Product engineers work on designing and developing new products. You鈥檒l play an imperative role in each phase of the product lifecycle to ensure timelines and goals are achieved. The first step entails concepting. As ideas for new projects emerge, you鈥檒l take these concepts and work with a team to put a design together. A product design involves looking deeper at the functionality and usability of a product. This is typically done digitally through computer-aided design (CAD) software. You鈥檒l then manage the testing stage which involves evaluating a prototype, including identifying any issues and ensuring it meets the end-product goal. The final stage is the product鈥檚 launch where you鈥檒l help lead manufacturing efforts.

Earning a bachelor鈥檚 degree in mechanical engineering, materials science and engineering, or industrial engineering program provides a path to launch your career as a product engineer. Work in a wide array of industries, including automotive, aerospace, industrial products, healthcare, among others. Technical engineering skills are pivotal to a product development team and provide a different outlook to the process than non-technical colleagues. After gaining work experience or continuing your education with a master鈥檚 degree in industrial engineering, you can transition into other roles such as product operations, product management or product analytics.