Our client is a premier Aerospace & Defense contractor and a leading provider of mission-critical marine power and propulsion solutions supporting the U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, Military Sealift Command, and international allied fleets. Their portfolio includes high-horsepower engines, propulsion systems, reduction gears, power electronics, control systems, complex mechanical assemblies, and full-spectrum aftermarket maintenance, overhaul, and technical support services.
As part of their engineering and product support organization, the Technical Illustrator will transform complex mechanical, electrical, and marine propulsion concepts into clear, accurate, MIL-SPEC technical documentation used for maintenance, training, installation, and logistics support across global defense programs. This role is ideal for a seasoned illustrator with deep experience producing exploded views, cutaways, schematics, isometrics, assembly breakdowns, and interactive digital technical publications.
Typical Duties and Responsibilities
- Create high-fidelity 2D and 3D technical illustrations, exploded assemblies, cutaway views, and detailed component schematics for marine propulsion systems, diesel engines, reduction gears, power distribution modules, and shipboard mechanical systems.
- Produce graphics and visual content for Interactive Electronic Technical Manuals (IETMs), maintenance manuals, operator manuals, installation instructions, and overhaul guides.
- Work closely with mechanical engineers, manufacturing engineers, naval architects, and logistics support analysts to convert engineering data into accurate visual representations.
- Interpret and illustrate from CAD models, engineering drawings, P&IDs, wiring diagrams, schematics, Bills of Materials (BOMs), and system-level assembly structures.
- Ensure all illustrations comply with MIL-STD-38784, MIL-STD-40051, S1000D, ANSI/ASME drafting standards, and customer-specific government technical data requirements.
- Generate visually intuitive graphics that support maintenance procedures, troubleshooting workflows, fault isolation, and corrective action steps for field technicians and naval maintenance crews.
- Support development of provisioning documentation, Illustrated Parts Breakdowns (IPBs), and Logistics Product Data (LPD) packages.
- Perform revision control, quality review, and configuration management in accordance with DoD documentation standards, ISO 9001/AS9100 requirements, and internal drawing control processes.
- Translate complex engineering concepts into user-friendly, intuitive visual content for non-engineering end users.
- Participate in program reviews, design updates, data calls, and technical publication production schedules.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams during prototype builds, testing events, teardown activities, and field support operations to refine illustrations and verify accuracy.
Education
- Bachelor’s Degree in Technical Illustration, Graphic Design, Industrial Design, Mechanical Engineering, or related field preferred.
- Equivalent combination of experience and technical training considered.
- Additional coursework in aerospace engineering, mechanical systems, or marine technology is a strong plus.
Required Skills and Experience
- 10+ years of hands-on experience as a Technical Illustrator, Technical Artist, or Technical Publications Specialist within aerospace, defense, marine engineering, or heavy industrial equipment manufacturing.
- Expert-level proficiency with technical illustration and modeling tools, including:
- Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe InDesign
- Autodesk Inventor, Siemens NX, SolidWorks Composer, CATIA Composer
- PTC IsoDraw, Arbortext, Corel Designer, Creo Illustrate
- Strong understanding of engineering drawings, GD&T (ASME Y14.5), mechanical components, electrical routing, hydraulic and fuel systems, and propulsion assemblies.
- Demonstrated ability to interpret 3D CAD models, convert them into simplified vector graphics, and develop exploded part views for maintenance documentation.
- Experience producing illustrations for IETMs and interactive S1000D-based technical publications.
- Comprehensive knowledge of military documentation standards, including:
- MIL-STD-38784 (Technical Manuals)
- MIL-STD-40051 (Digital Technical Data)
- MIL-STD-2361, MIL-PRF-32216, S1000D Issue 4.x
- Familiarity with shipboard mechanical systems, propulsion layouts, rotating equipment, bearings, gears, pumps, valves, electrical enclosures, and marine engine subassemblies.
- Proven ability to manage large technical data sets, apply revision control, and work in an environment governed by AS9100, ISO 9001, and strict configuration management.
- Excellent communication skills and ability to collaborate across engineering, production, test, quality, and sustainment teams.
- Ability to obtain or maintain U.S. Security Clearance (Secret level or higher).
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience supporting U.S. Navy or U.S. Coast Guard ship classes, including propulsion systems, auxiliary machinery, or shipboard controls.
- Background illustrating for diesel engines, gas turbines, propulsion gearboxes, power transmission systems, and marine mechanical systems.
- Familiarity with DoD logistics documentation, including LORA, LPD, provisioning data, and Illustrated Parts Data (IPD/IPB).
- Experience with model-based technical publications, augmented reality (AR) maintenance content, or 3D interactive training visualizations.
- Working knowledge of technical writing, allowing collaboration or cross-support with technical writers and publications engineers.
- Certification or training in S1000D authoring, Arbortext, or ASME GD&T.
