Manufacturing engineers design, integrate, or improve manufacturing systems or related processes. They work with commercial or industrial designers to refine product designs to increase producibility and decrease costs.
Manufacturing engineer jobs are one of the most versatile roles one can hold. The job entails designing new factory lines, pricing required equipment and tools, determining manufacturing methods, outlining required workflow, supporting Lean and Six Sigma and ensuring safety and compliances.
The minimum requirement for those aspiring to enter this field is a bachelor’s degree in manufacturing engineering. The candidate can pursue a bachelor’s degree in one of the three specialisations of mechanical engineering, industrial engineering and process engineering. If an engineer is interested in corporate leadership, a Master of Business Administration is a typical career path. Furthermore, those who are interested in research jobs can earn a doctoral degree.
Much of a manufacturing engineer’s drilling takes place while acquiring their education, whether by completing hands-on projects or internships. Manufacturing engineers who plan to work on community projects need to earn their Professional Engineers licenses. The license requirement of each state varies.
Manufacturing engineers' salaries depend on their knowledge level, expertise and the size of the company they work for.
To be successful in the manufacturing engineering career, one needs to have excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, strong management ability, proficiency in Microsoft Office, a high level of technical expertise, commercial awareness and analytical skills.
Every career requires an element of study and academic qualification, and there can be several study routes and pathways you can take. In following any academic pathway you will study subjects that contribute to the specialised knowledge required to achieve your career goals. These qualifications provide a future employer with the evidence that you have the desired knowledge, understanding and experience of their industry, so it’s important to consider the various types of qualifications available to you and to understand how they can boost your career and create opportunities for you.
Subscribe to our Premium package and you'll unlock a wealth of extra information about your favourite careers and gain access our library of immersive 360° VR careers experience.
As a Premium user you'll find out more about the day-to-day demands of any career, what you could earn and, importantly, receive expert advice on study routes, preparation expenses, and where & what to study to fulfil your potential.