Computer Aided Design Engineer

Job Title: Lead Engineer – CAD & PLM Systems Location: Morgan Hill, CA Job Description: We are seeking an experienced Lead Engineer – CAD & PLM Systems Administration to lead the governance, administration, optimization, and strategic evolution of our global engineering design ecosystem. This role will serve as the subject matter expert and primary escalation point for enterprise CAD and PLM platforms, ensuring system reliability, engineering productivity, and adherence to global standards across geographically distributed teams. The ideal candidate will bring deep expertise in PTC Creo, enterprise-scale PLM systems, CAD PLM integrations, software deployment, licensing management, process governance, and engineering enablement. The role also requires a forward-thinking mindset to evaluate and adopt emerging design technologies including cloud CAD, AI-assisted engineering workflows, generative design, and immersive review platforms. Key Responsibilities CAD & PLM Platform Administration • Administer, maintain, and continuously improve the enterprise CAD platform and its integration with the PLM environment for a globally distributed engineering organization. • Serve as the highest-level technical escalation point for CAD and PLM system issues, ensuring rapid diagnosis and resolution of critical engineering workflow disruptions. • Troubleshoot and resolve complex CAD failures, including: o Regeneration errors o Broken references o Corrupt assemblies o Workspace synchronization issues o CAD-PLM integration failures System Deployment & Configuration Management • Plan, validate, and execute enterprise-wide software upgrades, patches, releases, and deployments across multiple geographic regions. • Develop, manage, and maintain CAD configurations, customization settings, deployment packages, startup scripts, and environment standards. • Leverage automation and scripting tools to streamline deployment, configuration management, and system administration activities. Engineering Standards & Governance Establish and enforce global CAD standards and best practices across engineering teams. • Define and maintain: o Assembly structures o Drawing templates o BOM configurations o Naming conventions o Configuration files o System defaults and startup environments • Conduct design quality audits and ensure compliance with engineering and product development standards. Continuous Improvement & Project Leadership • Lead quarterly continuous improvement initiatives using Agile methodologies and sprint-based execution. • Drive process optimization efforts that improve engineering productivity, design quality, and time-to-market. • Partner with engineering, product development, IT, and business stakeholders to implement scalable solutions. Software Licensing & Vendor Management • Own the complete software asset management lifecycle across global engineering teams. • Manage software licensing, renewals, utilization tracking, contract administration, and compliance for multiple engineering applications. • Collaborate with software vendors to negotiate agreements, optimize license utilization, and support strategic technology planning. Training & Knowledge Management • Design and deliver global CAD and PLM training programs, including: o Individual coaching o Group training sessions o Onsite workshops o Virtual instructor-led training • Develop user guides, tutorials, and technical documentation. • Maintain and continuously enhance the engineering knowledge repository. Onboarding & User Enablement • Lead end-to-end onboarding of new engineering team members. • Manage license provisioning, workstation setup, environment configuration, and technical training plans. • Ensure rapid productivity ramp-up through structured enablement programs. Technology Strategy & Innovation • Support and drive strategic New Product Introduction (NPI) initiatives aimed at accelerating product development cycles. • Evaluate and recommend emerging engineering technologies, including: o Cloud-based CAD platforms o VR/AR design review solutions o Generative design tools o AI-assisted engineering workflows • Develop roadmaps for future-state engineering systems and digital design capabilities. Experience • 10+ years of experience administering PTC Creo Parametric (or an equivalent enterprise CAD platform) in a large-scale engineering environment. • Proven experience supporting enterprise PLM solutions such as PTC Windchill, Oracle Agile PLM, or equivalent. • Hands-on experience managing CAD-PLM integrations, engineering change processes, and product lifecycle management workflows. • Demonstrated success leading global engineering support, technology deployment, and continuous improvement initiatives.