Design engineer

Design engineers produce designs for new or improved machinery, structures and products. They take into account safety, efficiency, cost and the environment. Design engineers normally specialise in a particular area.

Also known as:

CAD designer
CAD engineer
Design and development engineer
Draughtsperson
Industrial designer

Work activities

Design engineers produce designs for a wide range of products or structures. This could include aircraft, bridges, medical equipment, agricultural machinery, computers, telecommunications systems and products used in the home. Design engineers often specialise in one area, but all of them begin each project by looking at a brief which explains what the aim of the project is and what needs to be done to achieve it. A car manufacturer, for example, may want to increase sales of one of their cars by reducing fuel consumption or improving the way the car looks. Design engineers are responsible for making sure the product meets the manufacturer’s needs and is safe, efficient, reliable, and economical to produce. They consider what impact it might have on the environment. They work within deadlines and to budgets.

Design engineers gather information by talking to other experts, reading engineering literature and looking at the results of test data on materials and processes before they prepare any designs. They normally use computer aided design (CAD) techniques to produce a design on a visual display screen. The computer then performs all the necessary calculations, for example, relating to the weight of parts and the loads they must bear. The design engineer can compare possible solutions by using drawings, calculations, and physical or computer models. They produce specifications for prototypes, to test and evaluate the way a product will work. They may have to adapt their designs as a result of tests. Design engineers work in teams alongside other engineers, technicians and production staff. They may supervise and lead teams of design draughtspeople.

Personal qualities and skills

As a design engineer, you need:

An understanding of engineering and scientific principles as well as the qualities of metals and other materials.
Good number skills, in order to make calculations.
A creative approach to problem solving.
To be patient and willing to change designs several times until you achieve exactly the right result.
Good communication skills, so you can explain your ideas clearly to others.
To work well on your own and in a team.
ICT skills, for using computer aided design (CAD) software.
The ability to work under pressure and to meet tight deadlines.

Pay and opportunities

Salaries for design engineers vary, depending on employer, role and responsibilities. Salaries for design engineers are in the range of £24,000 - £50,000 a year, and higher salaries are possible.

Most design engineers work around 38-40 hours a week, Monday to Friday. However, late finishes and some weekend work may be required, especially as deadlines approach.

Employers are firms in all sectors of the engineering industry: mechanical, civil, structural, electrical, chemical, materials, aeronautical and IT. Some design engineers work for engineering design consultancies. Others work for large manufacturing companies and specialise in designing their products. Opportunities for design engineers occur with employers in towns and cities throughout the UK.

Self-employment opportunities occur for design engineers to work independently as consultants in private practice.

Where are vacancies advertised?

Vacancies are advertised in local/national newspapers, trade industry publications, and on the Government’s Find a Job service. Vacancies can also be found through specialist engineering recruitment agencies, internet job boards and the websites of professional engineering bodies.

Entry routes and training

A level 6 (degree) apprenticeship in the role of product design and development engineer is a good way into this career path. Most of your training will be on the job, while you will work towards a relevant degree which will support your work.

Another way to become a design engineer is through a relevant engineering degree, foundation degree or HND. Most engineering courses involve some element of design work, although you can take a specialist course. These have titles such as design engineering, engineering design, industrial design and product design engineering. Some courses relate design to particular areas of engineering and there are also some combined courses. It’s essential to check prospectuses carefully to make sure the course you choose is appropriate to the branch of engineering you want to follow. The Institution of Engineering Designers (IED) provides a list of accredited courses relating to design engineering.

Many graduates go on to join graduate training schemes, which offer structured training and experience. Depending on their level of entry, engineers can gain Chartered Engineer (CEng) or Incorporated Engineer (IEng) professional status. Both are highly regarded by employers throughout industry. To register as a CEng or an IEng, you must join a relevant, professional engineering institution, such as the IED. To become a CEng or an IEng, you need to demonstrate the appropriate competence and commitment. The standards for this are available at engc.org.uk. Your engineering institution will also advise you on, and process, your application.

Depending on their qualification, engineers can progress by taking on more responsibility for the management of engineering projects and teams of engineers. Some engineers choose to become self-employed or take contract work on a freelance basis.

Qualifications

To get onto a degree apprenticeship, you will need at least two relevant A-levels, plus GCSEs in English and maths.

To enter a degree course in design engineering, the usual requirement is:

Two to three A-levels.
GCSEs in your A-level subjects at grades 9-4.
Maths, English and potentially a science subject at GCSE.

Maths and a science subject (often physics) are normally required at A-level.

Other qualifications, such as a relevant Edexcel (BTEC) level 3 National or the International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma are often accepted.

Adult opportunities

Age limits: It is illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits.

Evidence of creative skills, knowledge of computer aided design (CAD), and skills gained in business with a customer focus, are useful.

If you don’t have the qualifications needed to enter your chosen degree or HND course, a college or university Access course (e.g. Access to Engineering) could be the way in. These courses are designed for people who have not followed the usual routes into higher education. No formal qualifications are usually needed, but you should check this with individual colleges.

Numerous institutions offer undergraduate and postgraduate engineering qualifications via distance learning.

Information on pathways to registration as a Chartered (CEng) or Incorporated (IEng) Engineer can be found on the Engineering Council’s website.

Sponsorship for higher education study in design engineering may be available from the larger engineering and manufacturing companies.

Funding for postgraduate study may be available through universities from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).

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