CAD & PLM Lead — Design & Mentorship

Company / Location Information

AO Smith Corporation (NYSE: AOS) is a leading manufacturer of residential and commercial water heating equipment and boilers. Lochinvar, a business unit of

A. O. Smith, focuses on energy‑efficient boilers, water heaters, pool heaters, and commercial package systems.

The primary function of this position is to plan, assign, and supervise the activities and resources within the CAD department to meet the department and company goals. This includes reviewing and releasing drawings and 3D models of fabricated, assembled, and purchased parts using the Engineering Change Process. The CAD Supervisor is also the main contact for CAD and PLM software administration at the business unit site.

• Act as a super user for CAD / PMD / PLM software solutions within the Engineering department and participate on cross‑functional teams supporting software updates and enhancements.
• Assist and train CAD team members and other engineering personnel on CAD software solutions as needed.
• Manage the Product Change Process (PCP) by assigning resources to make necessary engineering changes and reviewing drawings for compliance with drafting and design standards.
• Supervise the activities of CAD Operators and Designers in support of product documentation, configuration management (CM), and documentation control. Work with project engineers and managers to establish schedules and priorities of incoming work.
• Conduct bi‑annual employee performance appraisals of subordinate staff per company procedures.
• Maintain and document department CAD design standards to ensure operators and designers use consistent and up‑to‑date practices on all designs.
• Draft procedural changes within the department to facilitate productivity and attainment of departmental goals. Demonstrate the ability to make decisions on procedures when questions arise and communicate them effectively.
• Coordinate with other departments on drawing/presentation needs and adjust processes as necessary to meet those needs.
• Represent the Engineering Department on cross‑functional teams to address company issues as they arise.
• Conduct periodic audits of drawings to maintain accuracy, consistency with established standards, and evaluate existing procedures/standards for improvement.
• Keep informed of the latest software updates and modeling techniques. Mentor other members of the CAD team on modeling, dimensioning, and tolerancing techniques.
• Provide yearly budget input to Management for subordinate employee salary adjustments and necessary capital expenditures for departmental upgrades and maintenance.
• Perform design and drafting tasks as needed to support workload.
• Interview candidates for potential hire or promotion as CAD Operator, Designer, Senior Designer, and Technical Lead.
• Solve connectivity or user access issues in a timely manner.
• Responsible for general housekeeping and maintenance of working areas.
• Administer CAD and PLM software packages in coordination with the Information Technology Department.
• Review and approve timecards of direct reports on a weekly basis.
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as needed.

• Two‑year degree in CAD, Design or other equivalent science degree.
• A minimum of 5 years of related work experience.
• 2–3 years of supervisory/leadership experience.

Additional Qualifications

• Working knowledge of CAD Data Management and PLM systems, with system administration experience preferred.
• Direct experience with Solid Works and/or SAP PLM is preferred.
• 4‑year degree in CAD Design or Engineering is preferred.

Associate Degree in Related Field

Competitive compensation package and comprehensive benefits plans which include medical and dental insurance, company‑sponsored life insurance, retirement security savings plan, short‑term and long‑term disability programs, and tuition assistance.

In developing this job description care was taken to include all competencies needed to successfully perform in this position. For Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) purposes, the essential functions of the job may or may not have been described for purposes of ADA reasonable accommodation. All reasonable accommodation requests will be reviewed and evaluated on a case‑by‑case basis.

We consider all applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, gender identity and expression, marital or military status. We also provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and applicable state and local law.