalism – 5% Attendance Dependability Communication Teamwork Professional conduct Recommended review: 90 days and 6 months. Level 4 – Lead Drafter Typical Requirements Generally, 4–7+ years of relevant experience or equivalent demonstrated expertise Advanced technical drafting ability Strong knowledge of residential/modular construction Demonstrated leadership ability Ability to review drawings produced by others Ability to train and mentor employees Strong problem-solving and communication skills Lead Drafter Promotion Requirements The employee must demonstrate: Technical Excellence Consistently produces accurate drawings. Understand construction and manufacturing requirements. Can resolve complex drafting problems. Leadership Can effectively coach other drafters. Demonstrates sound judgment. Maintains professional standards. Supports management decisions. Quality Maintains a low drafting-error rate. Identify problems before production. Takes ownership of errors and corrective action. Productivity Consistently meets deadlines. Effectively prioritizes work. Helps the department meet production requirements. Communication Works effectively with Engineering, Production, Sales, and other departments. Communicates problems early. Provides clear technical explanations. FORMAL REVIEW PROCESS 90-Day Review Used primarily for new employees or employees entering a new position. Review: Training progress Technical skills Attendance Work quality Productivity Teamwork Safety Understanding of company standards Rating: 1 – Unsatisfactory 2 – Needs Improvement 3 – Meets Expectations 4 – Exceeds Expectations 5 – Outstanding Six-Month Development Review The manager and employee should review: Current performance Training completed Skills gained Areas requiring improvement Career goals Readiness for additional responsibility Specific development goals for the next six months The review should include a written development plan. ANNUAL PERFORMANCE REVIEW Each employee receives a formal annual performance evaluation. Rating Scale 5 – Exceptional Consistently performs significantly above expectations. 4 – Exceeds Expectations Frequently performs above the requirements of the position. 3 – Meets Expectations Consistently performs the job at the expected level. 2 – Needs Improvement Performance does not consistently meet expectations. 1 – Unsatisfactory Performance substantially fails to meet expectations. LEAD DRAFTER DEVELOPMENT GOALS Every Lead Drafter should have annual goals in at least five areas: Quality Reduce drafting-related production errors by an established percentage. Productivity Improve drawing turnaround time while maintaining quality. Training Train or mentor at least one developing drafter. Process Improvement Complete at least one documented improvement project each year. Leadership Demonstrate readiness for increased responsibility by successfully coordinating work and resolving issues without unnecessary management escalation. . POSITION SUCCESS MEASURES The Lead Drafter is considered successful when the department consistently demonstrates: Accurate drawings Minimal production errors caused by drafting On-time drawing completion Strong communication with Production Consistent drafting standards Effective employee training Reduced rework Improved drafting efficiency Strong employee development Positive relationships between Drafting, Engineering, and Production The ultimate objective of the Lead Drafter is to ensure that the drawings released to the manufacturing floor are accurate, complete, understandable, manufacturable, and delivered on schedule. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS 3-5 years experience as a Drafter High School Diploma with Drafting Fundamentals exposure One or more years of manufacturing assembly experience or one or more years of drafting experience • Strong computer skills and understanding of relevant software packages Strong mechanical skills Motivated self-starter with a strong tolerance for change