LIGO Project Mechanical Designer/Drafter

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Job Summary

The Caltech/MIT Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) seeks a highly motivated, skilled and experienced mechanical draftsperson to join its team. LIGO is a premier National Science Foundation project at the leading edge of observational cosmology. The LIGO team is working on design, fabrication and assembly phases for a major upgrade to the existing observatory instruments, see the project web site at

As a mechanical designer / draftsperson working on the LIGO project, this individual will provide mechanical design, drafting and detailing expertise with the SolidWorks CAD software in support of the development of bid packages and manufacturing drawings for LIGO designs. The individual will work with mechanical engineers and designers on various assemblies and piece part designs. The drafter must interface with a dispersed team across the LIGO Laboratory (4 locations). This is an exciting opportunity to work with world-leading scientists on a project that previously won a nobel prize and opened up a new window on the universe. This is a chance to design parts that will go into cutting edge scientific endeavors, allowing the person selected to be part of a team that is breaking boundaries and making exciting discoveries.

Essential Job Duties

• Work with a high level of independence to do advanced design work and be responsible for the updates to large assemblies that reflect the real LIGO systems.
• Provide design and drawing support to the engineering staff, reporting directly to senior engineers in this role.
• Lead the checking of parts for interference and adherence to LIGO standards and report on issues and advise on resolutions.
• Apply appropriate design rules for clearance and tolerances when not defined by the engineer, communicate and report these changes into our document change notification and configuration control system.
• Integrate the new designs into the associated parent level assemblies within SolidWorks utilizing the PDMworks vault.
• Interfacing/ liaising with manufactures / shops, in this role the individual will oversee junior engineers and scientists in this area.
• Oversee student interns.
  
  

In order to perform the tasks listed above, the draftsperson must:

• Manage and develop detailed, complex designs and drawings for precision instrumentation in SolidWorks 3D CAD models.
• Render the design into drawings for manufacture.
• Render the assembly drawings into visual instructions in support of assembly and installation.
• Have familiarity with working with large assemblies (many thousands of parts) in SolidWorks.
• Work with the LIGO Laboratory configuration control and documentation archival systems, in particular PDMWorks and the LIGO Document Control System (DCC).
• Other duties as assigned
  
  

Basic Qualifications

• Have an AS degree in Design Drafting or 8 years Engineering Drafting experience in the workplace in lieu of a degree
• Have SolidWorks certification (minimum associate level)
• Be proficient in SolidWorks 2025
• Have at least 10 years of post-education SolidWorks experience
• Be familiar with drawing standards such as ANSI Y14.5M – 1994
• Have excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Must be able to demonstrate several years of successfully operating within a complex team environment
• Have a high degree of professional discipline
• Proven experience in engaging with vendors, contractors, supply chains and building good relationships
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Have some demonstrable PDMWorks experience
• Have knowledge of configuration control
• Have QA / QC experience in the work place
• Be familiar with materials and fabrication techniques used in vacuum system construction, particularly UHV compatible materials, processes, and welding,
• Have experience working in a large project R&D environment.
  
  

Required Documents

• A cover letter summarizing your experience relevant to LIGO Lab's role and also describing your interest in working at LIGO Lab.
• A resume
  
  

Hiring Range

$40.50 - $48.00 Per Hour

The salary of the finalist(s) selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to, internal equity, experience, education, specialty and training.

As one of the largest employers in Pasadena, CA, Caltech is committed to providing comprehensive benefits to eligible employees and their eligible dependents. Our benefits package includes competitive compensation, health, dental, and vision insurance, retirement savings plans, generous paid time off (vacation, holidays, sick time, parental leave, bereavement, etc.), tuition reimbursement, and more. Non-benefit eligible employees will have access to some benefits such as onsite counseling and sick time. Learn more about our

EEO Statement

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Caltech is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor.

To read more Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) go to eeoc_self_print_poster.pdf.

Disability Accommodations

Caltech complies with the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). We consider reasonable accommodation measures that may be necessary for eligible applicants and employees to perform the essential functions of a position.

If you would like to request an accommodation to complete this application, interview, or otherwise participate in the employee selection process, please contact Caltech Recruiting at

Additionally, if you do not meet the basic qualifications of a role but believe you can perform the essential functions of the job with reasonable accommodation, please reach out to Caltech Recruiting at