CAD Designer

Job Description:

Introduction

Nextpower is looking for a CAD Designer to support the Project Engineering team based in Sorocaba/São Paulo, Brazil. In this position, the CAD Designer will report to the Sr. Manager of Project Engineering and will provide design support to Project Engineers for utility-scale solar tracker projects.

The position will interact with a team of engineers making decisions related to Design & Engineering for Nextpower projects, including site plans, mechanical sets, foundation drawings, bill of materials, wind loading analysis, value engineering, and other design or engineering tasks that support project quoting and execution phases.

This role may interface with engineering in different regions, as well as Sales, Project Management, and R&D teams at Nextpower offices around the world.

Job Description

The CAD Designer will be responsible for developing and maintaining project design documentation, tracker layouts, CAD blocks, mechanical sets, and construction plan sets. The role will review site information and design inputs, assist with product configuration selection, and support design decisions based on site-specific conditions.

The position will coordinate with Project Engineering and regional design teams to support project execution, improve drafting standards, update product configurations, contribute to value engineering initiatives, and learn analytical workflows such as topography and hydrology review to help determine optimal tracker placement.

Responsibilities:

Design Support & Construction Documentation

• Provide design support to develop tracker layouts, CAD blocks, mechanical sets, and full construction plan sets.

• Prepare and update site plans, mechanical sheet sets, foundation drawings, bill of materials, and related project design documentation.

• Support project quoting and execution phases by producing accurate, complete, and timely CAD deliverables.

• Apply drafting standards and project-specific requirements to ensure consistency and quality across design packages.

Site Review & Product Configuration

• Review pertinent site information, design inputs, and engineering requirements.

• Assist in selecting appropriate product types and configurations based on site conditions and project needs.

• Support wind loading analysis, foundation design coordination, and other design or engineering tasks as required.

• Learn and apply topography and hydrology analysis to help determine the best tracker placement on project sites.

Project Engineering & Value Engineering

• Work with the Project Engineering team to conduct value engineering exercises to lower costs on an individual project basis.

• Coordinate with engineers to evaluate design alternatives, resolve project-specific issues, and support practical design decisions.

• Contribute to project execution by identifying opportunities to improve constructability, reduce costs, and maintain design quality.

Global Standards & Cross-Functional Coordination

• Coordinate with Nextracker Designers in other regions to create and update new product standards, design changes, and project-related requirements.

• Work with engineers located in the India office to update new product configurations and drafting standards.

• Potentially support the development of automation procedures that improve drafting efficiency, standardization, and repeatability.

• Interface as needed with engineering teams in the United States and India, as well as Sales, Project Management, and R&D teams at Nextpower offices around the world.

Required Skills/Experiences:

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil, Structural, or Mechanical Engineering preferred.

• Associate degree in a related field required at minimum.

• 2-3 years of experience in project design.

• Thorough knowledge of drafting standards.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, AutoCAD, and AutoCAD Civil.

• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.

• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and manage multiple project priorities.

• Self-motivated team player with strong communication and problem-solving skills.

• Intermediate English required.

Preferred Experiences

• At least 1 year of relevant work experience in the solar industry is preferred.

• Knowledge of construction sheet sets, and project design of PV plants is a plus.

• Passion for solar and renewable energy is a plus.

Key Competencies

• CAD drafting and construction documentation

• Tracker layout development and mechanical design support

• Site information review and design input coordination

• Product configuration support and drafting standards

• Value engineering and cost-conscious design thinking

• Topography, hydrology, and site condition awareness

• Cross-functional collaboration with engineering and project teams

• Organization, accuracy, and execution in a fast-paced environment

Scope & Impact

• Functional Scope: CAD design, tracker layouts, mechanical sets, construction plan sets, foundation drawings, bill of materials, and project design support.

• Business Impact: Supports accurate quoting, efficient execution, value engineering, cost reduction, and design standardization for solar tracker projects.

• Technical Impact: Contributes to product configuration updates, drafting standards, site-specific design decisions, and potential automation procedure development.

• Operational Impact: Improves project documentation quality, consistency, and speed across project quoting and execution phases.

• Stakeholder Impact: Works with Project Engineering, regional designers, Sales, Project Management, and R&D teams.

At Nextpower, we are driving the global energy transition with an integrated clean energy technology platform that combines intelligent structural, electrical, and digital solutions for utility-scale power plants. Our comprehensive portfolio enables faster project delivery, higher performance, and greater reliability, helping our customers capture the full value of solar power. Our talented worldwide teams are redefining how solar power plants are designed, built, and operated every day with smart technology, data-driven insights, and advanced automation. Together, we’re building the foundation for the world’s next generation of clean energy infrastructure.