Design and development engineer

Design engineers improve product performance and efficiency while researching and developing new ideas and systems.

Also known as: Research engineer, industrial designer

• Starter salary£25,000 a year
• Experienced£55,000 a year
• Typical hours38 to 40 a week

What you'll do

As a design and development engineer, you could:

• design and manage product developments
• research prototypes and innovations, using mathematical modelling
• create design plans with engineering and manufacturing software
• test products under different conditions and analyse data
• troubleshoot problems and fix them
• write product manuals and reports for project managers and clients

Working environment

You could work in an office, in a workshop or in a laboratory.

Skills and knowledge you'll need

You'll need:

• design skills and knowledge
• knowledge of engineering science and technology
• the ability to come up with new ways of doing things
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• complex problem-solving skills
• persistence and determination
• maths skills
• the ability to think clearly using logic and reasoning
• to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently

How to become a design and development engineer

You can get into this job through:

• a university course
• an apprenticeship
• applying directly

University

You can take a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree course.

Subjects include:

• engineering product design
• industrial design
• computer-aided design engineering
• engineering design and manufacture
• materials science
• maths and physics

Mechanical, electrical and civil engineering qualifications might also be accepted by employers.

Courses accredited by the Institution of Engineering Designers (IED) may help your career development later on.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 1 or 2 A levels, or equivalent, for a foundation degree or higher national diploma
• 2 or 3 A levels, or equivalent, including maths

Apprenticeship

You might be able to apply for a Product Design and Development Engineer, or Robotics Engineer, Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship.

This can take around 4 and a half years to complete.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a degree apprenticeship

Direct application

You could apply directly for design and development engineer roles.

You'll need experience and qualifications in a particular branch of engineering, for example:

• mechanical
• aerospace
• energy
• automotive
• manufacturing

Career path and progression

You can use your design skills to work across lots of different industries, such as:

• construction
• biomedical engineering
• electronics
• renewable energy
• automotive design

With experience you could become a lead design engineer, project manager or consultant

You can also improve your career opportunities by registering for chartered status with the Institution of Engineering Designers (IED).

Guides for this industry

• Engineering: pay, interviews and getting started →

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