OPT Drafting Technician Jobs
Drafting Technician jobs are a strong fit for F-1 OPT students with degrees in engineering technology, architecture, or design. Most roles involve CAD software proficiency, which aligns directly with STEM-adjacent coursework. Standard OPT gives you 12 months of work authorization, and STEM OPT extensions may apply depending on your degree classification.
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Get Access To All JobsJob ID: 636616
Type: Full-time
Location: Wallingford, CT 06492
Departments: Manufacturing
Date Published: September 18, 2026
End Date: 09-25-2026
Job Description
Manufacturing Drafting CAD
61 Barnes Industrial Park North, Wallingford, CT 06492
CT180 Manufacturing Facility
Full-time Shift(s): MON TUE WED THU FRI 7:00am - 4:30pm
Overview:
Working as Full-time Manufacturing Drafting CAD, you will use Autodesk Inventor and AutoCAD to draw technical drawings and blueprints for our machinists to use to produce custom parts for our customers. Manufacturing Drafting CAD employees may develop these drawings and prints from a variety of mediums such as customer prints, 3-D models, or physical parts. Each part Fastenal Manufacturing produces has to have a blueprint developed by our CAD department prior to production. This Full-time position is an excellent opportunity for motivated individuals to join our company and make a favorable impression to those they work with, while beginning their journey through the numerous opportunities Fastenal has available. This position may offer a flexible schedule after a period of onboarding, training, and meeting performance goals.
Responsibilities:
The duties and responsibilities of this position include, but are not limited to:
- Working with our engineering and sales staff to deliver work orders for production with minimal supervision
- Performing accurate inspections on prints
- Providing assistance to other employees when needed
REQUIRED POSITION QUALIFICATIONS:
The following skills and qualifications are required for this position:
- 18 years of age or older
- Prior experience with CAD
- Excellent written and oral communication skills
- Proficient using Microsoft Office Suite
- Understand blueprint reading in great detail
- Learn and perform multiple tasks in a fast paced environment
- Work independently as well as in a team environment
- Demonstrate strong math aptitude, attention to detail and sense of urgency
- Demonstrate strong organization, planning and prioritizing abilities
- Demonstrate our core values of ambition, innovation, integrity and teamwork
- Lift, slide, carry and lower packages that typically weigh 25lbs-50lbs and may weigh up to 100lbs
- Pass the required drug screen (applicable in the US, Puerto Rico and Guam ONLY)
PREFERRED POSITION QUALIFICATIONS:
- Prior experience drawing formed and machined parts
- Possess an associate's degree in Drafting
About us:
Since 1967 Fastenal has grown as a distributor of industrial and construction supplies from a single branch to a Fortune 500 company with over 3,000 servicing locations, each providing tailored local inventory and personal service for our customers. As we've expanded across the world, we've retained a core belief in people and their ability to accomplish remarkable things - if given the opportunity. From this philosophy stems an entrepreneurial culture that challenges every employee to run their own business, create their own success, and advance to become company leaders.
As a growth company with a solid financial position, we are committed to training, promoting from within, and creating opportunities for our employees. If you have an entrepreneurial spirit and are looking to make your mark as part of an elite growth company, you won't find a better fit than Fastenal.
FULL-TIME BENEFITS:
Fastenal offers a competitive benefits package to all full-time employees. This package includes Health, Life, Long Term Disability, and Dental Insurance, in addition to, paid vacation, sick leave, holidays, and 401(k) with an employer contribution.
Please respond by 09-25-2026.
Equal Opportunity Employer
Job ID: 636616
Type: Full-time
Location: Wallingford, CT 06492
Departments: Manufacturing
Date Published: September 18, 2026
End Date: 09-25-2026
Job Description
Manufacturing Drafting CAD
61 Barnes Industrial Park North, Wallingford, CT 06492
CT180 Manufacturing Facility
Full-time Shift(s): MON TUE WED THU FRI 7:00am - 4:30pm
Overview:
Working as Full-time Manufacturing Drafting CAD, you will use Autodesk Inventor and AutoCAD to draw technical drawings and blueprints for our machinists to use to produce custom parts for our customers. Manufacturing Drafting CAD employees may develop these drawings and prints from a variety of mediums such as customer prints, 3-D models, or physical parts. Each part Fastenal Manufacturing produces has to have a blueprint developed by our CAD department prior to production. This Full-time position is an excellent opportunity for motivated individuals to join our company and make a favorable impression to those they work with, while beginning their journey through the numerous opportunities Fastenal has available. This position may offer a flexible schedule after a period of onboarding, training, and meeting performance goals.
Responsibilities:
The duties and responsibilities of this position include, but are not limited to:
- Working with our engineering and sales staff to deliver work orders for production with minimal supervision
- Performing accurate inspections on prints
- Providing assistance to other employees when needed
REQUIRED POSITION QUALIFICATIONS:
The following skills and qualifications are required for this position:
- 18 years of age or older
- Prior experience with CAD
- Excellent written and oral communication skills
- Proficient using Microsoft Office Suite
- Understand blueprint reading in great detail
- Learn and perform multiple tasks in a fast paced environment
- Work independently as well as in a team environment
- Demonstrate strong math aptitude, attention to detail and sense of urgency
- Demonstrate strong organization, planning and prioritizing abilities
- Demonstrate our core values of ambition, innovation, integrity and teamwork
- Lift, slide, carry and lower packages that typically weigh 25lbs-50lbs and may weigh up to 100lbs
- Pass the required drug screen (applicable in the US, Puerto Rico and Guam ONLY)
PREFERRED POSITION QUALIFICATIONS:
- Prior experience drawing formed and machined parts
- Possess an associate's degree in Drafting
About us:
Since 1967 Fastenal has grown as a distributor of industrial and construction supplies from a single branch to a Fortune 500 company with over 3,000 servicing locations, each providing tailored local inventory and personal service for our customers. As we've expanded across the world, we've retained a core belief in people and their ability to accomplish remarkable things - if given the opportunity. From this philosophy stems an entrepreneurial culture that challenges every employee to run their own business, create their own success, and advance to become company leaders.
As a growth company with a solid financial position, we are committed to training, promoting from within, and creating opportunities for our employees. If you have an entrepreneurial spirit and are looking to make your mark as part of an elite growth company, you won't find a better fit than Fastenal.
FULL-TIME BENEFITS:
Fastenal offers a competitive benefits package to all full-time employees. This package includes Health, Life, Long Term Disability, and Dental Insurance, in addition to, paid vacation, sick leave, holidays, and 401(k) with an employer contribution.
Please respond by 09-25-2026.
Equal Opportunity Employer
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Drafting Technician
Lead with your CAD software stack
List every CAD platform you know, AutoCAD, Revit, SolidWorks, Civil 3D, in your resume header or skills section. Employers scan for these before reading anything else. Specific software proficiency reduces their hesitation about OPT timelines.
Target engineering and architecture firms directly
Mid-size civil, structural, and MEP engineering firms hire drafting technicians regularly and are more flexible with OPT than large corporations. Smaller teams mean faster hiring decisions and direct access to the person approving your offer.
Confirm your OPT start date aligns with project timelines
Drafting roles are often project-based. Employers want to know you can commit through a project cycle. Know your OPT authorization window exactly and frame your availability around realistic project start and completion dates.
Check if your degree qualifies for STEM OPT extension
Degrees in engineering technology, civil engineering, or architecture often qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension. Confirm your CIP code with your DSO before interviewing so you can tell employers you may have up to 36 months of work authorization.
Build a digital portfolio with real technical drawings
A portfolio showing actual plans, sections, and construction documents from coursework or internships matters more than your GPA for this role. Keep it concise, three to five strong projects, and host it somewhere you can share a direct link.
Address OPT proactively, not defensively
When employers ask about work authorization, explain your timeline clearly and mention the STEM extension possibility if applicable. Framing it as a straightforward process, not a complication, keeps the conversation moving toward your technical qualifications.
Drafting Technician OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can F-1 OPT students work as Drafting Technicians in the United States?
Yes. Drafting Technician roles are eligible for F-1 OPT work authorization as long as the position is directly related to your field of study. Degrees in engineering technology, architectural technology, civil engineering, or related design disciplines generally satisfy the relatedness requirement. Your DSO can confirm eligibility before you accept an offer.
Do Drafting Technician jobs qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Many do, depending on your degree. If your bachelor's or master's degree is in a STEM-designated field such as civil engineering, mechanical engineering technology, or computer-aided design, your CIP code may qualify you for the 24-month STEM OPT extension. That gives you up to 36 months of total work authorization. Check your degree's CIP code with your DSO to confirm before interviewing.
How do I find Drafting Technician employers who are open to hiring OPT students?
Migrate Mate filters job listings specifically for employers open to sponsoring or hiring international students on OPT, so you are not wasting applications on roles that will reject you at the work authorization question. Civil engineering firms, architecture studios, and construction management companies are among the most active employers in this category on the platform.
What happens to my OPT authorization if I lose my Drafting Technician job?
You have a 90-day unemployment buffer during your OPT period, total across all gaps, not per job. If you are on STEM OPT, that buffer drops to 150 days total but the same principle applies. Report any change in employment to your DSO promptly. Finding a new role quickly is critical since exceeding the unemployment limit terminates your OPT authorization.
Does a Drafting Technician role need to be full-time for OPT purposes?
USCIS requires OPT employment to average at least 20 hours per week to be considered valid work authorization. Most Drafting Technician positions are full-time and easily satisfy this threshold. Part-time roles can qualify, but you must track your hours and ensure the position remains directly related to your degree field throughout your authorization period.