A career as a design engineer is all about transforming concepts and ideas into real designs and products. Design engineers are in demand in many industries, including construction and engineering. Let’s have a look at what a career as a design engineer involves and where your career as a design engineer can take you.
Working as a Design Engineer
Design engineers are involved with determining how ideas can be turned into products via design, how they will be used and how they can be manufactured. Some of the roles of a design engineer include:
- Researching what products are requrieed ina certain area
- Talking to industry experts to determine what concepts could deliver in this area to resolve a problem
- Assessing the safety, useability and environmental impact of any design
- Using CAD, computer-assisted engineering and software to create viable design prototypes
- Conducting tests and analysing and related data
- Compiling detailed reports on progress and issues and presenting them clearly to management, clients and other stakeholders.
Career Options
Your career as a design engineer is one which is very collaborative and requires and lot of communication and teamwork. From a construction and civil engineering perspective, some of the roles which you could expert to work alongside include:
- CAD technician
- QA/QC engineer
- Architect
- Mechanical engineer
- Electronics engineer
- Project engineer
- Instrumentation technician
- Finance manager
- Purchaser
- Estimator
Professional Qualifications
Due to the complexities of the role, a career indesign engineering requires a specialised third-level degree in desing engineering, mechanical engineering, industrial design or design technology or related degrees within the broader sector. Degrees in physical sciences or construction science are also relevant but would require significant postgraduate study in order to specialise in the field of design engineering. Once you have your qualification you can seek chartered status with Engineers Ireland, which will also provide you with significant CPD and professional networking opportunities. Further education in areas such as different design materials and technologies can also considerably boost your transferable skills within this area.
How your Career can Develop
A career in design engineering can see you working on everything from smaller, bespoke jobs to vast construction projects in various different countries which require specific design requirements for large-scale projects. Due to the significant demand for mechanical engineers they can also choose to work outside the construction and civil engineering sector, with opportunities across a wide range of areas including biomedical, aeronautics, shipping, science and more.