Career Services Emily Hordes recently interviewed Erik about his experience as a CADD student at PCC and entering the workforce after completing the CADD certificate program. The Oregon Employment Department projects demand for CADD professionals in the Portland area to grow nearly 14% by 2027. 

How did you decide upon this degree/career?
I’m creative. From a really young age I’ve known that I’ve enjoyed building and creating and designing before I even knew that that’s what I wanted to do. As a kid I loved playing with legos and Play-Doh, being creative and imaginative, and I found the most satisfaction in my personal life when I was doing that and that is what motivated me to become a machinist. I knew I would like to create my own designs really truly from scratch and CADD and drafting is the way to do that. 

For those who don’t know much about this field, can you tell us a little more about what your career entails and what a typical day looks like in your role?
The PCC CADD program primarily focuses on training for the mechanical design and drafting industry. As a mechanical drafter I work closely with engineers to prepare plans and technical drawings using Computer Aided Design and Drafting (CADD) systems, which help production and construction workers create everything from skyscrapers, phone cases, iPhones, to microchips. So there's this amazing range.

Where I work now,  I currently design a lot of sheet metal and steel tube components and parts. We are contract manufacturers so we get requests to design for a wide range of employers. One employer we partner with now works closely with Intel, so we build stuff that ultimately makes its way to Intel. My typical day will include taking drawings like 2D blueprints and sketches and turning them into digital technical drawings using CADD software. My final product contains information on how to build a component, product, or machine, the dimensions of the project, and what materials are needed to complete the project. 

How did your education at PCC prepare you for your career? 
In the most broad sense, it’s the familiarity and practice with this stuff. More of the more specific things like the best practices to develop for going through from start to finish. How to really execute a task whether it was something simple or not. 

What do you suggest for students who are considering going into the CADD field?
Explore your options, find what you’re good at and what’s really suited for you. Instead of just doing the things that are most familiar and comfortable, try something weird and different that you're not even really sure about. You might be surprised! 

Wage and employment information for CADD graduates: 

• Median hourly wage: $26.20
• Per Bureau of Labor & Statistics, mean annual wage:  $57,000 for “Drafter, All Other” Oregon
• Recent graduates have found work at: Blount, Autodesk, Plexus, Flatline Fabrication and Core States, Oregon Trail'r,  RRC, and RDF&P
• Job titles range from: Drafter/Designer, Entry level CAD Operator to Solidworks Drafter