Careers
Get Job Notifications
Drafting & Design Jobs by Experience Level
Drafting & design jobs vary by industry, discipline, and experience level.
As a full-service, multi-disciplinary engineering design, procurement and project management firm, Vista Projects offers a variety of drafting and design jobs. The specifics of each role depend on the project and client requirements. When a new opportunity with Vista becomes available, the details will be included in the job posting.
Please view our current opportunities to see if there are drafting and design jobs you want to apply for. You may also be interested in our engineering job descriptions by experience level.
Below are general descriptions of the drafting and design jobs performed at Vista. These job levels are offered across multiple engineering disciplines.
Drafting & Design Jobs
As with all drafting and design jobs at Vista, we employ drafters and designers at multiple competency and experience levels. These include:
While there are certainly overlapping responsibilities, the requirements and expectations for each role are different. The following are the duties and experience expected for each drafting and design position.
Drafter
The drafter will assist in the preparation of design documents and drawings during the execution of a project that is specific to their discipline (piping, electrical or civil/structural). Duties will include:
Drafter – Main Duties and Competencies
- Drafting moderate-to-complex 2D drawings, charts, schedules, etc.
- Preparing as-built drawings based on field red-line markups
- Drafting intelligent P&IDs
- Developing designs and layouts requiring theoretical and practical design knowledge in a specialized field
- Assuring that work complies with the accuracy level and time constraints required for the assignment
- Potentially directing work for a small number of drafters, providing guidance and instruction on work methods, and checking finished work
- Being able to meet safety requirements to attend site visits
- Performing other duties as requested
Drafter – Requirements
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Proficiency in AutoCAD
- Ability to work within a multi-disciplinary team including process, mechanical, civil-structural, electrical, instrumentation, and piping
- Excellent communication skills (interpersonal and written) and proven ability to collaborate with team members from project management, estimating and project controls
- Strong organizational skills, technical competence and attention to detail
Drafter – Preferred Experience
- At least four (4) years of experience in facilities engineering and design in the thermal oil industry
- Technical school certification/degree
- Advanced computer skills and experience in major design software such as CADWorx, SmartPlant, AutoPLANT and PDMS
Designer
The designer will prepare complicated drawings and charts in a specialized field (piping, civil/structural or EIC). The designer will assist in the design of different aspects of SAGD (and other oil and gas) projects from inception to completion. Duties will include:
Designer – Main Duties and Competencies
- Producing complicated drawings and charts in a specialized field, involving planning, layout, bill of materials, etc. for major installations
- Designing and detailing new components from previous designs based on engineering instructions, government and regulatory codes and client standards
- Developing designs of limited scope and complexity requiring theoretical and practical design knowledge in a specialized field
- Assisting field forces during construction
- Checking the work of, and assisting in the training of, less experienced drafting and design personnel
- Reporting progress of work assignments to immediate supervisor
- Analyzing design elements for potential trends, technical feasibility, and client or contractual requirements
- Ensuring all drawings and materials are in accordance with Vista specifications and standards
- Being able to meet safety requirements to attend site visits
- Performing other duties as requested
Designer – Requirements
- Producing complicated drawings and charts in a specialized field, involving planning, layout, bill of materials, etc. for major installations
- Designing and detailing new components from previous designs based on engineering instructions, government and regulatory codes and client standards
- Developing designs of limited scope and complexity requiring theoretical and practical design knowledge in a specialized field
- Assisting field forces during construction
- Checking the work of, and assisting in the training of, less experienced drafting and design personnel
- Reporting progress of work assignments to immediate supervisor
- Analyzing design elements for potential trends, technical feasibility, and client or contractual requirements
- Ensuring all drawings and materials are in accordance with Vista specifications and standards;
- Being able to meet safety requirements to attend site visits
- Performing other duties as requested
Designer – Preferred Experience
Five (5) years of experience in a designer capacity, ideally with a focus in thermal heavy oil.
Senior Designer
The Senior Designer will prepare complicated drawings and charts in a specialized field (piping, civil/structural or EIC). The Senior Designer will independently complete the design of different aspects of SAGD (and other oil and gas) projects from inception to completion. Duties will include:
Senior Designer – Main Duties and Competencies
- Preparing layouts, calculations and designs related to the most complicated elements of projects
- Designing and detailing complicated new components from previous designs based on engineering instructions, government and regulatory codes and client standards
- Producing drawings in a complicated field with minimum technical guidance
- Coordinating complicated work between field and office
- Assisting field forces during construction
- Assisting with engineering feasibility and cost studies
- Reporting progress of work assignments to immediate supervisor
- Checking the work and assisting in the training of less experienced drafting and design personnel
- Ensuring all drawings and materials are in accordance with Vista and client specifications and standards
- Making general recommendations on the utilization of new drafting/design techniques, normally within an area of specialization
- Analyzing design elements for potential trends, technical feasibility, client or contractual requirements
- Being able to meet safety requirements to attend site visits
- Performing other duties as requested
Senior Designer – Requirements
- At least eight (8) years of progressive experience in facilities engineering and design in the oil and gas industry
- Technical school certification/degree or equivalent experience.
- Ability to work within a multi-disciplinary team including process, mechanical, civil-structural, electrical, instrumentation, and piping
- Advanced computer skills and experience with major drafting and design software such as AutoCAD, CADWorx, SmartPlant, AutoPLANT, and PDMS
- Extensive knowledge of applicable government regulations and regulatory codes
- Excellent communication skills (interpersonal and written) and proven ability to collaborate with team members in a multi-discipline environment
- Strong organizational skills, technical competence and attention to detail
Senior Designer – Preferred Experience
Vista expects candidates hired into a senior designer position to have at least ten (10) years of experience in a designer capacity, ideally with a focus on thermal heavy oil.
Lead Designer
The Lead Designer will provide supervision and working leadership of several drafters and designers in a specialized field (piping, civil/structural or EIC). The Lead Designer will oversee the design of different aspects of SAGD and other oil and gas projects from inception to completion. Duties will include:
Lead Designer – Main Duties and Competencies
- Planning, allocating and reviewing work programs
- Establishing man-hour estimates, schedules and priorities
- Approving completed drawings
- Ensuring the design and drafting team are completing high-quality work within the required time and budget constraints
- Coordinating interfaces with other disciplines
- Maintaining current knowledge of the industry and regulatory standards
- Providing technical and quality guidance to department staff
- Providing leadership in the selection, appraisal, and training of department staff
- Preparing layouts and designs related to the most complicated elements of projects
- Preparing and approving department procedures, specifications, and standards
- Ensuring all drawings and materials are in accordance with Vista and client specifications and standards
- Making general recommendations on the utilization of new drafting/design techniques, normally within an area of specialization
- Analyzing design elements for potential trends, technical feasibility, client or contractual requirements
- Establishing scopes of work for each project or proposal
- Scheduling and expediting department work
- Reviewing and approving manpower requirements and exercising management responsibility with respect to selection, appraisal, and training of staff
- Developing discipline cost estimates for proposals
- Providing leadership, mentorship, and coaching to direct reports and the broader design team
- Being able to meet safety requirements to attend site visits
- Performing other duties as requested
Lead Designer – Requirements
- At least eight (8) years of progressive experience in facilities engineering and design in the oil & gas industry
- Technical school certification/degree or equivalent experience
- Ability to work within a multi-disciplinary team including process, mechanical, civil-structural, electrical, instrumentation, and piping
- Advanced computer skills and broad experience in major drafting and design software such as AutoCAD, CADWorx, SmartPlant, AutoPLANT, and PDMS
- Comprehensive knowledge of applicable government regulations and regulatory codes
- Excellent communication skills (interpersonal and written) and proven ability to collaborate with teams of varying sizes in a multi-discipline environment
- Strong organizational skills, technical competence and attention to detail
Lead Designer – Preferred Experience
- At least ten (10) years of experience in a designer capacity, ideally with a focus in thermal heavy oil
- At least three (3) years of previous management or supervisory experience in a professional setting
Drafting & Design Job Descriptions by Discipline
We might not be hiring right now but we always look to expand our network of talented people. If you’re interested in working at Vista in a drafting and design role, we encourage you to review our job descriptions and to apply for future opportunities within your area of expertise.
