CAD Drafter / PDM - Contract

Established in 1919 and traded on the NYSE, Standard Motor Products, Inc. (SMP) is a leading independent manufacturer and distributor of premium automotive replacement parts utilized in the maintenance, repair, and service of vehicles in the automotive aftermarket. Additionally, SMP provides customized solutions for vehicle control and thermal management products in diversified end markets represented by its Engineered Solutions segment.

Globally, SMP employs over 6,000 employees across nearly 40 manufacturing, distribution, and engineering facilities and offices located in North America, Europe and Asia. SMP sells its products primarily to automotive aftermarket retailers, program distribution groups, warehouse distributors, original equipment manufacturers, and original equipment service part operations in the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia, Mexico, and other Latin American countries.

Overall Scope

Contract position – initial term of 6 months, with potential extension based on project needs and workload.

The Contract CAD Drafter / PDM Support role is responsible for providing drafting and data-conditioning support during the implementation of Product Data Management (PDM) software and the migration of legacy CAD data into SolidWorks. This role is focused on executing redraws, enforcing drawing and file standards, supporting Engineering Change Requests (ECRs), and ensuring CAD data is properly structured, named, and maintained to meet permanent corporate document retention requirements.

This position is execution- and process-focused and is not responsible for original product design decisions.

Minimum Requirements

• Associate degree or technical certification in Drafting, Engineering Technology, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• 3–5 years of CAD drafting experience in a manufacturing or engineering environment.
• Proficiency in SolidWorks (parts, assemblies, and drawings).
• Proficiency in CREO (parts, assemblies, and drawings).
• Experience working with engineering drawings, BOMs, revision control, and change management processes.

Preferred

·         Experience supporting or working within a PDM/PLM system (SolidWorks PDM preferred).

·         Prior experience converting or redrawing legacy CAD data (e.g., STEP or neutral file formats).

·         Familiarity with automotive or electromechanical components.

·         Experience working under formal document retention and compliance requirements.

Skills & Competencies

·         Strong attention to detail and consistency

·         Ability to follow and enforce drafting and data standards

·         Effective time management and ability to handle high-volume drafting tasks

·         Clear written and verbal communication skills

·         Comfortable working with defined processes and documentation

Responsibilities and Duties

CAD Drafting & Redraw Support

·         Redraw legacy Fuel Injector (FI) components and assemblies in SolidWorks, converting from STEP-based geometry to SolidWorks-native models.

·         Generate and update component, subassembly, and production-level drawings in accordance with established drafting standards.

·         Support Engineering Change Requests (ECRs) by implementing approved drawing and model changes.

PDM Implementation Support

·         Support the PDM implementation by preparing CAD data for migration, including:

·         Standardizing file naming conventions

·         Aligning revision levels

·         Verifying drawing completeness and release readiness

·         Assist with post-migration validation and cleanup activities, including repairing failed or partial file migrations and correcting reference or revision issues.

·         Enforce PDM standards related to file structure, naming, and revision discipline.

Drawing Review & Data Conditioning

·         Review and edit engineer-generated drawings to ensure compliance with standardized formats, naming conventions, and revision practices.

·         Rename existing CAD files to the approved naming convention (e.g., JDE part number plus revision level), as required.

·         Ensure CAD data supports permanent retention requirements and long-term traceability.

Administrative & Coordination Support

·         Support ECR routing and release readiness for CAD-related changes within the PDM system.

·         Coordinate with engineering, quality, and manufacturing as needed to resolve drawing or data issues.

·         Maintain clear documentation of work completed during migration and stabilization phases.

Working Conditions

·         Office-based engineering environment

·         Extended computer and CAD workstation use

·         Interaction with engineering, quality, manufacturing, and IT resources

Scope & Duration Notes

This role is scoped specifically to support:

·         Pre-migration CAD data preparation

·         Active PDM migration activities

·         Post-migration stabilization and ECR support

The initial contract duration is 6 months, with the potential for extension based on demonstrated workload and ongoing PDM support requirements.