CAD Plug In Developer

Job description

**This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, which manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a CAD Plug In Developer based in the United States.** The CAD Plug In Developer will design, develop, and maintain production-ready integrations that connect engineering design software with a centralized digital platform for managing and sharing design data. This role focuses on building seamless workflows across Autodesk Civil 3D, Bentley OpenX applications, and Esri ArcGIS Pro. You will lead the development of tools that enable engineers to securely export, import, and synchronize complex civil engineering and spatial data. Working closely with platform engineers and civil design professionals, you will translate real-world engineering workflows into reliable, intuitive software solutions. You will also shape plugin architecture, improve performance and reliability, and establish technical standards across CAD and GIS integrations. This fully remote opportunity combines hands-on software development, technical leadership, and meaningful collaboration in a growing infrastructure technology environment. ### Accountabilities - **CAD Plugin Development:** Design, build, test, and maintain production-grade plugins for AutoCAD and Civil 3D using C#/.NET and ObjectARX, as well as MicroStation and Bentley OpenX Designer applications using .NET and native SDKs. - **Design Export and Platform Integration:** Develop end-to-end export workflows that allow engineers to transfer designs from desktop CAD applications to a centralized platform. Implement secure authentication using OAuth 2.0 and OpenID Connect, persistent token management, design packaging, API-based uploads, error handling, and retry mechanisms. - **Design Import and Retrieval:** Build intuitive import functionality that enables users to browse designs by project, select relevant files, and securely download them into their active CAD sessions using time-limited download links. - **Civil Engineering Data Conversion:** Extract, transform, and preserve complex civil design objects, including alignments, profiles, corridors, surfaces, pipe networks, and feature lines. Convert engineering data and coordinate systems into interoperable formats such as LandXML, IFC, and GeoJSON while maintaining accuracy and data integrity. - **GIS Integration and Spatial Synchronization:** Develop ArcGIS Pro add-ins and integrations that synchronize CAD and GIS data. Support spatial reference systems, mapping styles, coordinate transformations, and Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) standard services. - **Designer Workflow Optimization:** Collaborate directly with civil engineers and designers to understand their day-to-day workflows, identify usability challenges, and determine how plugins should operate within active design sessions. Validate functionality and output against real-world engineering projects before release. - **Monitoring and Reliability:** Instrument plugins with usage analytics and error tracking to monitor export and import performance, identify recurring issues, and guide continuous improvement. - **Packaging, Deployment, and Compatibility:** Manage installers, code signing, software versioning, and deployment across engineering workstations. Maintain compatibility with successive annual releases of Autodesk and Bentley products. - **Cross-Functional Platform Collaboration:** Work closely with platform engineers on REST and GraphQL APIs, storage integrations, and third-party services to ensure reliable communication between desktop applications and the digital platform. - **Technical Leadership and Standards:** Define plugin architecture, establish coding standards, conduct code reviews, and mentor developers on CAD, GIS, and spatial data APIs. Drive maintainability, scalability, and consistency across the integration ecosystem. ## Requirements - **Professional Experience:** At least 6 years of professional software development experience, including a minimum of 4 years building and shipping production CAD plugins or extensions. - **Programming Expertise:** Strong proficiency in C# and .NET, along with practical C/C++ development experience for native CAD APIs. - **CAD Platform Knowledge:** Deep hands-on experience with AutoCAD and Civil 3D APIs. Experience with the MicroStation SDK or one or more Bentley OpenX Designer SDKs, including OpenRoads, OpenRail, OpenSite, or OpenComms, is also required. - **Civil Engineering Workflow Knowledge:** Practical understanding of civil design processes, including roadway, drainage, grading, or site design, and how professionals move from survey data to models and plan sets. Ability to identify opportunities to improve project reuse and reduce workflow friction. - **API Integration and Authentication:** Experience integrating REST and GraphQL APIs into desktop applications, including OAuth 2.0 and OpenID Connect authentication, secure token storage, and session persistence. - **Spatial Data and Coordinate Systems:** Knowledge of coordinate reference systems, map projections, spatial transformations, and geospatial formats such as LandXML, GeoJSON, shapefiles, and geodatabases. - **GIS Development:** Experience with the ArcGIS Pro SDK, ArcGIS REST APIs, Arcade, or QGIS development. - **Spatial Database Knowledge:** Familiarity with PostgreSQL, PostGIS, or other spatial database technologies. - **Software Quality and Troubleshooting:** Strong debugging, testing, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to diagnose integration issues, handle partial failures, and deliver reliable software across different desktop environments. - **Technical Leadership:** Ability to make sound architectural decisions, conduct effective code reviews, establish development standards, and support the technical growth of other developers. - **Communication and Collaboration:** Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively with platform engineers, civil designers, and cross-functional stakeholders to translate complex requirements into practical solutions. - **User-Centered Mindset:** Attention to detail and a genuine interest in understanding engineering workflows, validating solutions with real users, and developing software that enhances productivity without disrupting established processes. ## Benefits - **Competitive Compensation:** Annual salary ranging from **$120,000 to $185,000**, depending on experience, qualifications, skills, geographic location, and internal equity. - **Fully Remote Work:** Work remotely from within the United States, with flexibility to collaborate with distributed engineering teams. - **Technical Ownership:** Take ownership of critical CAD and GIS integrations and influence architectural decisions, engineering standards, and the evolution of a growing digital platform. - **Professional Growth:** Opportunities to deepen expertise in CAD development, GIS technologies, spatial data, and platform integrations while expanding technical leadership capabilities. - **Career Development:** Access to potential career paths across technical development, project management, business management, business development, and operations. - **Collaborative Environment:** Work alongside software engineers and civil design professionals to solve practical engineering challenges and improve real-world design workflows. - **Meaningful Impact:** Contribute to digital infrastructure that helps engineering teams manage, share, and reuse design data more efficiently, supporting the delivery of sustainable and resilient infrastructure projects. - **People-First Culture:** Join an organization focused on employee development, career progression, collaboration, and long-term professional growth.