According to the latest figures, around 186,000 mechanical design engineers are working in the UK, but despite these high stats, this market is by no means saturated. In fact, the extensive scope of this specialisation means that there are still a great many fantastic mechanical engineering roles waiting for new graduates and experienced individuals seeking new challenges. Here, we consider what exactly a role in mechanical design engineering involves, and what you need to ensure that you get to work creating the right career in this area from the moment you graduate.
A mechanical design engineer is an individual who applies engineering principles for the analysis, design, installation and maintenance of mechanical systems. Such roles especially involve the drawing and design of mechanical devices and equipment across a range of sectors. Most often, design engineers will work within a team of manufacturing engineers working across different disciplines, and will not only design key manufacturing elements but will also oversee the calculations and support necessary to bring those designs to fruition.
In a general sense, mechanical design engineers should be technically minded, with specific skills in maths and science. In terms of required qualifications, individuals should hold as many as 5 GCSEs at A-C grade, as well as a foundation degree or an HNC/HND qualification. Given the highly competitive nature of the engineering field, and of mechanical design engineering roles, in particular, degrees in an engineering subject are especially desirable here, and specialisations that could especially set your application apart include –
Apprenticeships are also available for individuals looking to seek on-job experience in the mechanical design engineering field, and typically require between 4-5 GCSEs for acceptance, preferably including maths and physics.
As mentioned, analytical skills are key for any mechanical design engineer, but these aren’t the only skills you could benefit from possessing when breaking into this field. As well as helping to ensure long-term career happiness, possession of the right skills can drastically help to improve your chances of securing a role, and include –
In some respects, finding a job in the ideal sector is one of the hardest aspects of seeking an engineering career in this field. Luckily, that’s because mechanical design engineers are required in such a vast array of industries, which is ultimately going to help your job prospects, but only if you take the time to narrow things down here. This is especially imperative as each sector involves very different production focuses which include –
Only by considering these sectors alongside the skill sets that you’re able to bring to mechanical design engineering roles, in general, can you ensure that you’re embracing a career that you can enjoy. After all, someone with an interest in the creative design elements of this role might not enjoy a job in data centres or other IT-centric positions, while more analytical minds may struggle with the creative calls for consumer goods of construction design.
If you think you have the skills and passion to pursue a role as a mechanical design engineer, then you shouldn’t hesitate to start applying for positions today. Simply make sure that you understand your specialisation, and that you’re using those skills/qualifications to help yourself stand above what will inevitably be a competitive crowd of applicants.
Once qualified, don’t hesitate to Contact Us to help you secure a suitable role and launch your career within Mechanical Design.
