CAD Lead
Your Mission
As LEAP’s CAD Lead, you will own the quality, structure, and execution of CAD across our launch vehicle programs. You will establish the standards, tools, and workflows that allow engineering designs to move efficiently from concept through analysis, manufacturing, integration, test, and flight.
This role is both technical and operational. You will work closely with mechanical, structures, propulsion, avionics, manufacturing, and test teams to ensure models and drawings are accurate, manufacturable, properly controlled, and ready when the hardware needs to be built.
You will also serve as LEAP’s authority on CAD practices, helping build a scalable design environment as we move from rapid development toward repeatable vehicle production.
Own Core Responsibilities
- Own LEAP’s CAD standards, modeling practices, drawing standards, templates, libraries, naming conventions, and design documentation processes.
- Lead CAD execution across launch vehicle, propulsion, ground support equipment, tooling, test hardware, and related mechanical systems.
- Establish and maintain disciplined part, assembly, and drawing structures that support configuration management and hardware traceability.
- Review models and engineering drawings for dimensional accuracy, completeness, GD&T, manufacturability, assembly intent, and adherence to LEAP standards.
- Partner with engineering leads to translate design intent into production-ready models and drawings.
- Manage CAD priorities and workload across designers, drafters, technicians, and engineering contributors.
- Support design reviews and ensure CAD deliverables are mature enough to support procurement, fabrication, integration, and test.
- Serve as the primary technical escalation point for complex CAD, modeling, assembly, and drawing issues.
- Identify bottlenecks in the design-to-hardware process and implement workflows that improve speed without sacrificing engineering rigor.
- Mentor engineers and designers on modeling discipline, drawing quality, GD&T, and CAD best practices.
Produce Clear Deliverables
- Released 3D models, assemblies, drawings, and associated design documentation for flight and ground hardware.
- Standardized CAD templates, drawing formats, part libraries, and reusable design elements.
- Defined modeling and drawing standards that can scale across Bullfrog, Bighorn, propulsion systems, and future LEAP vehicles.
- Accurate manufacturing drawings with appropriate dimensions, tolerances, material specifications, finishes, notes, and GD&T.
- Well-structured assemblies and configuration-controlled design packages that reflect the correct hardware baseline.
- CAD packages that support internal manufacturing as well as external machine shops and suppliers.
- Design documentation that enables efficient procurement, fabrication, inspection, assembly, integration, and test.
- Repeatable workflows for CAD release, revision control, design changes, and engineering documentation.
- Training and reference materials that allow engineers and designers to work consistently within LEAP's CAD environment.
Impacts and Outcomes
Success in this role means:
- Engineers spend less time correcting models, drawings, and file structures and more time designing hardware.
- Manufacturing receives complete, accurate, and buildable engineering documentation.
- Design changes are controlled and traceable as vehicles progress through development and test.
- CAD practices remain consistent across propulsion, structures, mechanisms, vehicle systems, tooling, and ground hardware.
- Hardware moves more quickly from engineering design into procurement and manufacturing.
- Rework caused by drawing, tolerance, interface, or configuration errors is reduced.
- LEAP develops a scalable CAD and engineering documentation system capable of supporting increasingly complex vehicles and higher production rates.
- Critical vehicle interfaces are clearly defined and maintained across assemblies and engineering teams.
- CAD becomes an enabling system for LEAP's transition from rapid prototyping to repeatable aerospace manufacturing.
What You Bring to the Team
Required Skills
- 5+ years of professional mechanical CAD or product design experience, including experience leading, reviewing, or mentoring the work of others.
- Advanced proficiency in professional 3D parametric CAD software and complex mechanical assemblies.
- Experience creating production-ready engineering drawings for machined, fabricated, welded, sheet metal, or assembled hardware.
- Strong understanding of GD&T and ASME Y14 drawing practices.
- Strong understanding of dimensional tolerancing, fits, interfaces, datum structures, and inspection requirements.
- Experience managing complex assemblies, configurations, revisions, and design changes.
- Ability to translate engineering concepts and requirements into clear, manufacturable hardware definitions.
- Understanding of design for manufacturing and assembly principles.
- Experience working directly with engineers, machinists, fabricators, technicians, suppliers, and manufacturing teams.
- Strong attention to detail with the judgment to distinguish between issues that are cosmetic and those that can affect hardware performance or integration.
- Ability to manage multiple hardware priorities in a fast-moving development environment.
- Experience establishing or improving CAD standards, templates, libraries, workflows, and documentation.
- Strong communication skills and the ability to provide clear technical feedback across engineering disciplines.
- Comfortable operating in an environment where designs evolve quickly and documentation discipline must keep pace with hardware development.
Bonus Points
- Experience in launch vehicles, spacecraft, propulsion, aviation, defense, automotive, or another complex hardware industry.
- Experience designing or documenting pressure systems, fluid systems, tanks, propulsion hardware, structural assemblies, mechanisms, or ground support equipment.
- Experience with cryogenic, high-pressure, or high-temperature mechanical systems.
- Experience supporting rocket engine, propulsion, or vehicle test programs.
- Experience with large and complex vehicle-level CAD assemblies.
- Advanced surfacing, skeleton/master modeling, top-down design, configurable assemblies, or parametric design experience.
- Working knowledge of aerospace materials, manufacturing processes, welding, machining, additive manufacturing, composites, or sheet metal fabrication.
- Experience working within a PLM/PDM or formal engineering change and configuration-management environment.
- Experience transitioning hardware from prototype development into low-rate or repeatable production.
- Familiarity with tolerance stack-up analysis and inspection methodologies.
- Experience supporting engineering design reviews, including PDR, CDR, manufacturing readiness, or equivalent hardware reviews.
Compensation
Salary Range: $140,000 - $180,000
The estimated salary range for this role reflects various compensation factors. The final offer depends on factors such as work experience, education, training, key skills, and business needs.
In addition, LEAP provides a comprehensive benefits package for full-time employees, which includes:
- Equity Program:
Equity plan participation is available to all employees following an initial 90-day employment period and is performance-based. Equity allocations are determined on a case-by-case basis and are not guaranteed. Managers may make recommendations based on individual and team performance. All equity grants are subject to executive review and approval in accordance with the Company’s equity plan.
- Retirement Planning:
Save for the future with a 401(k) plan that includes competitive company matching.
- Growth Opportunities:
Take advantage of a professional development stipend to advance your skills and expertise.
- Flexible Time Off:
Enjoy PTO as needed and holiday breaks to help you balance work and life, including two week long company winter breaks and paid leave to support a family member, bond with a new child, or manage your own health needs
- Remote Work Flexibility:
Our team operates on a hybrid model. We expect you to work with your team for specific details on work location.
- Health Benefits:
LEAP provides comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage at minimal to no cost for employees. Coverage for dependents and HSA are also available.
- Insurance Coverage:
We cover basic life and long-term disability insurance, with options to add extra coverage to ensure peace of mind for you and your family.
LEAP is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace in Colorado. Our team brings together exceptionally talented and diverse individuals who are pushing the boundaries of space access and logistics. We welcome all qualified applicants and provide equal consideration for employment regardless of race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, Veteran status, age, or any other protected characteristic under federal, state, or local law. This includes individuals with a criminal history, in compliance with applicable regulations. We actively encourage applications from minorities, women, Veterans, and people with disabilities. At LEAP, we strive to create a supportive and welcoming environment throughout the hiring process. If you’re excited about making a real-world impact in space technology, we want to hear from you!