Product development engineering drafters design and draw blueprints to bring new concepts and products to life. They draft and draw detailed plans on how to manufacture a product.
The following job titles also refer to product development engineering drafter:
product development engineering draughter product development engineering draftsperson product development engineering draughtsperson product development engineering drafting specialist product development engineering drafting adviser product development engineering drafting consultant product development engineering drafting expert
Working conditions for product development engineering drafters can vary depending on the industry and company they work for. They may work in an office or laboratory environment, and may be required to spend significant amounts of time sitting at a computer. They may work independently or as part of a team, and may be required to collaborate with colleagues across different departments or locations.
Education and experience requirements for product development engineering drafters typically include a degree or diploma in drafting, engineering, or a related field, as well as experience with CAD software and product design. Some employers may also require certification or professional accreditation in drafting or engineering. Strong technical skills, attention to detail, and the ability to work collaboratively are important for success in this role.
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.
Product development engineering drafter is a Skill level 3 occupation.
Product development engineering drafter career path
These occupations require some skills and knowledge of product development engineering drafter. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of product development engineering drafter with a significant experience and/or extensive training.
This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of product development engineering drafter.
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.
Design drawings: Understand design drawings detailing the design of products, tools, and engineering systems.
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.
Technical drawings: Drawing software and the various symbols, perspectives, units of measurement, notation systems, visual styles and page layouts used in technical drawings.
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.
Manual draughting techniques: Techniques used for creating detailed drawings of designs by using specialised pencils, rulers, templates and scales.
These skills are necessary for the role of product development engineering drafter.
Use manual draughting techniques: Use non-computerised draughting techniques to make detailed drawings of designs by hand with specialised tools such as pencils, rulers and templates.
Use CADD software: Use computer-aided design and drafting software to make detailed drawings and blueprints of designs.
Create technical plans: Create detailed technical plans of machinery, equipment, tools and other products.
Read engineering drawings: Read the technical drawings of a product made by the engineer in order to suggest improvements, make models of the product or operate it.
Use cad software: Use computer-aided design (CAD) systems to assist in the creation, modification, analysis, or optimisation of a design.
This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of product development engineering drafter. 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.
Electrical engineering: Understand electrical engineering, a field of engineering that deals with the study and application of electricity, electronics, and electromagnetism.
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.
Electronics: The functioning of electronic circuit boards, processors, chips, and computer hardware and software, including programming and applications. Apply this knowledge to ensure electronic equipment runs smoothly.
3D modelling: The process of developing a mathematical representation of any three-dimensional surface of an object via specialised software. The product is called a 3D model. It can be displayed as a two-dimensional image through a process called 3D rendering or used in a computer simulation of physical phenomena. The model can also be physically created using 3D printing devices.
Mechanical engineering: Discipline that applies principles of physics, engineering and materials science to design, analyse, manufacture and maintain mechanical systems.
Industrial engineering: The field of engineering concerned with the development, improvement, and implementation of complex processes and systems of knowledge, people, equipment, etc.
Product data management: The use of software to track all information concerning a product such as technical specifications, drawings, design specifications, and production costs.
These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of product development engineering drafter. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.
Adjust engineering designs: Adjust designs of products or parts of products so that they meet requirements.
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.
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.
Draft design specifications: List the design specifications such as materials and parts to be used and a cost estimate.
Draw blueprints: Draw layout specifications for machinery, equipment and building structures. Specify which materials should be used and the size of the components. Show different angles and views of the product.
Liaise with engineers: Collaborate with engineers to ensure common understanding and discuss product design, development and improvement.
