Mgr Engineering

Manager of Spool Drawing Drafting

The Manager of Spool Drawing Drafting is responsible for leading a team of drafters and designers in the creation, review, and revision of detailed spool fabrication drawings for industrial piping systems. This role ensures all drawings are accurate, compliant with industry codes and customer specifications, and support efficient manufacturing, quality control, and on-time project delivery in a high-volume pipe fabrication environment serving oil & gas, chemical, power, and related industries.

The ideal candidate is a hands-on technical leader with strong expertise in piping detailing software (including Spool Gen), spool detailing, and the ability to effectively collaborate with international high-value engineering centers (HVECs) for drafting production support. This role drives process improvements, maintains high quality standards, and collaborates across engineering, production, project management, and quality assurance teams.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of spool drafters and detailers, including performance management, workload distribution, and professional growth.
• Oversee the production of detailed spool fabrication drawings, including isometric views, bill of materials (BOM), weld maps, material specifications, and assembly instructions.
• Manage and coordinate drafting activities with international high-value engineering centers (HVECs) to optimize production capacity, reduce costs, and ensure seamless integration of offshore drafting support.
• Ensure all drawings comply with applicable codes and standards (ASME B31.1, B31.3, API, ANSI, etc.), customer requirements, and internal quality procedures.
• Develop, issue and maintain the internal engineering control documents necessary to ensure compliance to project specifications
• Develop and control fabrication drawings conveying geometry; dimension; materials; welding, NDE, and coating requirements; and other project specific requirements.
• Develop and control Engineering data and documents to support the drafting and fabrication processes
• Coordinate closely with Engineering, Project Management, Procurement, Production, and Quality teams to resolve design issues, optimize fabrication sequences, and minimize field fit-up problems.
• Prepare departmental budgets
• Direct recruitment, placement, and evaluation of engineering project staff.
• Implement and continuously improve drafting workflows, templates, standards, and CAD libraries to increase efficiency and reduce errors.
• Perform quality reviews and approvals of spool drawings prior to release to production.
• Track drafting metrics (output, on-time delivery, error rates) and report on team performance to senior leadership.
• Support bid/proposal efforts by providing accurate estimates for drafting hours and identifying potential fabrication challenges.
• Ensure proper use and maintenance of CAD software, with advanced proficiency in Spool Gen (Smart Plant Spoolgen) alongside AutoCAD, AutoCAD Plant 3D, CADWorx, or equivalent tools.
• Champion safety, quality, and continuous improvement initiatives within the drafting department.
• Stay current with industry best practices, new software/tools, and advancements in pipe fabrication technology.

Qualifications and Requirements

Education:

• Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Drafting & Design, Mechanical Engineering Technology, or a related technical field (preferred). Equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered.

Experience:

• Minimum 7–10 years of progressive experience in piping/spool drafting within an industrial pipe fabrication, shipbuilding, or heavy industrial manufacturing environment.
• At least 3–5 years in a leadership or supervisory role managing drafting personnel.
• Strong background in spool detailing for flanged, welded, and modular piping assemblies.
• Proven experience working with international high-value engineering centers (HVECs) for drafting production support, including workflow coordination, quality oversight, and knowledge transfer.

Technical

Skills:

• Advanced proficiency in Spool Gen (Smart Plant Spoolgen) for generating spool drawings, material take-offs, and fabrication documentation…