CAD Designer Jobs in Michigan
CAD Designer jobs in Michigan are consistently active, concentrated in automotive, aerospace, and advanced manufacturing sectors, with openings at every level from entry-level drafters through senior design engineers. Detroit, Grand Rapids, and Ann Arbor anchor the bulk of hiring, where established employers like Ford Motor Company, General Motors, and Lear Corporation maintain deep design and engineering teams. Mechanical and automotive CAD specialties see the heaviest demand, followed by architectural and structural detailing work. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Showing 5 of 16+ CAD Designer jobs
- Design plastic parts for cost effective and high-quality molding. Understand and properly decide rib and wall thickness, fillets, draft, feature coring, wall thickness, strength, cosmetics, etc.
- Assist with new product development as a pooled resource. Lead CAD on small to medium size projects. Assigned work may include basic design, drawings and tolerance stack-ups, with help from the Engineers or SR. Designers if needed.
- Assist in occasional CAD drafting and product changes. This includes developing drawings for release, occasional Engineering Change Orders (ECO), reviewing marked up prints, and incorporating changes.
- Understands and executes the proper and cost effective design of electro-mechanical products, for safety, quality and manufacturability.
- Develop proficient CAD skills, continuously improve CAD expertise and help other CAD Team Members with technical support, training and general assistance as required.
- Able to understand and complete drawings according to CAD Standards Manual.
- Initiate CAD and/or systems recommendations toward continuous improvement in CAD usage, product development, and other procedures.
- Perform volume, weight and cost estimation of plastic and other parts using estimations of material cost.
- Provide CAD leadership to projects assigned. Create product geometry using CAD software. These would typically be small to medium size projects
- Manage project CAD data within Windchill software products. Learn and understand Windchill to better manage this data and make recommendations for improvements.
- Understand and apply GD&T properly on drawings.
- Maintain CAD Checklists as assigned.
- Mentor CAD Drafters through the EC process.
- Check over EC work to assure their accuracy, completeness and conformance to company standards.
- Create and maintain accurate assembly parts lists on new products and those affected by ECOs.
- Support the CAD department; perform CAD data transfers, help other users, and understand primary data management tools and other miscellaneous tasks.
- Functional/Technical Expertise
- Global Business Acumen
- Self-Management
- Learning Versatility
- Delivers Results
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Managerial Courage
- Continuous Improvement
SPECIALIZED TRAINING/EDUCATION PREFERRED
- Experience using ProE design software
- Consumer Product Goods (CPG) development experience
- Design plastic parts for cost effective and high-quality molding. Understand and properly decide rib and wall thickness, fillets, draft, feature coring, wall thickness, strength, cosmetics, etc.
- Assist with new product development as a pooled resource. Lead CAD on small to medium size projects. Assigned work may include basic design, drawings and tolerance stack-ups, with help from the Engineers or SR. Designers if needed.
- Assist in occasional CAD drafting and product changes. This includes developing drawings for release, occasional Engineering Change Orders (ECO), reviewing marked up prints, and incorporating changes.
- Understands and executes the proper and cost effective design of electro-mechanical products, for safety, quality and manufacturability.
- Develop proficient CAD skills, continuously improve CAD expertise and help other CAD Team Members with technical support, training and general assistance as required.
- Able to understand and complete drawings according to CAD Standards Manual.
- Initiate CAD and/or systems recommendations toward continuous improvement in CAD usage, product development, and other procedures.
- Perform volume, weight and cost estimation of plastic and other parts using estimations of material cost.
- Provide CAD leadership to projects assigned. Create product geometry using CAD software. These would typically be small to medium size projects
- Manage project CAD data within Windchill software products. Learn and understand Windchill to better manage this data and make recommendations for improvements.
- Understand and apply GD&T properly on drawings.
- Maintain CAD Checklists as assigned.
- Mentor CAD Drafters through the EC process.
- Check over EC work to assure their accuracy, completeness and conformance to company standards.
- Create and maintain accurate assembly parts lists on new products and those affected by ECOs.
- Support the CAD department; perform CAD data transfers, help other users, and understand primary data management tools and other miscellaneous tasks.
- Functional/Technical Expertise
- Global Business Acumen
- Self-Management
- Learning Versatility
- Delivers Results
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Managerial Courage
- Continuous Improvement
SPECIALIZED TRAINING/EDUCATION PREFERRED
- Experience using ProE design software
- Consumer Product Goods (CPG) development experience
See All 16 CAD Designer Jobs in Michigan
Find roles in Michigan that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find CAD Designer JobsCAD Designer Jobs by City in Michigan
Where Michigan roles are concentrated, by current openings.
CAD Designer Job Market in Michigan
A snapshot from current Michigan openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Energy
- Manufacturing
- Medical Devices
- Staffing & Recruiting
What Michigan Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in CAD designer jobs across Michigan.
- Proficiency in AutoCAD, SolidWorks, or CATIA for automotive or manufacturing design work
- Associate or bachelor's degree in drafting technology, mechanical engineering, or a related field
- Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, GD&T standards, and technical specifications
- Experience producing detailed 2D drawings and 3D models for production or fabrication teams
- Familiarity with Michigan's automotive supplier quality standards such as APQP or PPAP processes
- Strong communication skills for collaborating with engineers, project managers, and manufacturing staff
CAD Designer Jobs in Michigan: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a cad designer in Michigan?
Most cad designers in Michigan enter the field through an associate degree in drafting and design technology or a bachelor's degree in mechanical or civil engineering technology from a Michigan community college or university. Michigan does not require a state-issued license for cad designers, so employers focus on software proficiency and a portfolio. Earning a Certified Drafter credential through the American Design Drafting Association strengthens candidacy, particularly with automotive and manufacturing employers.
How much do CAD designers make in Michigan?
CAD designers in Michigan earn a median of about $72,280 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $47,100 for the lowest 10% to over $112,170 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire cad designers in Michigan?
Employers hiring cad designers in Michigan right now include Stryker, Jobot, and BISSELL, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. Michigan's dense automotive supplier ecosystem means many openings come from Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers concentrated in the southeast corridor between Detroit and Flint.
Which Michigan cities have the most cad designer jobs?
Grand Rapids, Portage, and Michigan consistently post the most cad designer openings in Michigan. Detroit and its suburbs lead because of the concentration of automotive OEMs and suppliers headquartered in southeast Michigan, while Grand Rapids draws demand from West Michigan's furniture, medical device, and light manufacturing industries, and Ann Arbor benefits from its university-linked engineering and technology firms.
Are there remote cad designer jobs in Michigan?
Yes, but they're less common than in purely desk-based fields because cad designers frequently need to coordinate with on-site engineering and production teams. About 0% of cad designer openings tied to Michigan are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, with fully remote roles more likely in architectural or product design than in automotive or manufacturing environments where hands-on collaboration is routine.
How can I get hired as a cad designer in Michigan with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is an associate degree in drafting technology from a Michigan community college, which often includes a capstone portfolio that satisfies employer screening. Automotive supplier internships through programs at Macomb Community College, Ferris State University, or Lawrence Technological University are a direct pipeline into companies that hire graduates without full-time experience. Entry-level titles like junior drafter, CAD technician, or design checker at fabrication shops or engineering consultancies are common first roles, and demonstrating SolidWorks or AutoCAD proficiency with finished project files carries significant weight.
Where can I find and apply to cad designer jobs in Michigan?
You can find and apply to cad designer jobs in Michigan on Migrate Mate, which lists current Michigan openings from employers actively hiring. Find the roles that fit your experience and specialty, then apply directly to each one.
See All 16 CAD Designer Jobs in Michigan
Find roles in Michigan that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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