Draftsperson: Job Description, Duties and Requirements

Job Description

Drafters concoct technical drawings used to create various products and structures. Their work informs the construction of buildings, electronic equipment, aircraft and infrastructure. Many drafters operate CAD (computer-aided design and drafting) systems. However, knowledge of traditional pencil-and-paper drafting techniques is still useful for professionals in the field. Drafters are divided into categories by specialty, such as:

• Aeronautics
• Architecture
• Civil engineering
• Electrical devices
• Electronics
• Mechanical equipment
• Fuel pipelines

Job Duties

A draftsperson's key duty is to create drawings, by hand or using CAD, which are infused with whatever technical details are appropriate to the project. For instance, architectural drafters lay out interior building arrangements when they create plans. Civil drafters create maps of proposed road construction that account for local topography.
Electronics drafters render circuit schematics for manufacturing appliances and digital technology. Similarly, drafters in the electrical industry diagram wiring and system connections so installers have the project specifications they need to properly perform their task.