Technical Illustrator

Costa Mesa · Costa Mesa, CA (OC-00) · USD 129,000-171,000 · 3+ years experience · Full-time · Onsite · Posted Oct 15, 2026

At a glance

The Technical Illustrator will support mission-critical defense programs by developing high-quality 2D and 3D technical illustrations for maintenance, operations, and training documentation.
This role translates complex mechanical, electrical, and system-level engineering data into accurate, scalable, and reusable visual content.
The position involves defining illustration standards and collaborating with technical writers, engineers, and program stakeholders.

Define and implement S1000D compliant illustration standards across technical documentation.
Advise technical writers and illustrators on appropriate graphic types including procedural, descriptive, and parts.
Develop and maintain illustration style guides.
Create and revise 2D and 3D content using Rapid Illustrator for IETMs, manuals, and training manuals.
Interpret engineering drawings, CAD models, source data, and redlines to produce accurate illustrations.
Develop exploded views, parts breakdowns, installation/removal graphics, and system schematics.
Ensure illustrations comply with S1000D, MIL-STD, and program-specific style guides.
Collaborate with technical writers to align graphics with procedural content.
Manage illustration revisions through configuration control and document change processes.
Maintain and contribute to a reusable graphics asset library.

3+ years of experience as a technical illustrator in aerospace, defense, or government contracting.
Proficiency with PTC IsoDraw, Rapid Author, and Rapid Illustrator.
Experience supporting DoD programs and working in regulated documentation environments.
Ability to interpret engineering source data including drawings, models, and specifications.
Experience working with technical publication tools such as Arbortext, Rapid Author, and Cortona.
Ability to relocate to be onsite in Costa Mesa, CA.

Prior work in DoD programs such as fighter aircraft.
Experience working with a Teamcenter PLM environment.
Experience working with technical publication tools such as Arbortext, Oxygen, and RapidAuthor.
Active DoD security clearance.
Experience in utilizing CAD models as source data for illustration.
Experience creating interactive 3D animations.
Experience creating or maintaining illustration style guides.
Background in both illustration and authoring.