Electrical Drafter
Other Titles
Associate Drafter, CAD Operator (Computer Aided Design Operator), CAD Technician (Computer Aided Drafting Technician), Drafter, Electrical Designer, Electrical Drafter, Engineering Associate
Develop specifications and instructions for installation of voltage transformers, overhead or underground cables, and related electrical equipment used to conduct electrical energy from transmission lines or high-voltage distribution lines to consumers.
Electrical drafters create visual guidelines, drawings, plans and sketches for other workers. These are then used by other workers to install electrical equipment at buildings, towers and other sites. In this role, they develop wiring drawings, cable positioning and layouts, wiring connection details and other components of an electrical equipment installation. They typically work with different structures and buildings, using their blueprints to determine the most efficient way of installing electrical cables and other equipment. As an electrical drafter, they often work with another engineer or an architect who may advise they on creating the best layout drawings and plans.
Use computer-aided drafting equipment or conventional drafting stations, technical handbooks, tables, calculators, and traditional drafting tools, such as boards, pencils, protractors, and T-squares.
Draft working drawings, wiring diagrams, wiring connection specifications, or cross-sections of underground cables, as required for instructions to installation crew.
Assemble documentation packages and produce drawing sets to be checked by an engineer or an architect.
Review completed construction drawings and cost estimates for accuracy and conformity to standards and regulations.
Confer with engineering staff and other personnel to resolve problems.
Measure factors that affect installation and arrangement of equipment, such as distances to be spanned by wire and cable.
Design electrical systems, such as lighting systems.
Draw master sketches to scale showing relation of proposed installations to existing facilities and exact specifications and dimensions.
Study work order requests to determine type of service, such as lighting or power, demanded by installation.
Explain drawings to production or construction teams and provide adjustments, as necessary.
Reproduce working drawings on copy machines or trace drawings in ink.
Determine the order of work and the method of presentation, such as orthographic or isometric drawing.
Visit proposed installation sites and draw rough sketches of location.
Prepare and interpret specifications, calculating weights, volumes, and stress factors.
Supervise and train other technologists, technicians, and drafters.
Reading Comprehension→ Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Active Listening→ Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking→ Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Writing→ Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Critical Thinking→ Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Operations Analysis→ Analyzing needs and product requirements to create a design.
Complex Problem Solving→ Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Coordination→ Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Judgment and Decision Making→ Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Systems Analysis→ Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
Interacting With Computers→ Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
Getting Information→ Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment→ Providing documentation, detailed instructions, drawings, or specifications to tell others about how devices, parts, equipment, or structures are to be fabricated, constructed, assembled, modified, maintained, or used.
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates→ Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work→ Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge→ Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards→ Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships→ Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
Making Decisions and Solving Problems→ Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events→ Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
Processing Information→ Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
Documenting/Recording Information→ Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information→ Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.
Communicating with Persons Outside Organization→ Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
Scheduling Work and Activities→ Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
Create electrical schematics.
Document technical design details.
Evaluate designs or specifications to ensure quality.
Confer with other personnel to resolve design or operational problems.
Collect data about project sites.
Design electrical equipment or systems.
Review technical documents to plan work.
Prepare detailed work plans.
Explain engineering drawings, specifications, or other technical information.
Estimate technical or resource requirements for development or production projects.
Supervise engineering or other technical personnel.
Prepare technical reports for internal use.
Oral Comprehension→ The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Oral Expression→ The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Written Comprehension→ The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Near Vision→ The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Problem Sensitivity→ The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
Written Expression→ The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
Deductive Reasoning→ The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Inductive Reasoning→ The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
Information Ordering→ The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g. , patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
Visualization→ The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
Category Flexibility→ The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
Fluency of Ideas→ The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).
Mathematical Reasoning→ The ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem.
Speech Recognition→ The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
Design→ Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
Engineering and Technology→ Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
Computers and Electronics→ Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Language→ Knowledge of the structure and content of a language - English, French, Swahili et cetera - including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Clerical→ Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
Public Safety and Security→ Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
Mathematics→ Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Customer and Personal Service→ Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Administration and Management→ Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
Geography→ Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life.
Education and Training→ Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
Computer aided design CAD software -- e.g., Autodesk AutoCAD; Dassault Systemes CATIA; Intergraph INtools; PTC Creo Parametric etc
Database user interface and query software -- e.g., Microsoft Access; PEDYN P000
Development environment software -- e.g., Verilog
Graphics or photo imaging software -- e.g., Microsoft Visio
Industrial control software -- e.g., Supervisory control and data acquisition SCADA software
Office suite software -- e.g., Microsoft Office
Project management software -- e.g., Oracle JD Edwards EnterpriseOne Project Management; PTC Pro/INTRALINK
Spreadsheet software -- e.g., Microsoft Excel
Word processing software -- e.g., Microsoft Word
Realistic→ Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
Investigative→ Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
Conventional→ Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
Attention to Detail→ Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Dependability→ Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Cooperation→ Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
Initiative→ Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
Analytical Thinking→ Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
Adaptability/Flexibility→ Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
Integrity→ Job requires being honest and ethical.
Self Control→ Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
Stress Tolerance→ Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.
Achievement/Effort→ Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
Independence→ Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
Persistence→ Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
Leadership→ Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.
Concern for Others→ Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
Innovation→ Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems.
Social Orientation→ Job requires preferring to work with others rather than alone, and being personally connected with others on the job.
Support→ Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
Independence→ Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
Relationships→ Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.