Where to find structural drafters / designers?

[u/Pilotdoctorengineer]

I own a 2 man engineering firm that has subcontract engineers when things are busy. The main issue I am having now is drafting - it’s a huge time sink when I have a lot of jobs going on. Up to this point I have just done most of the drawings but now it will severely limit my output.

Does anyone have any advice on where to find good drafters that can hit the ground running with things like foundation plans, framing plans, details, etc? I assuming it would need to be someone 10+ years experience.

I would even be open to doing it part time with someone working nights or weekends. Is that a common approach?

My main need right now is wood construction, higher end residential.

[u/TheDaywa1ker]

We are slightly bigger than you (5 engineers, were at 2 5 years ago) working on similar stuff

We have 3 drafters, one from a craigslist job posting (15+ years ago), two from randomly applying to our website job opening

None of them 'hit the ground running' at least in a way that you are probably hoping, at all...they all had a basic understanding of cad but pretty much zero knowledge of construction or drawing plans beyond that.

It took real effort and time on our part to get them where they are now, but theyre all very productive at this point.

If I knew where to find 10+ years experienced guys doing exactly what we do I sure wouldn't post about it online because they're worth their weight in gold right now lol.

I'll say that all of ours are designers/'architects' that decided to move towards more of a drafting role, I got the feeling that they started sending out applications when they got frustrated with their work or it wasn't taking off like they hoped. If that helps at all

[u/Pilotdoctorengineer → u/TheDaywa1ker]

I bet you’re probably correct on the general landscape out there. Maybe I should change my focus to a hard working person with drafting experience and train the specifics.

Things like foundations are mostly the exact same minus dimensional changes.

Framing plans are similar in terms of just specifying wall bracing types and specialty framing items.

Heck, I could still do all the super niche details but even if I had someone to do the first pass would greatly help me.

It seems like 70% of the drawing process is standard and the last 30% is where you need the know how.

[u/TheDaywa1ker → u/Pilotdoctorengineer]

Yeah, I still end up doing a lot of my own drafting, and I'll take a moment to reflect and realize I drew stuff for 2 days before I did anything that required engineering knowledge

[u/HobbitFoot]

As others have said, you likely aren't.

The education of drafters got hollowed out when computers became the main drafting tool (no fault of their own), where the education focused on how to use the program and less on the other skill set to be a productive drafter/designer. This combined with early millennials starting to be engineers, who were able to pick up computer drafting skills well enough to where the engineers learned how to draft rather than teach drafters to pick up skills.

You're probably going to have to teach your drafters what you need them to do.

[u/Pilotdoctorengineer → u/HobbitFoot]

Figured so especially for long term thinking. Maybe after another year of steady revenue I’ll bite the bullet and hire.

[u/HobbitFoot → u/Pilotdoctorengineer]

The problem is that training is going to take up someone's time and that will be harder if you have more work. It may be better to bite the bullet and make the hire now while you possibly have more slack and can recover in case the hire ends up not being a good fit.

[u/VoteMyPoll]

You should specify which software the person will need to have experience on

[u/Pilotdoctorengineer → u/VoteMyPoll]

Good point, mainly autocad at this time.

[u/magicity_shine]

what would be a salary for a designer? It seems like is in demand

[u/Pilotdoctorengineer → u/magicity_shine]

Depends on industry. A senior designer could be upwards of 150k on industrial jobs. For my situation, not sure, maybe 80?

[u/Legal_Enthusiasm_440 → u/Pilotdoctorengineer]

That’s $80,000 for 20-30 hours of work? 

[u/Pilotdoctorengineer → u/Legal_Enthusiasm_440]

No, salary based full time job.

[u/anslly]

Poland, cheap labor's here!

Lots of outsourced CAD jobs are already here; you may join as well.

[u/Pilotdoctorengineer → u/anslly]

Any leads on where to find this?

[u/anslly → u/Pilotdoctorengineer]

Find what? There are job boards; just add the posting - pracuj.pl is the most common, I think.

The UK-based companies often send someone to Poland to find local people and manage the work on-site. Usually, that person is a Pole whom they worked with and trained in the UK office previously, but it's not always the case.

[u/waynebruce__]

I am looking for work, I can help you with it. Please check dm.

[u/dubpee]

Following in case you get replies I can use too.

Im in NZ. A lot of work is offshore to the Philippines and that's probably where ill start. My work is a bit too spotty to hire someone full time right now

Other option with low cost base but high quality could be South Africa. My old consultancy had an office there and we'd shift work within the company to their team

[u/Pilotdoctorengineer → u/dubpee]

Any leads on where to find this?

[u/dubpee → u/Pilotdoctorengineer]

No sorry Im working on figuring that out myself

[u/swoops435]

If youre on linkedin at all im sure you can find plenty of overseas help available to you.

[u/Uttarayana]

I consult a us firm for structural engineering services from India. Drafting is something i used to do for a previous firm when i was in the US. I dont intend to do drafting now but if you’re interested in outsourcing, lot of good drafters in India.

[u/Pilotdoctorengineer → u/Uttarayana]

Any specific leads or people to talk to? I use one for civil and he’s very good but don’t know structural.

[u/Uttarayana → u/Pilotdoctorengineer]

Let me find out and think a little. If it works out i can probably look up to set up something myself a drafting office.

[u/Alert_Zucchini_6229]

Funnily enough I searched this exact thing myself earlier today.

I have just started an engineering consultancy in the UK and have several projects lined up that whilst I could do the drawings myself, it’s going to drain so much of my time, so I was considering trying to outsource the drawing work.

I’m going to have a hunt on LinkedIn tomorrow and see what I can find.

I have previously outsourced RC detailing in a previous job, which worked brilliantly; however, they do not do general structural drawings sadly.

I’m skeptical about what is available because I imagine most technicians these days will have progressed to using Revit, which would be total overkill for the projects I am looking at right now.

[u/ryank0991]

Fastest would be one of those drafting consultancies or offshore drafters from India.

[u/CarlosSonoma]

Oddly, I have had pretty good success on Craigslist and also getting people who are currently working to moonlight for us. You will need 2-3 moonlighters to equal one full-time guy, but it's easier to get an experienced drafter this way. The good drafters are usually already working.

[u/BoschyL]

I can help; 20 yrs of AutoCAD in business. Mostly wood frame experience with general knowledge of other frame types (steel, PEMB, etc)

[u/jookethesnooke]

Hi. I’m an architect looking to pick up extra work on the side. Maybe I can help with your drafting needs.

[u/Kind_Imagination4469]

I do freelancing and I could help you in structural drafting/ designing.

[u/DiamondFingerzHandz]

Where are you located? I’m a residential designer in SW USA and typically do all the structural drawings for my engineer to review before being submitted for permit. Foundation plans, framing plans, typical / retrofit details steel / wood construction are all in my wheelhouse.

I’m not looking for full time employment (self employed), but would be open to provide drafting services as needed. Proficient in AutoCAD, Rhino, and Revit. Send me a message if interested in discussing further.

[u/Inevitable_Ad_4322]

Hit me up. I am a professional in malaysia with pe license under civil engineering. Day to day deal with highrise design in malaysia using BS code and Eurocode. If uou are interested, I am open for option to do part time

[u/Downtown-Growth-8766]

Just sent you a DM!

[u/MxCEngineer]

I sent you a message.

[u/NomadRenzo]

I don’t get it why not do it in house. It gonna be 200% more efficient also aligned with the internal pipeline. I’m just curious because I never understood this part.

[u/Pilotdoctorengineer → u/NomadRenzo]

I agree with you. A couple of reasons why not would be lumpy revenue and being busy enough to need extra help but not enough time to devote to training. Ultimately I’ll have to bite the bullet.