Job Description Job Description
CAD Designer / Estimator
M.S. Fabrication, Inc. (MS Fab) Dorchester, MA Full-time
About M.S. Fabrication
M.S. Fabrication is a custom fabrication shop in Dorchester, MA. We build precision stainless, steel, and aluminum components and assemblies to our customers' designs. We have been growing rapidly and working closely with OEM manufacturers in high-end stainless assemblies.
The Role
We're looking for a CAD Designer / Estimator with hands-on metal fabrication shop experience. You'll take jobs from customer RFQ through estimating, CAD prep, and release to the shop floor. Most of the work is quoting customer-designed parts and getting them ready to build: turning customer drawings into accurate sheet-metal models, flat patterns, cutting files, and clear shop instructions. You'll work closely with our Operations Manager, and the shop owner, who is heavily involved in day to day fabrication.
What You'll Do
CAD & Design
- Review customer designs and translate them into working shop drawings and 3-D models.
- Produce clear drawings and shop instructions for cutting, forming, welding, hardware, and assembly
- Get the details right: dimensions, tolerances, bend and hole locations, materials, and thicknesses
- Revise drawings when customer or production requirements change
Estimating & Quoting
- Review customer RFQs and final engineered drawings with the Operations Manager
- Estimate material, labor, and outside processing requirements
- Prepare quotes, and revise them when quantities, materials, or designs change
- Contact customers to clarify missing or unclear information
- Follow up on open quotes
- Work with operations on pricing, lead times, and production requirements
Production & Job Support
- Make sure the shop gets the correct drawings, revisions, quantities, materials, and specs
- Enter and maintain quote information in in-house ERP software
- Help track jobs through the shop and keep customer, quote, drawing, and revision records organized
- Work with the Operations Manager to create labor budgets for job processes
What We're Looking For
- Direct experience working in a metal fabrication shop (5+ years experience)
- Practical knowledge of cutting, forming, welding, bend allowances, and flat-pattern development
- Strong drawing interpretation: you can read customer drawings and specs and see how a part will actually be built
- Solid production CAD skills: sheet-metal models, flat patterns, and cut-ready files
- Ability to estimate material, labor, and outside processing
- Detail-oriented, with clear communication with customers and the shop
- Able to work independently while coordinating closely with operations
- Able to handle multiple quotes and active jobs at once
- Dependable: you show up, own your work, and follow jobs through to the end
- Comfortable with computers and estimating, ERP, or job-tracking software
- No degree required
Nice to Have
- Fusion experience (preferred); SolidWorks, Inventor, or similar sheet-metal CAD also helps
- Estimating or quoting in a fabrication job shop
- Stainless steel and aluminum fabrication
- Laser cutting, press brake forming, and welded assemblies
- Design for manufacturing (DFM)
- DXF preparation and cleanup
- Bill of materials, job routing, or production scheduling
- ERP/MRP systems
Schedule, Pay & Benefits
- Type: Full-time
- Location: Dorchester, MA : On site with the possibility of moving to hybrid once established in role
- Hours: hours
- Pay: $75,000-$95,000 depending on experience Sign on Bonus
- Benefits: 401k Employer Contributions (3% match on simple IRA)
Health Insurance
20 days PTO (after 6 month full-time employment)
Year-end bonus - Start: As soon as possible
How to Apply
Email your resume to with "CAD Designer / Estimator" in the subject line. If you can, include a few examples of shop drawings, flat patterns, or other fabrication CAD work you've done.
