Drafter at Walla Walla Foundry Inc – Walla Walla, Washington

WALLA WALLA FOUNDRY

You’ve probably seen art built at Walla Walla Foundry but didn’t know it. Walla Walla Foundry is one of the largest contemporary sculpture fabricators in the world. Originally founded in 1980 as a bronze casting foundry, we now have around 80 employees and produce work in a range of materials using multiple processes for some of the most well -known contemporary artists.

THE JOB

The artist brings their vision for what the artwork should look like on the outside. We figure out how to make it stand up from the inside. That is where you come in. As the Drafter, you work closely with senior staff, operations, and engineers to design the internal structure (we call it armature) that keeps large, custom sculptures strong, stable, and buildable. This includes creating drawings (and modifying and redrawing) in CAD and digital modeling software, working closely with waterjet operators and fabricators to cut and fabricate custom parts, and creating documentation that installers can confidently follow. This role requires regular communications, smart questions, research into how we’ve solved things before and curiosity to learn and think outside the box when we haven’t. This role deals with unique, complex processes and builds, so there will be a big learning curve during the first year or two.

TO BE THE SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE, YOU WILL HAVE….

…good structural logic, solid building and fabrication basics and mad CAD (and/or other modeling software like Rhino, PolyWorks or similar platforms) skills. You will enjoy the process of understanding the pieces and then putting them together to solve the sculpture puzzle. You will be comfortable working with ambiguity, as often not all the information is known in the timeline desired. In our business, things are always changing (as artists change their minds) and we need to adapt without missing a beat. You are a collaborator and communicator. You seek out opportunities to learn and work with others, including connecting with different internal and external resources. You are detail-oriented and take pride in creating comprehensive, accurate drawings and polished documents and templates. You are always looking to improve and evolve. And you’re organized, a multitasker and flexible so you can go with the flow.

Your background includes formal schooling (AA, BA, or MA) in drafting or an adjacent field (engineering, architecture) plus relevant, professional experience to demonstrate your ability to slay this role. Maybe you are looking to start your career, or maybe you are an experienced professional looking to make a change and seeking a balanced, team-oriented environment where you can build something you are passionate about and that might outlast us all.