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Design Engineer (m/w/d)

Before machines, appliances and other products such as furniture or medical instruments go into production, it is the turn of design engineers to plan these products. In the process they have to be creative and analytical. After all, their designs must ultimately both function and meet all safety-related standards. 

What is required for this job? How much does a design engineer earn? And how do I get a job as a design engineer? We shed light on this in this job profile. 

Are you looking for design engineer jobs? (m/f/d) 

Are you interested in new technologies? A rapidly changing technological world of work ensures that design engineers will continue to be among the most sought-after specialists. Contact us and we will plan the next steps in your career together! 

Are you looking for a design engineer? (m/f/d) 

Are you looking for a suitable designer for your projects? Design engineers analyze the needs of a department or company, taking costs and material requirements into account. The concepts or models they develop on this basis open up new avenues in planning and production for your company. 

Are you looking for an exciting project for design engineers? 

As a temporary design engineer, you have a high level of responsibility for the success of your work and can be deployed flexibly at different locations. If you are interested in new challenging projects, you should get in touch with us! 

What is a design engineer? Definition and overview 

A designer develops equipment, draws up plans for it in computer software and checks it for its material, functionality and cost-effectiveness.  

Based on their in-depth specialist knowledge of production and materials science, design engineers create construction plans and models. These technical drawings are digitized using modern computer software and prepared for final production. During this process, designers must observe numerous standards and carry out calculations to ensure that the product is marketable and accepted by the end customer. 

They work in a wide variety of sectors - particularly in the electrical and metal industries, vehicle construction and mechanical engineering, but also in medical technology, plastics processing and building installations. This is because almost all industrially manufactured products in our world were previously planned by design engineers. 

In addition to their technical and creative work, designers must also keep an eye on the company's goals as well as market and customer requirements in order to ensure product safety and cost-effectiveness.  

Design engineer salary: What does a design engineer earn? 

The average salary for design engineers in Germany is around €50,000 gross per year. 

The workflow of design engineers is highly dependent on the industry in which they work. The question of whether you work in a small to medium-sized company or rather in a large company also has an influence on the average salary. In addition, as in every profession, the factors of the company location and professional experience play an important role. If the design engineer has additional skills that are particularly in demand, this is also an important advantage in terms of salary - and design engineers can also work on a project basis.  

Starting salary as a design engineer: Junior design engineer salary

Junior design engineers can expect a starting salary of around €41,000 per year at the beginning of their career. After three years, this salary increases to around €50,000 gross. 

Design engineers are best paid in Baden-Württemberg, while salaries are the lowest in the region. 

Senior Design Engineer salary  

Senior design engineers with over 10 years of professional experience receive an average salary of around €59,000 per year. However, this salary can increase significantly due to various factors such as personnel responsibility. Top earners in this sector earn around €75,000 per year and are usually employed as managers. 

What does a design engineer do? Tasks and activities  

Design engineers are entrusted with the conception and design of new products, but also equipment or entire systems. To do this, they use existing sources of information and model three-dimensional models with the help of CAD (Computer Aided Design) systems. These can also be converted into two-dimensional designs or created in graphic form, for example as a photorealistic reproduction. Design engineers are also responsible for creating technical specifications, parts lists and virtual simulations as well as presentations. 

After creating their first sketch and developing it into a tangible design (in CAD software), they start measuring the material. It is particularly important to test the material for its properties. Designers must ensure that the parts of the final product fit together perfectly and that the materials match each other. 

Specifically, designers have these tasks: 

  • Creation of concepts, designs and models in 2D and 3D 

  • Construction of prototypes 

  • Work organization 

  • Collection of production-related data 

  • Material selection and calculation of material requirements 

  • Creation of design instructions 

  • Sometimes: Collaboration on production 

  • Inspection of the manufactured construction 

  • Maintain contact with clients or customers to know all requirements 

Design engineers mainly work in engineering offices or design departments of manufacturing companies. They often work together with technical draughtsmen, whose profession is in many cases very similar to that of a design engineer. 

Junior design engineer tasks 

As a junior design engineer, it is important for you to expand your knowledge and skills. As a rule, you will work together with a senior designer on the design of a product, taking care of sketches, the creation of 3D models and the optimization of existing designs. 

Senior design engineer tasks 

The tasks of senior designers are often at a strategic level. They work together with other departments and may also have a junior designer at their side who supports them and learns from them. 

You are confident in using CAD software, have specialized in a design engineering field and have several years of professional experience. 

In some cases, they have also taken on personnel responsibility and serve as managers - this is also reflected in their salaries. 

CAD designer: Special features 

The term CAD designer is also frequently used in this occupational field. CAD stands for Computer Aided Design and refers to the software solutions used by design engineers to produce drawings and 3D models, simulate designs and carry out calculations. 

As a CAD designer, you work primarily on a PC and use special programs that are required for your work. There is a wide range of tools that are used by design engineers. Different programs are used depending on the industry in which they work. The most important of these are AutoCAD, CATIA and SOLIDWORKS. 

Nowadays, working with CAD is no longer a specialty for design engineers, which is why the job title "CAD designer" is usually used synonymously with "design engineer". 

Mechanical engineering designer: Special features 

Design engineers in mechanical engineering make up the largest proportion of subject-specific design engineers. This is because no other technical degree course has as many students as mechanical engineering. Representatives of this field design various machines and systems and are sought after across all industries.  

The most important tasks and skills in mechanical engineering include 

  • Scientific fundamentals of mechanical engineering 

  • Applied mathematics in mechanical engineering 

  • Mechanics 

  • Manufacturing technology 

  • Machine elements and technical drawing 

  • Electrical engineering & control technology 

Design engineer training, further education & studies: How do you become a design engineer? 

In addition to training or studying to become a design engineer, there are several other ways to pursue a career as a design engineer. The job title is not protected, but employers and clients expect a high level of specialist knowledge and experience. For this reason, the usual route into this profession is via a technical degree or training as a "state-certified design engineer". 

Design engineer training  

In Germany, you have the opportunity to complete a dual apprenticeship to become a design engineer. The apprenticeship usually lasts 3.5 years and includes a theoretical part in addition to practical training in an apprenticeship occupation. Trainees spend one to two days a week at a vocational college. After passing the final examination, the design engineers can officially apply for suitable positions. 

Other apprenticeships also form a good basis for this profession, such as technical system planner or technical product designer. 

Design engineer studies 

A technical degree provides an excellent basis for a career in design. If you want to have a steep career path as a design engineer and earn a corresponding salary, a degree is the best way for you. 

Suitable fields of study for a job as a design engineer are, for example: 
 

  • Construction technology 
  • Mechanical engineering 
  • Product development 
  • Electrical engineering 
  • Automation technology 

You can complete the relevant bachelor's degree course in construction technology at HWR Berlin or Hanover University of Applied Sciences and Arts, for example. 

Further training as a design engineer 

A widely used further training course to become a design engineer is training to become a "state-certified technician". This is a protected job title, as a state-certified examination must be passed at the end.  

This design engineer training can be completed at various schools and institutes in Germany and takes about two years full-time.  

During further training, you will specialize in a particular field, with design engineers usually opting for mechanical engineering. 

You can choose from the following specializations: 
 

  • (common for designers) Mechanical engineering  
  • Electrical engineering 
  • Building technology 
  • Computer science 
  • Environmental technology 
  • Textile technology 
  • Chemical engineering 

Prerequisites for this educational pathway are several years of professional experience and at least a secondary school leaving certificate. 

In many cases, design engineers first complete their dual training, then gain professional experience and complete their education with further training to become a "state-certified technician". 

Design engineer as a career changer 

Career changers can also retrain to become a design engineer. This requires many years of professional experience as well as suitable further training (e.g. IHK). As an engineer or technician, you can even start your career as a design engineer without an examination. 

Further training for design engineers  

Due to the advancing digitalization in the construction industry, further training is essential for designers. They should always be up to date with the latest developments and actively engage with trends and innovations in their industry. Various courses and seminars in different subject areas are available for this purpose. 

Possible further training courses for designers are: 
 

  • Spezifische Materialfortbildungen (bspw. Edelstahl oder Kunststoff) 

  • LTSpice Weiterbildung (Simulator für Konstruktionen) 

  • Design Thinking 

  • (Agiles) Projektmanagement 

Knowledge is power

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Design engineer skills: These are your hard skills and soft skills 

Design engineers must bring a high degree of professionalism to their job in their specialist field in order to reliably meet the demands placed on them within the set time frame. In addition to basic technical training, design engineers need spatial thinking skills, technical knowledge and the ability to work with CAD programs. Project management skills are just as important as reliability and the ability to work in a team. 

The designer hard skills include: 

  • Technical training and further training or studies to become a design engineer 

  • Knowledge of materials science and manufacturing 

  • Spatial imagination  

  • Mathematical knowledge 

  • Analytical thinking 

  • Commercial skills 

  • CAD knowledge 

The soft skills of design engineers include: 

  • Reliability and resilience 

  • Ability to work in a team 

  • Accuracy and independence 

  • Willingness to learn 

Design engineer career: opportunities on the job market

As a design engineer, you will usually be employed in the manufacturing industry. There are jobs in the metal and plastics industry as well as in electrical engineering and medical technology. Many design engineers also work in engineering offices. As a design engineer, you can also go into research and work and teach at universities. 

Your chances on the job market are good, because design engineers (especially in plant engineering) are always in demand. The Hays Skilled Workers Index 2023, which analyzed all German job advertisements on the most popular job portals, also shows this: Apart from a brief slump due to Covid19, the industry is developing stably. In recent years, the demand for design engineers has even increased more strongly. 

Demand-Design Engineers-Hays Skilled Labour Index-2023

*Quelle: Fachkräfteindex
Apart from the market, you can also increase your value through various further training courses and additional qualifications. The world of design engineers offers a wide range of professional specializations for you. 

Alternatives to the profession of design engineer 

There are several professions that require similar skills and interests to those of a design engineer. Here are some alternatives for you: 

  1. Technical draughtsman: Technical draughtsmen create detailed technical drawings and plans for the manufacture and construction of products and structures. They work closely with engineers and designers and use their skills in mathematics and technical understanding. 

  2. Engineer: Engineers work in a variety of fields, from electrical engineering to civil engineering, and use their strong math and science skills to solve complex problems. Many of the skills acquired in design are very useful in engineering.  

  3. Architect: Architects design buildings and structures, using both creative and technical skills. They must be able to produce detailed plans and work with a variety of professionals, including design engineers. 

  4. Product designers: Product designers work on the design and development of new products. They must be able to create technical drawings, understand materials and work with manufacturers, similar to design engineers. 

These careers could be a good alternative for someone who is interested in construction but perhaps wants to go in a slightly different direction. They require similar skills and knowledge and offer the opportunity to work in technical and creative fields. 

Top Vacancies: Design engineer Jobs (m/f/d)

Reference number: 815490/1

Manufacturing Test Engineer (m/f/d)

Employment with Hays Professional Solutions GmbH
Grünheide (Mark)
  • Building and wiring electrical cabinets and harnesses following design schematics 
  • Fabrication of mechanical and automation systems for the test equipment
  • Attending design review with electrical and mechanical engineers to provide design recommendations for best practices on machine fabrication
  • Creating best practices documentation for high quality machine builds and safe work standards
  • Validate, integrate, deploy, and troubleshoot test systems on the production line.
  • Workshop management to ensure availability of tools, inventory, and an effective workspace
Online since: Tue May 06 15:11:59 CEST 2025
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Reference number: 810533/1

Senior Mechanical Engineer (m/f/d)

Freelance/Contracting project
Bayern
  • Mechanical design of low-pressure turbine (LPT) modules for the RISE Open Fan engine demonstrators and test rig vehicles
  • Mechanical design of one or more components in the LPT modules
  • Collaborate with the Munich Mechanical team and other sites of the client
  • Mechanical analysis of LPT rotating components, using the clients analysis tools (e.g. ANSYS)
  • Contribute to LPT module conceptual and preliminary design reviews
Online since: Thu Apr 17 16:22:30 CEST 2025
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Reference number: 819529/1

Secondary Engineer (m/f/d)

Freelance/Contracting project
Baden-Wurttemberg
  • Prepare and review substation documentations, for example, single line diagram, protection diagrams, interlocking diagrams, AC and DC drawings, calculations, control and protection panel drawings, IED configurations, cabling and bills of materials
  • Provide technical evaluation of supplier proposals and accepts as fit for purpose supplied equipment or services
  • Provide technical support during pre-FAT and FAT stage, handling installation and commissioning activities. Prepare project documentation within one's scope of deliverables
  • Participate in testing and commissioning
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including project manager, design (Lead, Primary, Civil and commissioning), planner, quality assurance, and supply chain, to ensure seamless project integration and successful outcomes in international project environment
  • Drive a culture of continuous improvement, fostering innovation, and encouraging employee involvement in problem-solving and process enhancement
  • Living core values of safety and integrity, which means taking responsibility for your own actions while caring for your colleagues, and the business
Online since: Tue Apr 29 15:54:09 CEST 2025
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FAQ

What do you do as a design engineer?

  • Planning and further development of machines, systems and other series products 

  • Creation of 2D or 3D models (using CAD programs) 

  • Material selection 

  • Manufacture and testing of products for safety standards 

  • Planning and further development of machines, systems and other series products 

  • Creation of 2D or 3D models (using CAD programs) 

  • Material selection 

  • Manufacture and testing of products for safety standards 


Is a designer an engineer?

Although the terms designer and engineer are very often used interchangeably, engineers are people with a degree, whereas this is not essential for designers. 

Although the terms designer and engineer are very often used interchangeably, engineers are people with a degree, whereas this is not essential for designers. 


How much do you earn as a design engineer?

On average, design engineers in Germany earn an annual gross salary of around €50,000 full-time. As a junior design engineer, you can expect to start on around €41,000. 

On average, design engineers in Germany earn an annual gross salary of around €50,000 full-time. As a junior design engineer, you can expect to start on around €41,000. 


When can you call yourself a designer?

The job title "design engineer" is not protected in Germany. Nevertheless, they usually have a degree or have completed training as a "professionally certified design engineer".  

The job title "design engineer" is not protected in Germany. Nevertheless, they usually have a degree or have completed training as a "professionally certified design engineer".  


How long does training as a design engineer take?

The full-time dual training program for design engineers in Germany lasts around 3.5 years, but can also be shortened. It consists of a practical part in the training company and theory at vocational school. 

The full-time dual training program for design engineers in Germany lasts around 3.5 years, but can also be shortened. It consists of a practical part in the training company and theory at vocational school. 


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