All about the profession design engineer

Design Engineer - a profession is very complex, but very interesting. For several hundred years, specialists in this field have been developing and designing buildings, various structures and many other benefits of civilization. It is enough to go out and look around to see how small towns and large cities are transformed with their help. Houses are growing, communication is increasing, roads are changing. And this is only a small part of what the specialists of this profession are doing.

According to historical information, the very first designers appeared in ancient Egypt. Scientific researchers have been able to find a lot of evidence for this fact. For example, Egyptian water supply. When studying it, modern technical experts were surprised how perfect the system turned out to be.

Today, the profession of design engineer is the most sought after. Specialists in this field are found in various fields, but their association most often occurs with architects. Among employers looking for a highly qualified designer in their staff, developers of drawings, building plans, various structures and utilities are in great demand.

The areas of this specialty include not only developers of communication projects. They also include developers of construction sites, highways, HVAC (heating ventilation and air conditioning), ACS (automated control system).

The characteristic of the profession includes important advantages.

• Demand. In the labor market, the profession of designer is popular. Especially if these are highly qualified specialists who have repeatedly proved themselves in the professional field.
• Wage. Even a novice design engineer gets a decent salary. There is nothing surprising. On his shoulders lies the design, development, verification. But most importantly, he bears a huge responsibility for his work. And this applies not only to administrative, but also to criminal law.
• Workplaces. The design engineer does not need to constantly go to construction sites and monitor the work process as technical supervision. Yes, you have to do trips, but most of the working time is spent in the office at the computer in a relaxed atmosphere.

Despite such significant advantages of this profession, there are some disadvantages.

• Routine. Every day the designer, until the finished work object is over, has to work out all its nuances. Check in detail every millimeter of the plan.
• Records management. Every day, the design engineer must fill out a huge number of working documents, which must be signed by management and the customer.

Often, managers try to exploit the designer by assigning tasks that do not correspond to his job responsibilities. To prevent this from happening, the specialist must know the ECTS - a single qualification guide for the positions of managers, specialists and other employees. It reflects the professional standard of the position, a detailed description of the profession is indicated, the duties of the leading specialist and design engineer of 1.2 or 3 categories are presented.

A complete list of duties of a design engineer can be found in the job description, which is attached to the employment contract. It specifically signs what major and minor tasks a specialist should perform. What functions are assigned to his shoulders.

• Collection of data regarding the object taken into work. Analysis and evaluation of the information found. Verification of technical specifics.
• Development and design of the general plan or individual parts of the project according to the provided parameters.
• Conducting reconstruction or repair work in existing facilities. Making functional changes to finished projects.
• Development of construction plans residential and industrial premises, as well as infrastructure elements.
• Drawing up reports and maintenance of technical documentation. Their subsequent verification. If necessary, the design engineer deals with the coordination of certain nuances with auxiliary services.
• Conducting a thorough check compliance with safety standards.
• Discussion with the customer of the nuances of the project, as well as obtaining consent in the form of a signature on documents from customers, contractors and regulatory authorities.
• The introduction of innovative technologies in the design process.
• Data Assessment in terms of technology and economic component.
• Careful control over the implementation of ideas and adjustments made to the developed drawings. Subsequent evaluation of the finished result.

However, in different organizations, the responsibilities of a design engineer may have some differences.In this case, we are talking about additional reporting and the ability to replace another employee in force majeure circumstances.

Any company that accepts a design engineer in its staff will consider applicants with only a higher education. In this matter, to deceive the leader is very difficult. Even during the interview, when the applicant will be asked questions regarding professional knowledge, it will become clear how competent the candidate is. When considering applicants, special attention is paid to professional skills. A highly qualified specialist should have a deep knowledge in the field of technologies and organizational aspects of production. He is required to possess mathematical, economic and analytical knowledge.

The design engineer must know the rules of business etiquette to maintain a conversation and negotiate with customers. To be able to find a common language with them and pick a key to them. The designer must have the skills to maintain working documentation. Know the rules for the preparation of acts, various statements, estimates. Be able to develop effective financing schedules. A highly qualified specialist should be able to quickly resolve technical issues. Understand design documentation. Be able to draw up acts of violations committed in the process. The design engineer must know the regulatory documents and the guests.

Modern designers require excellent computer knowledge, since all work is enclosed in special programs. Also, a specialist must have knowledge of the English language, because most of the documentation on reconstructed and under construction objects is made in a foreign language. In addition, a design engineer must immediately respond to unusual situations, be able to make quick and correct decisions. He is required to be present at the interview with candidates who will work under his supervision.

In addition to professional skills, a design engineer must possess a number of personal qualities that will help him in fruitful work. And this is not surprising, because not a dozen people are subordinate to engineers. Accordingly, he must be able to work in a team, properly manage the team and put the work on the flow in order to avoid force majeure situations. However, the ability to find a common language with people and have managerial abilities - only part of the personal qualities that an engineer-designer is required to possess.

• Discipline. Based only on a personal example, one can demand discipline from subordinates.
• Mindfulness. In this case, the issue relates to the maintenance of working documentation, budgeting, plans and drawings.
• Responsibility. A highly qualified design engineer is responsible for his work not only on paper, but also under the law.
• Result oriented. This characteristic indicates that the specialist is achieving his goal on time.
• High ability to learn. In these words, the engineer reports that at any time he is ready to undergo retraining or improve his qualifications.
• Great memory.
• Positive attitude to the exact sciences.
• Equilibrium. It is this personal characteristic that indicates that a specialist is able to smooth out sharp corners in working with a customer, subordinates, and immediate supervisor.

In the job description of each technical specialist there is a paragraph "responsibility".

• The design engineer is responsible for non-performance or improper performance of duties. In such a situation, the specialist receives a punishment in accordance with the employment contract and the law.
• For legal violations committed in the course of employment, a design engineer may incur administrative, criminal or civil liability.
• Also design engineer responsible for material damage criminal or civil law.
• Specialist of such a significant profession responsible for disclosing company trade secrets or the enterprise where he works or worked previously.

Becoming a design engineer is easy. The main thing is not to skip classes, but to fully immerse yourself in study. Without a higher education, it is impossible to get such a significant position even in a small organization.

A graduate of the school can get into the engineering university of Russia, having high scores of the unified state exam in mathematics, the Russian language, physics and drawing. The duration of studies in a higher educational institution is 4-4.5 years. In this case, we are talking about the first higher education. After the student receives a diploma of graduation, he needs to get a license. To do this, the young specialist must join the SRO and get the appropriate clearance. Only after this admission, a young specialist is added to the national register of designers, which allows him to begin direct work.

Professionals who have received a diploma from a construction institute, architectural university or other educational institution of a technical direction do not need to undergo retraining and receive a second higher engineering education. It is enough to apply for specialized courses and upon graduation to receive documents confirming professional training. It is worth noting that at the end of the courses you will have to take an exam reminiscent of the exam. Further, specialists also need to undergo licensing, the principle of which is described above.

As you know, the professional activity of design engineers does not stand still. Accordingly, a young specialist who has graduated from an educational institution must constantly read certain literature and draw on more and more new knowledge.

The design engineer devotes the lion's share of working time to the development of drawings, the preparation of plans, the preparation of working documentation. In the recent past, this was done in special offices. However, today most of the working manipulations are carried out on a computer. For this reason, designers are allowed to equip the workplace according to personal preferences. The main thing is for the specialist to be comfortable. It is extremely rare for the designer to leave the workplace and go to construction sites. As a rule, this is done for the sake of checking the finished work, as well as for meetings with the customer.

As for wages. Many are used to the fact that the salary depends on the competence of the employee. However, in engineering, everything looks different. Young specialists who are just starting their career growth earn 20-35 thousand rubles a month. Similar salaries for employees who are assistants or assistants to engineers. Specialists who already have a short experience, on average receive 50-60 thousand rubles. Experts in the engineering field earn 70-85 thousand rubles. Persons holding a leadership position in the technical department receive 100 thousand rubles. and higher. For each successful project, all specialists who took even a minimal part in the work receive a large bonus award. However, a self-regulatory organization has the right to set a salary according to the staffing table in a higher rate.

The average salary of specialists in other engineering areas differs little:

• road designer - 45-60 thousand rubles;
• engineer of water supply and sanitation systems - 40-50 thousand rubles;
• Refrigeration equipment engineer - 60-70 thousand rubles;
• designer of engineering networks - 50-70 thousand rubles;
• Design engineer of heating, ventilation and air conditioning of buildings and structures - 60-80 thousand rubles;
• TGV (heat supply, gas supply and ventilation) - 70-85 thousand rubles;
• STB (installer of power supply systems) 50-70 thousand rubles.