Lead CAD Drafter in Houston

Lead CAD Drafter - Plate Processing North Shore Steel | Houston, TX

North Shore Steel is a trusted, industry-leading metals service center with more than 65 years of experience supporting customers across the Gulf Coast and nationwide. With locations in Houston and Beaumont, we provide a full range of structural steel products and value-added processing services, including cutting, machining, forming, rolling, and fabrication, helping customers across construction, energy, industrial, and OEM sectors move faster and build with confidence.

Our legacy is rooted in reliability, craftsmanship, and long-term relationships.

At North Shore Steel, our Core Values guide how we work and lead:
Be Safe Always, Provide Great Service, Do the Right Thing, Take the Initiative, and Maximize Your Potential. If these values resonate with you and you’re looking for a place where you can contribute, grow, and be part of a team that supports one another,
we invite you to join our team.

North Shore Steel is where CAD meets real-world execution. For over 65 years, we’ve built a reputation for precision, reliability, and performance in steel processing. Our team doesn’t just design parts, we bring them to life through advanced cutting, forming, and fabrication that supports critical industries across the country.

We are seeking a Lead CAD Operator who wants to grow into a true expert in production-driven design, someone who understands that great CAD work isn’t just accurate, it’s efficient, manufacturable, and built for performance.

This role offers the opportunity to own your work, influence nesting strategy and material efficiency, and directly impact production outcomes. You won’t be working in isolation; your decisions will shape how work flows through the shop and how effectively we deliver for our customers.

If you take pride in precision, think in terms of optimization, and want to see your work come to life on the floor, this is the kind of role where you can do your best work.

This is a role for someone who wants to move beyond drafting and become a true technical leader in a production environment.

Drawing Interpretation & CAD Development

• Interpret customer drawings, specifications, and project requirements with precision
• Convert customer-supplied files (PDF, DWG, etc.) into production-ready Solid Works and Tekla models
• Develop detailed part and assembly drawings aligned with manufacturing capabilities
• Ensure all drawings meet internal standards and customer specifications

Nesting & Production Optimization

• Create CNC nests using Pro Nest and Prime Cut for plasma and oxy-fuel cutting systems
• Optimize nests for material yield, cut time, and machine efficiency
• Align nests with machine capabilities (Messer, Kinetic, etc.) and production schedules
• Continuously refine nesting strategies based on real production feedback

Quality & Accuracy

• Serve as the final check to ensure all drawings and nests are accurate and production-ready
• Identify and resolve discrepancies between customer requirements and manufacturability
• Maintain organized, version-controlled files for all drawings and nests
• Drive consistency and standardization across CAD and nesting practices

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with Sales to support accurate quoting and material takeoffs
• Work closely with Production to ensure seamless execution on the floor
• Communicate clearly with internal stakeholders to resolve technical questions quickly

Lead-Level Contribution

• Set the standard for drawing quality, speed, and discipline
• Support training and development of less experienced CAD operators
• Contribute to process improvements, standardization, and operational excellence

• Material Yield – Maximize plate utilization and reduce scrap
• Machine Efficiency – Improve cut time and equipment performance
• Production Throughput – Help drive speed and flow across operations
• Rework Reduction – Ensure drawings are right the first time
• Operational Consistency – Build repeatable, high-quality processes

• Produces accurate, production-ready drawings with minimal rework
• Consistently delivers…