A design engineer is responsible for the whole project and directs the creation of the initial blueprints and schematics for various structures, systems, machines, or equipment. A design team includes draftsmen, civil or mechanical engineers, and possibly materials engineers and electrical engineers. Design engineers use advanced computer technology and applications, such as computer-aided design (CAD) software, to help them create and test virtual models. Depending on the type of structure or machine that is being built, an engineer may be asked to construct a physical model or prototype to test in realistic situations. Designers are employed in many different government organizations and industries, including research and development companies, construction firms, and product manufacturing plants.
Professional design engineers communicate with planning committees and other engineering specialists to coordinate design plans. A design engineer often begins the process by creating sketches by hand or using CAD programs. Computer software programs allow designers to draw detailed lines, form curves, and input measurements. Other programs can put designs through virtual simulations to test their integrity (or soundness in construction), efficiency, and effectiveness.
It is common for an experienced designer to take the lead on projects to create scale models or prototypes from plans or blueprints. With the help of engineering technicians and assistants, designers carefully follow plans and computer models to fabricate actual machinery, equipment, products, or models of buildings. Engineers put their models through physical tests to determine their practicality.
It is important for design engineers to thoroughly understand the machines or structures they draw. For example, a mechanical designer who works for a consumer electronics manufacturer may be asked to formulate schematics for a new television. In order to accurately organize and draw the internal parts, the designer must know what each piece does and how it fits into the system as a whole. The mechanical designer must also be familiar with the principles of electrical currents and how they are distributed through coils, wires, and transformers. By conceptualizing the finished product, the design engineer can create reliable plans.