Graphic Artist

Location: Michigan (Warren/Milford)
Employment Type: Full-Time | Hours: 40 hrs/week, Monday–Friday
Work Arrangement: Hybrid – minimum 3 days per week onsite\

About the Role

Our client is seeking a Graphic Artist to create and maintain accurate, compliant, and user-friendly graphics for military and commercial technical publications. You will transform engineering, service, logistics, and customer requirements into technical illustrations that support safe equipment operation, maintenance, troubleshooting, repair, training, and parts identification.

This position works closely with technical writers, engineers, technicians, subject matter experts, program teams, and customers across multiple programs. Candidates with experience in defense, aerospace, automotive, heavy equipment, industrial equipment, or other safety-critical technical environments are encouraged to apply.

Key Responsibilities

• Independently plan and complete assigned graphics work packages while balancing accuracy, quality, compliance, schedule, and program priorities.
• Create accurate technical illustrations, including exploded views, line art, cutaways, assembly illustrations, component identification graphics, schematics, and wiring diagrams.
• Convert 3D CAD models, engineering data, photographs, prints, and other source material into clear 2D vector illustrations.
• Interpret engineering drawings, engineering change information, parts data, wiring schematics, and other technical documentation.
• Collaborate with technical writers and subject matter experts to develop figure requirements, resolve discrepancies, verify terminology, and ensure technical accuracy.
• Develop graphics for mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic, propulsion, battery, high-voltage, and vehicle systems.
• Integrate completed graphics into applicable authoring systems, XML/structured-publication workflows, IETMs, Maintenance Allocation Charts, operator instructions, and other deliverables.
• Apply applicable MIL-STD, DoD, S1000D, customer, contract, safety, accessibility, and publication requirements.
• Participate in technical reviews, peer reviews, quality audits, and validation and verification activities.
• Perform hands-on validation with technicians, vehicles, equipment, and test articles as required.
• Maintain configuration, revision, naming, traceability, and archival control of graphical assets.
• Manage and update graphic archives to support asset reuse, revision, and traceability.
• Communicate project status, risks, dependencies, technical concerns, and potential schedule impacts.
• Resolve graphics and publication issues independently and escalate matters requiring engineering or customer direction.
• Recommend improvements to graphics standards, templates, quality processes, asset reuse, and production workflows.
• Share technical knowledge with technical writers, graphic artists, and cross-functional teams.
• Follow all applicable workplace, equipment, facility, customer, and high-voltage safety requirements.

Required Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience creating technical illustrations or graphics for defense, aerospace, aviation, military, or comparable safety-critical technical publications.
• Experience applying MIL-STD, DoD, S1000D, or comparable military technical-publication standards.
• Ability to interpret complex engineering drawings, engineering changes, wiring schematics, structural diagrams, parts information, and technical data.
• Ability to create accurate technical illustrations using engineering models, CAD/digital math, schematics, prints, photographs, or similar source material.
• Ability to independently manage multiple assignments, meet deadlines, and coordinate project dependencies.
• Strong analytical, organizational, technical communication, and collaboration skills.
• Experience working within a graphics, illustration, structured-authoring, content-management, or technical-publication production environment.
• Ability to work safely around vehicles, equipment, test articles, maintenance activities, and high-voltage systems when required.
• U.S. citizenship required.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Common Access Card (CAC) and any customer or program security clearance required for the assignment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with Service Information, Electronic Parts Catalogs, MATH, Teamcenter, art-folder processes, or SI XML publication workflows.
• Experience with Teamcenter, Arbortext, Adobe Illustrator, virtual-reality systems, structured XML tools, IETM production, or Maintenance Allocation Charts.
• Experience creating graphics for high-voltage, battery, propulsion, electric vehicle, controls, electrical, hydraulic, or pneumatic systems.
• Experience supporting physical validation, verification, logistics demonstrations, maintenance evaluations, technician reviews, or customer acceptance activities.
• Experience with graphic-asset configuration management, version control, archival systems, reuse libraries, or publication change incorporation.
• Associate's or bachelor's degree in graphic design, technical illustration, technical communication, fine arts, engineering, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• High-voltage safety training or certification.
• Experience in automotive, defense, aerospace, marine, heavy equipment, industrial equipment, or another safety-critical technical environment.
• Experience improving technical-publication workflows, templates, quality checks, traceability, review processes, or content-reuse practices.
• Experience training or mentoring others in technical illustration or publication graphics.
• Green Belt or Black Belt certification.

Additional Details

• Hybrid position: Candidates must be able to report to Warren or Milford, Michigan at least three days per week, with additional onsite work required for certain assignments, validation activities, or program needs.
• This position supports U.S. Government contract work and requires U.S. citizenship.
• The role may involve hands-on interaction with vehicles, equipment, test articles, and maintenance activities.
• Candidates from defense, aerospace, automotive service information, heavy equipment, and industrial technical-publication environments are encouraged to apply.

Why Join CPI?

• Exciting, research-driven projects with real-world impact
• Opportunities for ongoing learning and career development
• Competitive perks and incentives tailored to each contract position

About Us

Contract Professionals, Inc. (CPI), founded by an Air Force veteran, is an award-winning talent solutions company connecting top talent with leading employers in defense, aerospace, and mobility industries.