Any engineering discipline, such as mechanical, electrical, civil, or chemical, can use design engineering. The primary goal of design engineering is the same regardless of the discipline. The goal is to meet all functional requirements while delivering products and projects on time and on budget.
The importance of design engineering in any development project cannot be overstated. In general, it must communicate with a wide range of project stakeholders. Management, testing, purchasing, and manufacturing are some of the groups with which a design engineer collaborates.
Design engineering differs from systems level engineering in that the design engineer is more focused on the minutiae of sub-system design in large organizations and projects. In general, a systems level engineer is concerned with the big picture. In the automotive industry, for example, a systems engineer may define a new vehicle’s specifications, such as how fast it will go, how it will handle, and how much it will cost, but the design engineering team will design the engine, suspension, and various components to meet the systems engineer’s targets.
In a smaller company, a design engineer may have multiple jobs. During the course of a project, he may be required to work as a manufacturing engineer, a test engineer, and a quality engineer. Design engineering can be used to help negotiate prices and delivery schedules in many lean or cross-functional matrix organizations. Purchasing is usually in charge of these tasks.
The design engineer may collaborate with the research and development department at the start of a project to incorporate cutting-edge features into a product. He could be working with marketing at the same time to figure out what features customers will expect. Engineers are very hands-on during the early stages of a project’s design. Often, they will be giving conceptual direction to draftsmen or even creating CAD data on their own. They could also be contacting potential suppliers for quotes and samples.
The design engineering team will be kept busy in the middle of the project, during the development phase, because the actual product or project will change many times as new requirements and problems arise. They must make certain that all of the interfacing components continue to function properly. They will also ensure that all affected parties are informed of the necessary changes.
Following the completion of a design, the design engineering team will spend a significant amount of time directing suppliers and contractors in the development of production-ready parts. When the design engineer receives the initial prototypes, he will work with test engineers and technicians to ensure that all functional requirements are met. Typically, the design engineer will review test reports and determine whether any final improvements can be incorporated into the final product.
If everything goes well during testing, the design engineer will collaborate closely with manufacturing and assembly as the project’s various components come together in its final form. He needs to make sure that the components are simple to make, assemble, and ship. The design engineer’s job is frequently not done once a project or product is completed and in the hands of the end customer. Many times, there will be changes that need to be made, new suppliers that need to be updated, and unanticipated quality issues that need to be addressed.