| Detail | For this role |
|---|---|
| Department | Engineering |
| Level | Entry level |
| Reports to | R&D Manager |
| Direct reports | None |
| Experience | Fresher or up to 2 years in product design |
Product Design Engineer job description template
Copy this job description, replace the text in square brackets and post it on your careers page or a job portal.
Job title: Product Design Engineer
Department: Engineering
Reports to: R&D Manager
Location: [City], [office, branch or site]
About the role
A Product Design Engineer designs products that people or businesses use, balancing function, cost, looks and manufacturability. They turn requirements and concepts into 3D models, prototypes and production ready designs, working with industrial design, tooling and manufacturing. The role sits in product development. A good Product Design Engineer designs products that work well, feel right, meet cost, and can be made at volume without constant changes.
Key responsibilities
- Turn product requirements and concepts into 3D models and designs.
- Balance function, cost, appearance and manufacturability in each design.
- Build and test prototypes and refine the design from feedback.
- Design parts for injection moulding, sheet metal or other processes.
- Prepare production drawings, tolerances and bills of material for release.
- Work with industrial design and tooling on form and mould feasibility.
- Run design reviews and design for manufacturing checks with the team.
- Support pilot builds and resolve early production issues on the line.
- Track design changes and keep the product documentation current.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in mechanical or product design engineering
- Training in a 3D CAD tool
- Knowledge of moulding or sheet metal processes
- Fresher or up to 2 years in product design
KRAs and KPIs for a Product Design Engineer
Key result areas for the appraisal form, each with a KPI you can measure every month or quarter.
| Key result area | How to measure it |
|---|---|
| Design fit | Product meets the requirement and cost target at design freeze |
| Manufacturability | Parts released for tooling with no major mould rework |
| Prototype | Prototypes meet function and fit at the planned build |
| Cost | Product cost within the target at production |
| Deliverables | Drawings and BOM released on the project schedule |
| Change control | Design changes logged and controlled, not lost |
Skills and tools
Tools used day to day: SolidWorks or Creo, Keyshot or rendering tools, 3D printer, MS Excel, PDM system.
Reporting line and career path
Next roles: Senior Product Design Engineer, R&D Engineer, Product Manager
Interview questions for a Product Design Engineer
- Walk me through designing a plastic enclosure for a product.
- How do you balance appearance, cost and manufacturability?
- How do you design a part for injection moulding?
- How do you use prototypes to improve a design?
- How do you keep a product design within its cost target?
- How do you work with industrial design on a product form?
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What does a Product Design Engineer do?
A Product Design Engineer designs products that balance function, cost, looks and manufacturability. They turn concepts into 3D models and prototypes, design parts for moulding or sheet metal, prepare production drawings and support pilot builds. Their job is products that work well, meet cost and can be made at volume.
What is the difference between product design and industrial design?
Product design engineering focuses on making the product work and be manufacturable: mechanisms, materials, tolerances and cost. Industrial design focuses on form, appearance and user experience. They work together, with the industrial designer shaping how a product looks and feels and the engineer making it function and produce.
What qualifications does a Product Design Engineer need?
A degree in mechanical or product design engineering with strong 3D CAD skills. Knowledge of plastics, sheet metal and manufacturing processes helps. Employers value creativity balanced with manufacturability, prototyping experience and a portfolio of real product work over theory alone.