Hire an AutoCAD drafter in Australia — dedicated and on-demand.
Hire experienced AutoCAD drafters through ASTCAD — for mechanical, structural, architectural, civil or electrical projects. Australia-based account managers, secure file delivery, NDA-protected work. From single-task to full-time dedicated drafters.
Hire experienced AutoCAD drafters in Australia.
ASTCAD supplies qualified AutoCAD drafters and draftspersons to engineers, fabricators, architects and builders across Australia. Whether you need one drafter for a single project, an extension to your in-house team, or a dedicated long-term contractor — we match the skill level, software stack and discipline to your scope.
Every drafter we deploy works under Australian-based account management, with documented IP protection, NDA-signed delivery, and version-controlled output. Engagement is flexible: hourly, weekly, monthly or by fixed project scope. All work is delivered to AS 1100, AS 4100, AS 3000 and discipline-specific Australian Standards.
Who hires AutoCAD drafters through ASTCAD
Engineering firms with overflow workload
Consulting engineers, fabricators and design houses use our drafters to handle peak demand without committing to permanent hires. Engage one drafter weekly to clear a backlog, or three drafters for two months to deliver a major project.
Builders and architects without in-house drafting
Residential builders, project home companies and small architectural practices outsource working drawings, council submissions and shop drawings to our AutoCAD team. No need to hire a salaried drafter or buy AutoCAD licences.
Manufacturers needing fabrication drawings
Steel fabricators, sheet metal shops and machinery manufacturers hire our drafters to produce fabrication packs, GA drawings, assembly and detail drawings, and BOM documentation — ready for production-floor use.
Project owners scaling up quickly
Mining, oil & gas, defence and infrastructure projects use our staff-leasing model to scale CAD capacity rapidly. We’ve supplied dedicated drafters on 6-month, 12-month and multi-year contracts to tier-1 Australian companies.
AutoCAD drafters we supply by discipline
Mechanical AutoCAD drafters
Fabrication drawings, assembly drawings, GA drawings, sheet metal, jigs and fixtures, pressure vessels. Software: AutoCAD, AutoCAD Mechanical, Inventor, SolidWorks. Standards: AS 1100.101 / 201.
Explore mechanical drafting services →Structural AutoCAD drafters
Steel detailing, reinforcement drawings, shop drawings, GA drawings. Software: AutoCAD, Tekla Structures, Revit Structure, Advance Steel. Standards: AS 4100, AS 3600, AS/NZS 1554.
Explore structural drafting →Architectural AutoCAD drafters
Working drawings, DA / CDC documentation, renovation drawings, BIM modelling, council submissions. Software: AutoCAD, AutoCAD Architecture, Revit, ArchiCAD. Standards: NCC / BCA.
Explore architectural drafting →Civil AutoCAD drafters
Subdivision plans, stormwater drainage, road design, earthworks, services coordination. Software: AutoCAD, AutoCAD Civil 3D, 12d Model. Standards: AS 1100, council standards by state.
Explore civil drafting →Electrical AutoCAD drafters
Single-line diagrams, schematics, control panel drawings, P&ID, lighting and power layouts. Software: AutoCAD Electrical, AutoCAD MEP, EPLAN. Standards: AS 3000, IEC 61082.
Explore electrical drafting →MEP & HVAC AutoCAD drafters
HVAC layouts, hydraulics, fire services, mechanical services, clash detection. Software: AutoCAD MEP, Revit MEP, AutoCAD Plant 3D. Standards: AS 1668, AS 3500, NCC.
Explore MEP & HVAC drafting →How to hire an AutoCAD drafter — engagement models
Project-based
Send us your drawings, sketches or scope. We come back with a fixed-price quote within 24 hours. Best for single drawings, fabrication packs, or one-off conversions. From $60/hr equivalent.
Short-term dedicated
Hire a drafter for 1–4 weeks. Daily progress updates, your project manager, your file-naming conventions. Best for sprints, deadlines, or peak overflow. From $1,800/week.
Long-term dedicated
Dedicated drafter or team for 1–12+ months. Effectively your remote drafting department with no overheads. Standard onboarding, KPIs, regular reviews. See staff-leasing.
Why companies hire AutoCAD drafters through ASTCAD
Australian-based account management
Every engagement is managed by an Australian-based account manager. Single point of contact, business-hours support, English-first communication, no time-zone disruption.
Vetted and tested AutoCAD skills
Every drafter passes our internal CAD competency test before being assigned to a client. We verify AutoCAD command proficiency, drawing conventions, and Australian Standards familiarity.
IP protection and NDA-signed work
Every drafter signs an NDA. Files are delivered via secure transfer. Drafters work in isolated project folders. Your intellectual property is protected end-to-end.
Scale up or down without hire/fire risk
Add or release drafters week-by-week as project load changes. No employment contracts, no payroll burden, no termination payouts. Pure flexible capacity.
15+ years of CAD-team management
ASTCAD has supplied AutoCAD drafters to Australian engineering and construction firms since 2010 — over 1,000 projects delivered. We know what works.
All AutoCAD versions and verticals supported
From classic AutoCAD LT through AutoCAD Mechanical, Electrical, Civil 3D, Plant 3D, MEP and Architecture — we have drafters across the full Autodesk stack.
AutoCAD drafter vs designer vs draftsperson — what’s the difference?
The terms AutoCAD drafter, CAD designer and draftsperson are often used interchangeably in Australia, but there are meaningful distinctions:
- AutoCAD drafter / draftsperson — produces the technical drawings to defined specifications. Focus on accuracy, drawing standards (AS 1100), dimensions, annotation and presentation. Trained typically via Certificate IV in Engineering Drafting or equivalent.
- CAD designer — has design responsibility in addition to drafting. Develops the design intent, makes engineering decisions, and produces the drawings. Typically a draftsperson with 5+ years’ experience or formal engineering qualifications.
- Mechanical/structural/civil drafter — discipline-specific drafter with deep familiarity in one engineering field. Knows AS 4100 for steel, AS 3600 for concrete, AS 3000 for electrical, etc.
ASTCAD supplies all three categories. Tell us your discipline and seniority requirement; we’ll match the right person to your scope.
Frequently asked — hiring AutoCAD drafters
How much does it cost to hire an AutoCAD drafter in Australia?
Hiring an AutoCAD drafter in Australia typically costs $60–$140 per hour depending on discipline, seniority and engagement length. Through ASTCAD, dedicated weekly contracts start from $1,800/week which works out to roughly $45/hour — substantially below the in-house cost of a salaried drafter ($85K–$110K plus superannuation, software and overhead).
How quickly can I get a drafter started on my project?
For per-task engagements we typically respond within 2 hours, quote within 24 hours, and start drafting within 1–3 business days. For weekly or longer dedicated engagements, allow 3–5 business days for matching the right drafter, onboarding, and NDA setup.
Can I trial a drafter before committing to a long contract?
Yes. We offer a one-week trial engagement at standard weekly rate. If the fit isn’t right, you can either request a different drafter or end the engagement without committing to a longer term.
Who owns the drawings the drafter produces?
You do. All deliverables — DWG files, PDFs, 3D models, BIM models — are owned by the client upon payment. ASTCAD retains no copyright or reuse rights. This is documented in our standard service agreement and NDA.
Are your AutoCAD drafters Australian-based?
Account management is fully Australian-based (Brisbane head office, with project managers in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth). Production drafting is delivered through a mix of Australian and offshore drafters, depending on engagement model and budget. All work is reviewed and audited locally before delivery.
Ready to hire an AutoCAD drafter?
Send the brief — we’ll respond within one business day with a fixed-price quote, recommended engagement model, and drafter profile.