Sr. 3D CAD Designer
Listed on 2026-06-27
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Engineering
Process Engineer, Engineering Design & Technologists, Manufacturing Engineer, CAD/ AutoCAD/ Mechanical Design
Sr. Cad Designer
GMM Pfaudler US Inc. is a leading supplier of highly engineered, critical equipment and process systems for energy, chemical and industrial markets. The Systems Group within GMM Pfaudler designs and fabricates complete modular process systems including Reactor Systems, Wiped Film Evaporator (WFE) Systems, Distillation Systems, and other special process design systems.
Pfaudler is seeking an experienced 3D CAD Designer to fill the position of Sr. CAD Designer in the Systems Group located at GMM Pfaudler in Rochester, NY.
Every process system that our Systems Group designs is custom for each client's specific needs. We work with a broad range of processes for many different industries including Specialty Chemicals, Pharmaceuticals, Nutraceuticals, Petrochemicals, Polymers, and others. Our clients rely on our Systems Group to design complete chemical process systems for new their new products and for their capacity expansions of existing processes or products.
For the new product systems that we design, we take the client's laboratory or pilot test data and scale up to design a commercial scale production system. For the systems that we design for client capacity expansion, our clients rely on our Systems Group to evaluate their existing processes and improve the designs for increased capacity, improved quality and ease of operation.
The high level summary of the Sr. 3D CAD Designer: model the process system (structural steel, equipment, piping, instruments) using 3D CAD and create all fabrication drawings and bills of materials required for construction of the systems.
Essential duties include those listed below. Other duties may be assigned as necessary.
Designer will be responsible for the design and 3D modeling of Systems projects involving process equipment, piping and instruments. These process systems are typically skid mounted or modular, with modules ranging in size from 3'Wx4'Lx5'H to 12'Wx14'Lx60'H modules, with some very large projects consisting of multiple, combined large modules with stair towers. The 3D Designer work includes the following:
- Work with the Process/Project Engineers (PE) to create 2D Piping & Instrument Diagrams (P&IDs) and 2D Process Flow Diagrams (PFDs).
- Utilize the equipment specification sheets supplied by the PE and vendors to model the equipment in 3D (or use GMM Pfaudler's existing library of user shapes or download from vendor websites).
- Utilize the Instrument Specification Sheets supplied from the PE and vendors to model the instruments in 3D (or use GMM Pfaudler's existing library of user shapes or download from vendor websites).
- Develop a 3D model of a structural steel support skid/structure, using Autodesk Advance Steel, on which the equipment is mounted along with all interconnecting process and utility piping.
- Develop the 3D model of the entire system utilizing the aforementioned and modeling all the process and utility piping using Autodesk Plant 3D.
- From the model, the Designer creates the 2D steel layout drawings and 2D orthographic and isometric piping drawings used by our fabrication shops for construction of the systems.
- From the model, the Designer exports the various bills of materials to Excel files to be used by the PE for procurement of all system materials. The BOMs are also used by the fabrication shops for construction of the systems.
- During fabrication of the system, the Designer works with the PE and the shop to trouble shoot any issues with the fabrication and to make any changes in the design required by the customer or shop.
- Designer reviews the fabricated system and creates as as-built model and drawings.
- Some CAD administrative work is also part of the job duties (examples: project templates, pipe specs, catalogs, etc.)
Supervisory responsibilities:
None.
Qualifications:
Eligible person should have a minimum of 10 years of relevant work experience and be proficient in 3D modeling using AutoCAD with the Plant 3D toolset. Candidates with experience utilizing CAD software other than AutoCAD Plant 3D will be considered if they have extensive, relevant work experience (piping and steel design) and demonstrate general 3D computer proficiency.
Experience with structural steel design using Autodesk Advance Steel is not required but is considered a plus.
3D piping design experience is a must, structural steel design experience is considered a plus.
Experience with Caesar II (or similar) pipe stress analysis software is not required but is considered a plus.
Experience with Smart P&IDs is not required but is considered a plus.
Must be proficient with MS Word and Excel for specifications sheets and bills of materials.
Familiarity with instrumentation typically used in the chemical process industry is considered a plus.
BA or AA in CAD Design is not required but considered a plus.
Language skills:
Must have the following language and communication skills:
- Speak and write English proficiently.
- Ability to communicate effectively (listen and speak) with customers,…
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