Production CAD Designer
Design for Manufacture | Bespoke Fabrication | Hospitality Sector
Some hires are about filling a seat. Others are about protecting momentum.
This placement fell firmly into the second category.
Our client is a well-established manufacturing business operating at the intersection of design, fabrication and technical delivery. With a strong order book, long-standing client relationships and a reputation built on precision, they needed additional strength within their Production CAD function to support continued growth and maintain standards on live projects.
The brief was clear. This role was not front-end concept work. It required a Designer who understood design for manufacture, who could translate approved designs into accurate, build-ready fabrication drawings and who was comfortable working closely with factory teams, suppliers and internal stakeholders.
Finding that balance was the challenge.
Many candidates could model. Few truly understood how drawings land on the factory floor.
The successful hire brought solid experience in production-focused CAD, with a practical understanding of materials, tolerances and manufacturing constraints. They were confident working in SolidWorks, comfortable producing detailed fabrication information and, crucially, approached design with a problem-solving mindset rather than a purely aesthetic one.
Throughout the process, the emphasis was on alignment rather than speed. Cultural fit mattered just as much as technical competence. This is a business with a stable, long-tenured team and a collaborative working environment, so introducing the right personality was essential.
The result is a placement that strengthens the production team, eases pressure on existing designers and supports the business as it continues to scale.
A quiet hire. A meaningful one.
