The earliest drafting document is a fossilized aerial plan of a Babylonian fortress that dates back to 2000 B.C. Sketches and hand drawn plans continued for thousands of years. Today drafting technologists in the energy industry work closely with engineers, architects and industrial designers to create visual representations of technical information and designs. They use computers, complex design programs and 3D printers.
Drafting technologists prepare engineering designs and drawings in multidisciplinary engineering teams or in support of engineers, architects or industrial designers. This expertise addresses operational, conceptual, design and construction drawing needs, and includes the management of drawings and drawing control across areas of the organization.
I'm interested in a career in
- Sub-sector Exploration and production, Oil and gas services, Oil sands, Pipelines, Offshore
- Environment Primarily indoor/office work
- Average Salary $46,000 to $56,000
- Education Post-secondary diploma
- Career Demand Stable
In oil and gas, activities may include:
- Drafting, designing and modifying drilling tool equipment and their components
When you start in this occupation activities may include:
- Operating computer-assisted design (CAD) and drafting workstations
- Developing and preparing design sketches.
As you advance in this career, you may take on additional tasks including:
- Assisting engineers with the modification of design options for existing equipment
- Preparing construction specifications, including costs and material estimates
- Providing support to all personnel in relation to drawings and tag information, ensuring that questions are answered in a timely fashion and identified issues are logged and addressed
- Providing quality checks on incoming drawings from external contractors, ensuring company standards are followed
Education
- A post-secondary diploma in engineering design and drafting technology is typically required. Programs related to AutoCAD operation, engineering design and drafting or GIS and CADD integration are preferred.
Certifications
- Specific health and safety certifications will be determined by job requirements
Licensing
- Trade certification for draftspersons is available in Ontario, but voluntary.
- Certification in engineering design and drafting technology or in a related field through provincial associations of engineering/applied science technologists may be required by employers.
- A period of supervised work experience, usually two years, is required before certification.
Nature of work and environment conditions specific to oil and natural gas include:
- Travel likely required
- Primarily indoor/office work
- Work not physically demanding
- Work away from home/in camps
You combine artistic vision with math and computer skills. A detail-oriented, organized critical thinker who thrives on a challenge, you are able to communicate and work well with others.
- Computer use
- Active listening
- Attention to detail
- Design
- Engineering and technology
- Document use
- Technology design
- Complex problem solving
- Judgment and decision making
- Collaborative
- Document use
- Sub-sector Engineering, design and procurement, Modular fabrication
- Environment Primarily indoor/office work
- Average Salary Equal to oil and gas
- Education Post-secondary diploma
- Career Demand Stable
- Skills Upgrading None
-
Direct
Good news! The skills gained as a drafting technologist in oil and natural gas are easily transferable to the industrial construction and maintenance industry. The role is required in particular in the engineering, design and procurement and modular fabrication project life cycle phases of industrial construction and maintenance. While a drafting technologist’s average salary is equal to oil and natural gas in the engineering, design and procurement project life cycle phase, workers in the modular fabrication project life cycle phase may receive an average salary lower than one earned in oil and natural gas.
When you start in this occupation activities may include:
- Operating computer-assisted design (CAD) and drafting workstations
- Developing and preparing design sketches.
As you advance in this career, you may take on additional tasks including:
- Assisting engineers with the modification of design options for existing equipment
- Preparing construction specifications, including costs and material estimates
- Providing support to all personnel in relation to drawings and tag information, ensuring that questions are answered in a timely fashion and identified issues are logged and addressed
- Providing quality checks on incoming drawings from external contractors, ensuring company standards are followed
Education
- A post-secondary diploma in engineering design and drafting technology is typically required. Programs related to AutoCAD operation, engineering design and drafting or GIS and CADD integration are preferred.
Certifications
- Specific health and safety certifications will be determined by job requirements
Licensing
- Trade certification for draftspersons is available in Ontario, but voluntary.
- Certification in engineering design and drafting technology or in a related field through provincial associations of engineering/applied science technologists may be required by employers.
- A period of supervised work experience, usually two years, is required before certification.
Nature of work and environment conditions specific to industrial construction and maintenance include:
- Primarily indoor/office work (engineering, design and procurement | modular fabrication)
- Temporary/project-to-project work (engineering, design and procurement | modular fabrication)
Nature of work and environment conditions specific to oil and natural gas include:
- Travel likely required
- Primarily indoor/office work
- Work not physically demanding
- Work away from home/in camps
You combine artistic vision with math and computer skills. A detail-oriented, organized critical thinker who thrives on a challenge, you are able to communicate and work well with others.
- Computer use
- Active listening
- Attention to detail
- Design
- Engineering and technology
- Document use
- Technology design
- Complex problem solving
- Judgment and decision making
- Collaborative
- Document use
The industrial construction and maintenance in energy sector is further divided into project life cycle phases:
Engineering, design and procurement
- Average salary range: Equal to oil and gas
Modular fabrication
- Average salary range: Less than oil and gas
What does this mean for workers?
There could be differences in the expected salary range and varying work environments. Further research on the sector or consultation with a career advisor may be required.
- Environment Primarily indoor/office work
- Average Salary Equal to oil and gas
- Education Post-secondary diploma
- Career Demand Stable
- Skills Upgrading None
-
Direct
Congratulations! The skills gained as a drafting technologist in oil and natural gas are easily transferable to LNG.
When you start in this occupation activities may include:
- Operating computer-assisted design (CAD) and drafting workstations
- Developing and preparing design sketches.
As you advance in this career, you may take on additional tasks including:
- Assisting engineers with the modification of design options for existing equipment
- Preparing construction specifications, including costs and material estimates
- Providing support to all personnel in relation to drawings and tag information, ensuring that questions are answered in a timely fashion and identified issues are logged and addressed
- Providing quality checks on incoming drawings from external contractors, ensuring company standards are followed
Education
- A post-secondary diploma in engineering design and drafting technology is typically required. Programs related to AutoCAD operation, engineering design and drafting or GIS and CADD integration are preferred.
Certifications
- Specific health and safety certifications will be determined by job requirements
Licensing
- Trade certification for draftspersons is available in Ontario, but voluntary.
- Certification in engineering design and drafting technology or in a related field through provincial associations of engineering/applied science technologists may be required by employers.
- A period of supervised work experience, usually two years, is required before certification.
Nature of work and environment conditions specific to LNG include:
- Primarily indoor/office work
Nature of work and environment conditions specific to oil and natural gas include:
- Travel likely required
- Primarily indoor/office work
- Work not physically demanding
- Work away from home/in camps
You combine artistic vision with math and computer skills. A detail-oriented, organized critical thinker who thrives on a challenge, you are able to communicate and work well with others.
- Computer use
- Active listening
- Attention to detail
- Design
- Engineering and technology
- Document use
- Technology design
- Complex problem solving
- Judgment and decision making
- Collaborative
- Document use
- Environment Primarily indoor/office work
- Average Salary Equal to oil and gas
- Education Post-secondary diploma
- Career Demand Stable
- Skills Upgrading None
-
Direct
Good news! The skills gained as a drafting technologist in oil and natural gas are easily transferable to the petrochemicals and refining industry.
When you start in this occupation activities may include:
- Operating computer-assisted design (CAD) and drafting workstations
- Developing and preparing design sketches.
As you advance in this career, you may take on additional tasks including:
- Assisting engineers with the modification of design options for existing equipment
- Preparing construction specifications, including costs and material estimates
- Providing support to all personnel in relation to drawings and tag information, ensuring that questions are answered in a timely fashion and identified issues are logged and addressed
- Providing quality checks on incoming drawings from external contractors, ensuring company standards are followed
Education
- A post-secondary diploma in engineering design and drafting technology is typically required. Programs related to AutoCAD operation, engineering design and drafting or GIS and CADD integration are preferred.
Certifications
- Specific health and safety certifications will be determined by job requirements
Licensing
- Trade certification for draftspersons is available in Ontario, but voluntary.
- Certification in engineering design and drafting technology or in a related field through provincial associations of engineering/applied science technologists may be required by employers.
- A period of supervised work experience, usually two years, is required before certification.
Nature of work and environment conditions specific to petrochemicals and refining include:
- Primarily indoor/office work
Nature of work and environment conditions specific to oil and natural gas include:
- Travel likely required
- Primarily indoor/office work
- Work not physically demanding
- Work away from home/in camps
You combine artistic vision with math and computer skills. A detail-oriented, organized critical thinker who thrives on a challenge, you are able to communicate and work well with others.
- Computer use
- Active listening
- Attention to detail
- Design
- Engineering and technology
- Document use
- Technology design
- Complex problem solving
- Judgment and decision making
- Collaborative
- Document use
- Sub-sector Solar, Wind, Geothermal
- Environment Primarily indoor/office work
- Average Salary Less than oil and gas
- Education Post-secondary diploma
- Career Demand Stable
- Skills Upgrading None
-
Direct
Good news! The skills gained as a drafting technologist in oil and natural gas are easily transferable to renewables. The drafting technologist role is required primarily in the solar and wind sub-sectors of the renewables industry. Workers may expect the average salary range to be lower than in oil and natural gas, except for in the geothermal sub-sector where the salary range is expected to be equal to oil and gas.
When you start in this occupation activities may include:
- Operating computer-assisted design (CAD) and drafting workstations
- Developing and preparing design sketches.
As you advance in this career, you may take on additional tasks including:
- Assisting engineers with the modification of design options for existing equipment
- Preparing construction specifications, including costs and material estimates
- Providing support to all personnel in relation to drawings and tag information, ensuring that questions are answered in a timely fashion and identified issues are logged and addressed
- Providing quality checks on incoming drawings from external contractors, ensuring company standards are followed
Education
- A post-secondary diploma in engineering design and drafting technology is typically required. Programs related to AutoCAD operation, engineering design and drafting or GIS and CADD integration are preferred.
Certifications
- Specific health and safety certifications will be determined by job requirements
Licensing
- Trade certification for draftspersons is available in Ontario, but voluntary.
- Certification in engineering design and drafting technology or in a related field through provincial associations of engineering/applied science technologists may be required by employers.
- A period of supervised work experience, usually two years, is required before certification.
Nature of work and environment conditions specific to renewables include:
- Primarily indoor/office work (solar | wind | geothermal)
- Temporary/project-to-project work (solar | wind)
Nature of work and environment conditions specific to oil and natural gas include:
- Travel likely required
- Primarily indoor/office work
- Work not physically demanding
- Work away from home/in camps
You combine artistic vision with math and computer skills. A detail-oriented, organized critical thinker who thrives on a challenge, you are able to communicate and work well with others.
- Computer use
- Active listening
- Attention to detail
- Design
- Engineering and technology
- Document use
- Technology design
- Complex problem solving
- Judgment and decision making
- Collaborative
- Document use
