CAD Technician
Also advertised as: CAD Draughtsman, CAD fashion designer, CAD Technician, clothing CAD operator, clothing CAD specialist, clothing computer aided designer technician
Produces detailed technical drawings and models from engineers' designs.
What the job involves
CAD technicians turn an engineer's concept or sketch into accurate, detailed drawings and 3D models that others can build from. You work closely with designers and engineers to keep drawings up to date as a project changes, checking dimensions and tolerances carefully. It is a strong entry point into engineering design work without needing a degree.
Typical responsibilities
- Produce 2D drawings and 3D models from design instructions
- Apply dimensions, tolerances and annotations accurately
- Maintain drawing registers and revision control
- Check drawings against standards before issue
- Support engineers with design changes
Common employers
- Engineering consultancies
- Manufacturing companies
- Construction firms
- Architectural practices
- Rail and infrastructure contractors
Pay, hours and working environment
Typical pay
£20,000 – £25,000 a year
With experience
£28,000 – £36,000 a year
Typical hours
37-40 hours
Working environment
Office based, desk work
Remote working
hybrid
Demand for this work
steady
Pay ranges are indicative guidance drawn from advertised UK vacancies and published careers information. They are not an offer, and actual pay varies by employer, location and experience.
Skills and qualifications
Core skills
- CAD software proficiency
- Technical drawing standards
- Attention to detail
- Revision control
- Communication with engineers
Transferable skills you may already have
- Precision and accuracy
- Following detailed instructions
- Organised record-keeping
Requirements employers ask for
- CAD software proficiency
- Technical drawing standards
- Attention to detail
- Revision control
- Communication with engineers
- Level 3 qualification in engineering or CAD, or equivalent experience
- history of fashion
- marker making
- grade patterns for wearing apparel
- create patterns for garments
- CAD for garment manufacturing
- perform process control in the wearing apparel industry
- draw sketches to develop textile articles using softwares
- 3D body scanning technologies
- operate computerised control systems
- manufacturing of made-up textile articles
- apparel manufacturing technology
- inspect wearing apparel products
Useful but not essential
- Precision and accuracy
- Following detailed instructions
- Organised record-keeping
- HNC in engineering for progression to design engineer roles
- properties of fabrics
- analyse scanned data of the body
- use 3D scanners for clothing
- manage briefs for clothing manufacturing
Helpful qualifications
- HNC in engineering for progression to design engineer roles
Ways into this career
A degree is only one route. Where an apprenticeship, work-experience or qualification route exists, it is listed here alongside the academic option.
Apprenticeships and work-based routes
- Engineering Design Technician (Level 3)
Degree and college routes
- Related subject: Design and technology
- Related subject: Mathematics
- Related subject: Engineering
Where this career can lead
next
Design Engineer
next
Senior CAD Technician
next
Engineering Design Team Leader
The good parts and the hard parts
What people enjoy
- Accessible entry point without a degree
- Clear progression to design engineer roles
- Transferable across many industries
What people find hard
- Can involve repetitive drawing revisions
- Progression usually needs further study
Common questions
- Do you need a degree to become a cad technician?
- No. As well as degree routes, this career can be entered through an apprenticeship or by building experience and qualifications on the job. not_required
- How much does a cad technician earn in the UK?
- Typical advertised pay runs from £20,000 to £25,000 a year, rising towards £36,000 with experience. Figures are indicative guidance rather than an offer.
- What skills transfer into this career?
- Skills that transfer well include Precision and accuracy, Following detailed instructions, Organised record-keeping.
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Where this information comes from
- National Careers Service
- Institute for Apprenticeships
Last reviewed 16 September 2026.
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