Widnes | Circa £30,000 – £35,000 | Permanent
Right to work in the UK required — No visa sponsorship available
The Role
We are recruiting a CAD Technician on behalf of a well-established sheet metal fabrication business in Liverpool. The successful candidate will design computer-aided technical drawings from customer orders, managing each job from brief through to production — working closely with the engineering team and, where needed, directly with customers.
Quality, attention to detail and a practical understanding of the manufacturing process are central to this role. You will be comfortable on the shop floor as well as at your workstation.
Key Responsibilities
* Receive customer orders, interpret requirements and produce full drawing packs for production and works orders
* Manage each job as your own project from start to finish, planning and prioritising your own workload
* Determine the appropriate drawing type for each project — 2D, 3D or other — and produce accordingly
* Design part profiles using RADAN software (or equivalent), including subcon, punch and manual work
* Seek customer approval of 2D/3D models and manage any technical queries throughout the process
* Output files for CAM post-processing and coordinate with operators to ensure programs reach the correct machines
* Provide face-to-face support on the shop floor, answering production queries and overseeing quality at each stage
* Carry out thorough quality checks on your own work at every stage
* Feed back improvement suggestions to senior management — materials, processes, and quality
* Work collaboratively as part of the engineering team, supporting colleagues when needed
* Maintain good housekeeping standards and comply with all health and safety requirements
What We're Looking For
Essential:
* Experience working in a sheet metal or fabrication CAD environment
* Proficiency in 2D CAD drafting — RADAN experience an advantage
* Understanding of sheet metal processes: folding, bending, laser cutting and fabrication
* Ability to work to tight deadlines with strong attention to detail
* Confident communicator — able to liaise with shop floor operatives, engineers and customers alike
* Good working knowledge of material specifications and mathematical application to practical tasks
* Comfortable working with a degree of autonomy and minimal supervision
Desirable:
* CAD/CAM software experience and knowledge of post-processing outputs
* Reverse engineering experience — creating drawings from physical parts
* Background working in a shop floor or hands-on manufacturing environment
* Previous customer-facing or technical query management experience
Why This Role?
* The business is in an active period of expansion — join at a great time to grow with it
* Long-standing, experienced team with a down-to-earth, collaborative culture
* Varied and interesting design work across bespoke customer projects
* Genuine training and development opportunities — on the job, external courses and classroom-based
* Reports to the Engineering Manager with clear visibility of your impact on the wider business
Remuneration & Benefits
💰 Salary
Circa £30,000 – £35,000 (depending on experience)
🗓 Holiday
25 days annual leave + bank holidays
📈 Pension
Employer contribution 3% / Employee contribution 5%
🎓 Development
Ongoing training — on the job, external and classroom based
👥 Culture
Supportive, down-to-earth team with a long-standing workforce
Important: This role cannot offer visa sponsorship. All applicants must have the right to work in the UK
Salary description
£30000.00 - £35000.00 per year