- design skills and knowledge
- maths skills
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- excellent verbal communication skills
- knowledge of engineering science and technology
- thinking and reasoning skills
- the ability to work well with others
- the ability to use your initiative
- ambition and a desire to succeed
- to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently
Your day-to-day tasks could include:
- using 2D or 3D software to produce sketches, schemes, models and detailed drawings
- checking that drawings meet quality and technical standards
- finding and fixing inaccuracies or mistakes
- communicating with engineers, designers and project staff
- reading and interpreting engineers' drawings
- doing mathematical calculations to work out angles, weights and costs
- keeping accurate records of different versions of your design work
You could work on a construction site or in an office.
With experience, you could register with the Engineering Council to get Engineering Technician (EngTech) status.
You could become a team or section leader, project manager or site manager. With further training, you could become a design or software engineer.
You could also work freelance.
You can find more details about working and training in computer-aided design through Go Construct and The Institution of Engineering Designers.
