Ridgeline Engineering Company

Compensation

Full Description

1099 Contract CAD Technician — Site Plans (Remote or Golden, CO) Location: Remote (U.S. preferred) or onsite in Golden, Colorado Type: 1099 Independent Contractor Compensation: $40–$50/hr (DOE) — higher rates considered for advanced Civil 3D skills Start Date: Contingent upon project award — anticipated early 2026 Other Work: Potential for small one-off projects in the interim Eligibility: U.S. Citizenship required About Us We are a specialized engineering consulting firm based in Golden, Colorado. Our team focuses on communication tower engineering and related infrastructure projects. We work with public safety agencies, federal clients, and private tower construction firms across the U.S. Our projects demand precision, attention to detail, and strict adherence to client-mandated CAD standards. The Opportunity We are seeking an experienced AutoCAD Technician to join our team as an independent contractor (1099). This role will be focused on developing site plan drawings using complex and highly specific customer CAD standards. You will be working closely with our engineers to translate sketches, redlines, and field notes into clean, professional deliverables that meet stringent technical and formatting requirements. This position is contingent upon our firm being awarded a major upcoming project. We anticipate work will begin in early 2026, with potential for smaller, standalone drafting tasks in the meantime. Due to the nature of the work and our clients, U.S. citizenship is required. Responsibilities • Create detailed site plan drawings in AutoCAD following strict customer CAD standards (layer naming, pen tables, sheet sets, linetypes, annotation scales, block libraries, etc.) • Incorporate redlines, field notes, and engineer markups accurately and efficiently • Maintain clean and organized drawing files (layer management, Xrefs, purge unused objects, correct scales, etc.) • Produce high-quality plotted PDFs from native DWG files using CTB/STB styles as provided • Collaborate with project engineers to review drawing progress and resolve questions • (If applicable) Develop topographical base drawings and existing condition plans using Civil 3D, including surfaces, contours, feature lines, and labeling • Maintain communication and meet agreed-upon deadlines with minimal supervision Required Qualifications • 3+ years of professional drafting experience using AutoCAD • Strong understanding of site plan layout, title block usage, and drawing setup • Proven experience working under strict client CAD standards • Proficiency with layers, Xrefs, dynamic blocks, CTB/STB plot styles, sheet sets, and annotation scaling • Ability to work independently, manage your own time, and respond quickly to feedback • Excellent attention to detail and organizational skills • U.S. Citizenship required • Must be legally authorized to work in the United States Preferred Qualifications • Experience with Civil 3D for creating topographic drawings, surfaces, and grading plans • Familiarity with communication tower sites, telecom infrastructure, or similar projects • Experience preparing submittal drawings for government agencies (such as Federal Aviation Administration or U.S. Department of Defense) • Familiarity with Bluebeam Revu or other PDF markup/review tools Compensation • $40–$50/hr, depending on skills and software proficiency • Higher rates considered for candidates who can perform topographic modeling and surface work in Civil 3D • Paid test assignment (2–3 hours) required for final candidates Additional Details • Contractor status (1099) — you will be responsible for your own equipment, software licenses, and taxes • Work can be performed remotely with preference for candidates who can collaborate in Mountain Time (MT) • Occasional on-site meetings in Golden, Colorado are a plus but not required • Work start date is contingent on project award (anticipated early 2026) • May be offered small one-off drafting tasks in the meantime • U.S. citizenship is a requirement for this role How to Apply Please submit the following: • Resume highlighting relevant experience • 2–3 sample DWG files showing site plan work (with screenshots or redacted content as needed) • Brief description of your experience working under client CAD standards • Indicate your availability and the version(s) of AutoCAD/Civil 3D you use • Confirm your U.S. citizenship in your application