Design engineer

Design engineers develop new conceptual and detailed designs. They create the look for these concepts or products and the systems used to make them. Design engineers work with engineers and marketers to enhance the functioning and efficiency of existing devices.

The following job titles also refer to design engineer:

industrial design expert
product engineer
industrial specialist
industrial expert
product design engineer
industrial design specialist
designing engineer

Bachelor’s degree is generally required to work as design engineer. However, this requirement may differ in some countries.

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

• the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
• the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
• the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Design engineer is a Skill level 4 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to design engineer.

precision engineer
equipment engineer
process engineer
naval architect
component engineer

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of design engineer. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of design engineer with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of design engineer.

Engineering principles: The engineering elements like functionality, replicability, and costs in relation to the design and how they are applied in the completion of engineering projects.
Mathematics: Mathematics is the study of topics such as quantity, structure, space, and change. It involves the identification of patterns and formulating new conjectures based on them. Mathematicians strive to prove the truth or falsity of these conjectures. There are many fields of mathematics, some of which are widely used for practical applications.
Design principles: The elements used in design such as unity, scale, proportion, balance, symmetry, space, form, texture, colour, light, shade and congruence and their application into practice.
Technical drawings: Drawing software and the various symbols, perspectives, units of measurement, notation systems, visual styles and page layouts used in technical drawings.
Project management: Understand project management and the activities which comprise this area. Know the variables implied in project management such as time, resources, requirements, deadlines, and responding to unexpected events.
Engineering processes: The systematic approach to the development and maintenance of engineering systems.
Cad software: The computer-aided design (CAD) software for creating, modifying, analysing or optimising a design.

These skills are necessary for the role of design engineer.

Execute analytical mathematical calculations: Apply mathematical methods and make use of calculation technologies in order to perform analyses and devise solutions to specific problems.
Perform scientific research: Gain, correct or improve knowledge about phenomena by using scientific methods and techniques, based on empirical or measurable observations.
Use technical drawing software: Create technical designs and technical drawings using specialised software.
Manage engineering project: Manage engineering project resources, budget, deadlines, and human resources, and plan schedules as well as any technical activities pertinent to the project.
Present detailed design proposals: Prepare and present detailed design suggestions for a specific production to a mixed group of people, including technical, artistic and management staff.
Interpret technical requirements: Analyse, understand and apply the information provided regarding technical conditions.
Execute feasibility study: Perform the evaluation and assessment of the potential of a project, plan, proposition or new idea. Realise a standardised study which is based on extensive investigation and research to support the process of decision making.
Define technical requirements: Specify technical properties of goods, materials, methods, processes, services, systems, software and functionalities by identifying and responding to the particular needs that are to be satisfied according to customer requirements.
Assess financial viability: Revise and analyse financial information and requirements of projects such as their budget appraisal, expected turnover, and risk assessment for determining the benefits and costs of the project. Assess if the agreement or project will redeem its investment, and whether the potential profit is worth the financial risk.

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of design engineer. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

Manufacturing processes: The steps required through which a material is transformed into a product, its development and full-scale manufacturing.
Cae software: The software to perform computer-aided engineering (CAE) analysis tasks such as Finite Element Analysis and Computional Fluid Dynamics.
Thermohydraulics: Types of hydraulic flow processes used to move generated heat and the use of this heat to produce electricity.
Product data management: The use of software to track all information concerning a product such as technical specifications, drawings, design specifications, and production costs.
Nuclear physics: Field of physics in which protons and neutrons and their interactions inside atoms are analysed.

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of design engineer. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

Supervise work on design planning: Supervise the work in progress at the design stage and on site.
Keep up with digital transformation of industrial processes: Keep up to date with digital innovations applicable to industrial processes. Integrate these transformations in the company’s processes aiming for competitive and profitable business models.
Determine suitability of materials: While designing products, determine if materials are suitable and available for production.
Record test data: Record data which has been identified specifically during preceding tests in order to verify that outputs of the test produce specific results or to review the reaction of the subject under exceptional or unusual input.
Adjust engineering designs: Adjust designs of products or parts of products so that they meet requirements.
Perform test run: Perform tests putting a system, machine, tool or other equipment through a series of actions under actual operating conditions in order to assess its reliability and suitability to realise its tasks, and adjust settings accordingly.
Create a product’s virtual model: Create a mathematical or three-dimensional computer graphic model of the product by using a CAE system or a calculator.
Create technical plans: Create detailed technical plans of machinery, equipment, tools and other products.
Analyse stress resistance of products: Analyse the ability of products to endure stress imposed by temperature, loads, motion, vibration and other factors, by using mathematical formulas and computer simulations.
Adapt to new design materials: Without neglecting more traditional techniques and materials, monitor materials innovation such as new resin, plastic, paints, metals, etc. Develop ability to use them and include them in design projects.
Build a product’s physical model: Build a model of the product out of wood, clay or other materials by using hand or electrical tools.
Use testing equipment: Use equipment to test performance and operation of machinery.
Design power plant systems: Model and plan the conceptual design of the specific systems in a power plant and their main components. The various operation modes of the plant, such as normal, failure, and emergency are included in the design.
Analyse test data: Interpret and analyse data collected during testing in order to formulate conclusions, new insights or solutions.
Draft design specifications: List the design specifications such as materials and parts to be used and a cost estimate.
Conduct research on trends in design: Conduct research on present and future evolutions and trends in design, and associated target market features.
Analyse stress resistance of materials: Analyse the ability of materials to endure stress imposed by temperature, loads, motion, vibration, and other factors using mathematical formulae and computer simulations.
Use cad software: Use computer-aided design (CAD) systems to assist in the creation, modification, analysis, or optimisation of a design.
Design prototypes: Design prototypes of products or components of products by applying design and engineering principles.
Conduct performance tests: Conduct experimental, environmental and operational tests on models, prototypes or on the systems and equipment itself in order to test their strength and capabilities under normal and extreme conditions.
Liaise with engineers: Collaborate with engineers to ensure common understanding and discuss product design, development and improvement.
Prepare production prototypes: Prepare early models or prototypes in order to test concepts and replicability possibilities. Create prototypes to assess for pre-production tests.
Develop test procedures: Develop testing protocols to enable a variety of analyses of products, systems, and components.
Draw design sketches: Create rough pictures to assist in creating and communicating design concepts.

2149 – Engineering professionals not elsewhere classified

 

 

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References

1. Design engineer – ESCO