Design Engineer
Design functional products and systems.
What's it like to be a Design Engineer?
Design Engineers design and test a range of consumer goods and products. They use computer software to create designs and build models and prototypes that test the functionality of products for manufacture like cars, appliances, furniture, tools, industrial equipment and robots.
Tasks and duties
- Using Computer Aided Design (CAD) and Computer Assisted Engineering (CAE) software to create drawings and diagrams.
- Liaising with clients and stakeholders to determine project brief.
- Researching and designing new ideas for products and systems.
- Analysing existing products and identifying opportunities for improvement.
- Ensuring designs are functional, safe and compliant.
- Finding and eliminating design flaws through the creation and testing of functional and non–functional prototypes.
- Determining manufacturing parameters by determining material and production costs.
- Presenting designs and demonstrations for client approval.
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Design Engineers are experts in engineering and design, using a blend of skills to create designs that are both visually pleasing and functionally sound. They are employed by organisations in the Manufacturing, Consumer Goods and Automotive industries or may work for a design consultancy.
Salary lookup
What can I earn as a Design Engineer?
Find out the average salary for a Design Engineer across Australia
Latest Design Engineer jobs on SEEK
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How to become a Design Engineer
You usually need a relevant bachelor degree to become a Design Engineer.
- Complete a relevant bachelor degree in engineering or design. This could be a Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical) (Honours) of Bachelor of Industrial Design.
- Secure an internship while studying to apply your skills under the guidance of experienced Design Engineers.
- Consider completing a postgraduate degree to advance your skills, such as a Master of Engineering (Mechanical).
- After graduating, you can grow your professional network and enhance your credentials by registering with professional associations such as Engineers Australia, the National Engineering Register and the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.
Explore related qualifications
SEEK users who have worked as a Design Engineer have studied these qualifications.
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Bachelor of Industrial Design
This qualification provides creative knowledge and skills to prepare for work in the industrial design industry.
Master of Engineering (Mechanical)
If you already have a background in engineering or instrumentation, this master degree will prepare you for advanced career opportunities in the industry.
Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical) (Honours)
This degree will prepare you to work in the mechanical engineering industry. It also includes an embedded honours year.
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Is Design Engineer the right role for me?
How do Design Engineers rate their role?
Average ratings calculated from 23 Design Engineers surveyed on SEEK
Work-life balance
4.1
Job satisfaction
4.0
Career progression opportunities
3.5
Job security
3.5
Pay / Salary
3.4
Variety of work
3.7
Job market trends for Design Engineers
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Source: SEEK job ads and SEEK Role Reviews
Latest Design Engineer reviews
Latest reviews from 20 Design Engineers surveyed on SEEK
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Design Engineering is extremely rewarding with the right approach and willingness to adapt
Reviewer's Qualification
Bachelor of Engineering
Experience
5 – 9 years
Organisation size
Large (200+ employees)
Specialisation
Project Management
The good things
Design Engineering involves working with Production, Quality and Assembly, Product Office, Marketing and Commercial, Styling and Form Designers and other stakeholders during development. Externally of...
The challenges
Design Engineers must be able to get up and go to actually see people who have roles on their products. Communication is key and it means having buy in from all stakeholders within expected time. Howe...
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Design engineering can be frustrating at times but equally provide a sense of achievement
Reviewer's Qualification
Bachelor of Engineering (Civil)
Experience
10+ years
Organisation size
Large (200+ employees)
Specialisation
Engineering Services
The good things
I get to work on projects that are directly contributing to local communities
The challenges
We encounter lots of unique challenges for which there are no text book solutions. You have to use your problem solving skill and engineering judgment to work out a satisfactory solution.
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Source: SEEK Role Reviews
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