What is a mechanical design engineer and how to become one

Q: How do I become a mechanical design engineer?

Becoming a mechanical design engineer requires a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering and then a license. Mechanical design engineers use physics and engineering principles to design mechanical systems and devices. All of which requires years of education and training.

Q: How many years does it take to become a design engineer?

It takes 9 to 11 years to become a design engineer. This includes at least four years of formal schooling and several years of work experience. First, you must complete a bachelor's degree majoring in mechanical engineering or industrial design, or for some, a double degree. Other design engineers complete a master's of industrial design or master's degree of engineering.

Q: What is mechanical design in mechanical engineering?

The mechanical design in mechanical engineering is the design of parts - or the engineering of design components, products, or systems of mechanical nature. Engineers, in general, design, fabricate and test components and systems.

Q: What is the difference between a mechanical engineer and a mechanical design engineer?

The difference between a mechanical engineer and a mechanical design engineer is using CAD software and creating designs on a computer. Mechanical engineers are known for their in-depth understanding of their designs, including the math and physics involved. On the other hand, a mechanical design engineer relies heavily on programs like CAD (computer-aided design) to create detailed models and prototypes to test designs.

Q: What qualifications do you need to be a design engineer?

The qualifications needed to be a design engineer are a college degree and practical experience using your craft. Becoming a design engineer requires hard work, and the discipline is competitive, so it is valuable to have relevant experience to showcase your ability.

Updated January 8, 2025

5 min read

Quoted experts

Marco Schoen Ph.D.,

Brian Denton Ph.D.

A mechanical design engineer works on mechanical systems, products, and equipment using engineering principles and computer-aided design software. They work in a variety of industries, from automotive to aerospace, to create detailed design specifications. They also collaborate with engineers and technicians to produce a final product that meets the necessary requirements. Mechanical design engineers use their expertise to make efficient, reliable, and safe products. Their work involves problem-solving, critical thinking, and attention to detail.

What general advice would you give to a mechanical design engineer?

Marco Schoen Ph.D.

Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Director of the Measurement and Control Engineering Research Center (MCERC), Idaho State University

Stay current. Engineering evolves continuously; new tools, new technologies, and new areas where engineers can contribute, learn, and work. When graduating, students have the feeling they are set for their careers. However, this is not true; they might be set to start their careers. To be consistently successful in their pages, they need to stay informed and updated.

ScoreMechanical Design EngineerUS Average

Salary

5.9

Avg. Salary $75,821

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

7.4

Growth rate 2%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

6.4

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.11%

Asian 16.37%

Black or African American 3.16%

Hispanic or Latino 8.22%

Unknown 4.53%

White 67.61%

Gender

female 8.11%

male 91.89%

Age - 39

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 39

Stress level

7.4

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

8.6

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance

5.1

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a mechanical design engineer?

Pros

High job demand and security
Good salary and benefits
Opportunity for career advancement
Possibility for travel and international work
Flexibility in work schedule

Cons

Can be repetitive work at times
May require significant investment in expensive software and tools
Possibility of working in a male-dominated industry
Can be physically demanding at times
May require significant travel or relocation

Key steps to become a mechanical design engineer

Explore mechanical design engineer education requirements

Most common mechanical design engineer degrees

Bachelor's

72.8 %

Associate

12.3 %

Master's

11.7 %

Start to develop specific mechanical design engineer skills

Skills	Percentages
CAD	14.10%
Mechanical Design	12.47%
GD	4.55%
Creo	4.52%
FEA	4.43%

Complete relevant mechanical design engineer training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-2 years on post-employment, on-the-job training. New mechanical design engineers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a mechanical design engineer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real mechanical design engineer resumes.

Research mechanical design engineer duties and responsibilities

Manage installation and troubleshooting documents for ultra precision CNC grinding machines.
Manage the successful release to manufacturing of several generations of Ethernet switches.
Engineer, manage and implement configuration and installation of complex Ethernet network backbones.
Manage automation projects including purchasing, scheduling fabrication and assembly, debugging, and delivery to customer.

Prepare your mechanical design engineer resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your mechanical design engineer resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a mechanical design engineer resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable mechanical design engineer resume templates

Build a professional mechanical design engineer resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your mechanical design engineer resume.