Design Engineering

Job Description

Design Engineering Jobs are a systematic approach concerned with the design of products, machines, systems and structures.

Some design engineers work on all kinds of items, while others may have particular knowledge and skills, for example in electronic product design, automotive design, mechanical engineering design, construction design engineering, electrical engineering design, chemical engineering design, front end engineering design, engineering digital design, composite design engineering, system design engineering, aerospace design engineering, applications to biodegradable design engineering in material processing or structural engineering design. Other engineers may specialize in innovative ideas.

Design engineers begin a product/system design from a brief or an idea, or from a problem that needs to be solved. Using creative and engineering skills the design engineer must come up with the best, most cost-effective design in order to solve the engineering design problem. Most design work is done using computer aided design with engineering design software.

Working Conditions

Design engineering work is normally based in a design or drawing office, with much of the time spent doing computer aided design. Design engineers may have to travel to customers' premises or manufacturing sites.

Design engineers should have the following qualities:

• creative and good at solving problems
• able to do complex calculations
• possess good IT skills
• possess a good understanding of engineering principles
• have an interest in how things look and how they work

Entrance Requirements

Most design engineers take a degree in an engineering subject such as materials, mechanical or electrical engineering from a recognized design engineering school or university. Employers will usually give training, with new design engineers often working alongside experienced engineers. Design engineers often take postgraduate courses, and most continue their professional training to gain incorporated or chartered engineer status. Employment may be found in a design engineering company or consultancy.

Experienced engineers may be promoted to senior design engineer or project manager, or move into roles in research and development or senior general management. There is also scope for design engineers to go into consultancy or become self-employed.

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