CAD (computer-aided design) operators are responsible for drafting plans, including blueprints or drawings, based on organizational or project requirements. Engineering and construction teams rely heavily on CAD operators to produce 2D or 3D diagrams for any project, such as a structure or a building, that requires a drafted plan layout.
CAD operators are also known as:
- Drafters or CAD drafters
- CAD technicians
- AutoCAD operators, drafters or technicians who create plans using Autodesk’s AutoCAD software.
The global CAD market is expected to reach $11.21 billion by 2023, growing at a compound annual growth rate of 7% between 2017 and 2023¹. This can largely be attributed to the overall growth in the computer-aided design market, as these solutions assist construction and engineering businesses in many ways. These include increased productivity, faster project development opportunities, improved product quality and better visualization of the final plan or product.
To keep up with this growth, construction and engineering companies need to identify ways to keep employment costs low without jeopardizing quality. A solution; outsourcing.
Due to the digital nature of the role, CAD operators are well-suited to an offshore environment. As long as your business is offshore ready, outsourcing CAD operators to the Philippines is simple and cost-effective.
Book a Free Consultation
Want an CAD Operator – or a team of CAD Operators – outsourced in the Philippines?
What are the benefits of outsourcing CAD operators?
-
Cost savings:
By hiring an offshore CAD operator to support your local team with repetitive and time-consuming drafting tasks for a fraction of the price, due to the lower living costs in the Philippines, you can save up to 70% when compared to hiring locally. -
Increase in output efficiency and quality levels:
Sending routine CAD operation and drafting tasks to an offshore team in the Philippines means your onshore team will have more time, budget and project scope to take on higher value work. Your business will notice a drastic increase in productivity levels within your construction and engineering services. -
Business growth and scaling opportunities:
When you send your time-consuming tasks to an offshore CAD operator in the Philippines, your local team will have more time to focus on increasing profits and business growth and development opportunities. The additional capacity that your onshore team gets from your offshore team's support means you can grow your business sustainably.
What qualifications, skills and experience make a successful CAD operator?
Projects and CAD success depend entirely on the latest software, so drafters must stay up-to-date with new techniques and technologies to provide the level of support required by businesses. To be a successful CAD operator or draftsman means you need to understand and visualize how things operate, from project to project, to create quality computer drawings. They require key communication skills to translate project visions and designs from conversations with architects and engineers into computer-drafted designs. CAD operators also require a high level of attention to detail to produce concise and precise enough drafts that relevant project managers and contractors can understand.
In terms of qualifications and education, a degree or certificate in computer technology, architecture, drafting or civil engineering is necessary given the role's analytical and mathematical nature. Construction and engineering roles are notorious for preferring hands-on experience over technical, so internships are looked upon favorably.
CAD operator roles can be categorized by years of working experience:
- Entry-level or junior: less than 2 years of CAD drafting experience, either supervised or unsupervised. Tasks completed could include working on smaller projects, making revisions to existing drawings or converting archive drawings from paper to computer.
- Intermediate: 2-4 years of CAD drafting experience. Tasks completed could include managing a team of technicians, supervising design office productivity levels or overall project management duties.
- Senior: 4+ years of experience in CAD drafting. Tasks completed could include offering consulting services to engineers and architects, or even clients on project plans, building and designs - often, Senior CAD drafters will begin to lean towards careers in engineering, in particular, civil.
What tools and systems do CAD operators need to be successful in their roles?
CAD operators heavily rely on computer software as they are constantly drafting designs and plans for projects. However, each project or business may require their CAD operators to be experienced in a certain software to meet their standards or coincide with internal business operating processes. The most popular systems used are:










Tips for employing Filipino CAD operators
- Your CAD operators must know the systems and software your business uses to provide the best level of support for your onshore construction and engineering team.
- Ensure that you let your talent acquisition team in the Philippines know the size of projects and plans your ideal offshore CAD operator will be working on. By employing an offshore team member who has had experience working on similar project sizes, they will better understand timelines and expectations.
- You can recruit as many CAD operators as required from project to project and can even hire senior CAD operators in the Philippines to manage your offshore teams. If/when you grow your offshore team to several staff, having one team lead can ensure streamlined communication and project updates are effectively delivered to your onshore team.
- You can recruit as many CAD operators as required from project to project and can even hire senior CAD operators in the Philippines to manage your offshore teams. If/when you grow your offshore team to several staff, having one team lead can ensure streamlined communication and project updates are effectively delivered to your onshore team.
Reference:
1 Understanding the Fundamentals of Inbound
Interested in recruiting team(s) in the Philippines?
Since our inception in 2006, MicroSourcing has become one of the biggest providers of offshoring solutions in the Philippines. We can help you build a dedicated team in the Philippines, regardless of the roles and level of specialization you require. MicroSourcing is 100% owned by the Probe CX, one of Australia’s fastest growing offshoring solution and customer engagement firms. So, it’s safe to say we’re experts in outsourcing to the Philippines.
Call +1 888-731-0023 today or send us an email to discuss your company’s offshoring needs.

ISO/IEC 27001:2013
ISO 9001:2015


HIPAA & PCI DSS compliant