Table 1Transition record

mechanical engineertoindustrial tool design engineer

A mechanical engineer already meets 49% of what the industrial tool design engineer role asks for. The move turns on 12 required skills not yet in the profile.

From mechanical engineer

49%

Overlap1

To industrial tool design engineer

20 Skills carried over

12 Required, not held

55.3 Difficulty2

adjacent 0–30

moderate 30–55

substantial 55–75

career change 75–100

this move, 55.3

This move: 55.3 of 100 · substantial

1 Share of the industrial tool design engineer role’s weighted skill requirement already met by the mechanical engineer profile. Required skills count in full, supplementary skills at 0.35. Directional: the figure for the reverse move differs. 2 Combines what is missing with how specialised it is, so a gap of general skills scores easier than the same number of narrow ones.

Table 2

Table 2 · What you already bring

Of the 20 skills that carry over, these are the ones fewest other occupations ask for. A industrial tool design engineer role needs them, and most people applying for one will not have them already. This is the part of a mechanical engineer background worth leading with.

Skill the target role also needs Area

already held determine production capacity information skills
already held define part requirements information skills
already held create a product's virtual model communication, collaboration and creativity
already held industrial engineering engineering, manufacturing and construction
already held material mechanics engineering, manufacturing and construction
already held 3D modelling natural sciences, mathematics and statistics

All 20 carried skills, including the 12 the industrial tool design engineer role treats as required.

Table 3

Table 3 · What you would need to learn

The 22 missing skills fall into 9 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, numbered below in the order worth working in: the areas carrying the most required skills come first, and inside each one the required skills sit above the supplementary ones.

Skill to acquire Tier

01 communication, collaboration and creativity 3 required, 1 supplementary

required, not held identify customer's needs required
required, not held create solutions to problems required
required, not held troubleshoot required

optional, not held advise on safety improvements optional

02 engineering, manufacturing and construction 3 required, 1 supplementary

required, not held industrial tools required
required, not held manufacturing processes required
required, not held production processes required

optional, not held reverse engineering optional

03 working with computers 2 required, 1 supplementary

required, not held use CAD software required
required, not held use specialised design software required

optional, not held use computer-aided engineering systems optional

04 information skills 1 required, 4 supplementary

required, not held execute feasibility study required

optional, not held determine production feasibility optional
optional, not held estimate duration of work optional
optional, not held monitor production developments optional
optional, not held provide cost benefit analysis reports optional

05 constructing 1 required, 1 supplementary

required, not held inspect industrial equipment required

optional, not held maintain industrial equipment optional

06 information and communication technologies (icts) 1 required

required, not held CAD software required

3 further areas in the appendix

Table 4

Table 4 · Where to start

The 3 entries a industrial tool design engineer role is least likely to hire without. The ordering is computed from the skill data, not from what pays.

Each entry opens a course search for that skill. Career Overlap earns nothing from these links.

Appendix

Appendix · The rest of the record

All 20 skills that carry over

Skill Type

already held adjust engineering designs skill
already held approve engineering design skill
already held define part requirements skill
already held design drawings knowledge
already held design prototypes skill
already held industrial engineering knowledge
already held mechanical engineering knowledge
already held mechanics knowledge
already held perform scientific research skill
already held read engineering drawings skill
already held technical drawings knowledge
already held use technical drawing software skill
already held 3D modelling knowledge
already held advise on machinery malfunctions skill
already held create a product's virtual model skill
already held determine production capacity skill
already held engineering principles knowledge
already held engineering processes knowledge
already held manage supplies skill
already held material mechanics knowledge

The 3 learning areas not shown above

Skill to acquire Tier

07 natural sciences, mathematics and statistics 1 required

required, not held mathematics required

08 handling and moving 1 supplementary

optional, not held build a product's physical model optional

09 management skills 1 supplementary

optional, not held plan manufacturing processes optional

10 supplementary skills, helpful but not required

Skill to acquire Tier

optional, not held advise on safety improvements optional
optional, not held build a product's physical model optional
optional, not held determine production feasibility optional
optional, not held estimate duration of work optional
optional, not held maintain industrial equipment optional
optional, not held monitor production developments optional
optional, not held plan manufacturing processes optional
optional, not held provide cost benefit analysis reports optional
optional, not held reverse engineering optional
optional, not held use computer-aided engineering systems optional

72 held skills the industrial tool design engineer role does not ask for

Skill Type

not needed by the target role CAE software knowledge
not needed by the target role aerodynamics knowledge
not needed by the target role aircraft mechanics knowledge
not needed by the target role assess financial viability skill
not needed by the target role automation technology knowledge
not needed by the target role automotive engineering skill
not needed by the target role blueprints knowledge
not needed by the target role build machines skill
not needed by the target role building automation knowledge
not needed by the target role calibrate mechatronic instruments skill
not needed by the target role combined heat and power generation knowledge
not needed by the target role computer simulation knowledge
not needed by the target role continuum mechanics knowledge
not needed by the target role coordinate engineering teams skill
not needed by the target role create technical plans skill
not needed by the target role define technical requirements skill
not needed by the target role design a domotic system in buildings skill
not needed by the target role design a solar absorption cooling system skill
not needed by the target role design automation components skill
not needed by the target role design engineering components skill
not needed by the target role design heating and cooling emission systems skill
not needed by the target role design principles knowledge
not needed by the target role develop mechatronic test procedures skill
not needed by the target role disassemble engines skill
not needed by the target role draft design specifications skill
not needed by the target role electric current knowledge
not needed by the target role electromechanics knowledge
not needed by the target role environmental legislation knowledge
not needed by the target role evaluate engine performance skill
not needed by the target role execute analytical mathematical calculations skill
not needed by the target role fluid mechanics knowledge
not needed by the target role gather technical information skill
not needed by the target role hydraulics knowledge
not needed by the target role inspect engine rooms skill
not needed by the target role install automation components skill
not needed by the target role install mechatronic equipment skill
not needed by the target role instruct on energy saving technologies skill
not needed by the target role integrated design knowledge
not needed by the target role keep up with digital transformation of industrial processes skill
not needed by the target role maintain electrical equipment skill

32 further entries not listed here

6 gaps that are knowledge rather than practice

Knowledge gaps usually close through study. Practical skill gaps usually need something you can point at.

Skill to acquire Tier

required, not held industrial tools required
required, not held CAD software required
required, not held manufacturing processes required
required, not held mathematics required
required, not held production processes required
optional, not held reverse engineering optional

Index

Other moves recorded from mechanical engineer

Full index of moves from mechanical engineer

Note

How this record was compiled

Both occupations are taken from ESCO, which lists the skills and knowledge each occupation is expected to have and marks every one required or optional. Nothing here is a prediction about hiring, and nothing here knows that a particular employer wants a particular certificate. Treat Table 3 as a starting point for your own research rather than a syllabus. The full method states what these figures can and cannot tell you.