research engineertoprecision engineer
A research engineer already meets 46% of what the precision engineer role asks for. The move turns on 6 required skills not yet in the profile.
46%
53.6/ 100
1 Share of the precision engineer role’s weighted skill requirement already met by the research 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.
Why this move works
A precision engineer role treats 9 of its required skills as things a research engineer already does. These are the ones it depends on most.
- define technical requirements
- engineering principles
- engineering processes
- interpret technical requirements
- manage engineering project
- perform scientific research
What stands in the way is 6 required skills the profile does not yet cover. Table 3 groups them; Table 4 says which to take first.
Table 2 · What you already bring
Of the 13 skills that carry over, these are the ones fewest other occupations ask for. A precision engineer role needs them, and most people applying for one will not have them already. This is the part of a research engineer background worth leading with.
- already held apply advanced manufacturing management skills
- already held develop test procedures management skills
- already held interpret technical requirements information skills
- already held manage engineering project management skills
- already held industrial engineering engineering, manufacturing and construction
- already held define technical requirements management skills
All 13 carried skills, including the 9 the precision engineer role treats as required.
Table 3 · What you would need to learn
The 24 missing skills fall into 8 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.
- required, not held precision engineering required
- required, not held precision mechanics required
- optional, not held mechanical engineering optional
- optional, not held electrical engineering optional
- optional, not held electronics optional
- optional, not held mechatronics optional
- required, not held design microelectromechanical systems required
- required, not held design scientific equipment required
- optional, not held design prototypes optional
- optional, not held draft design specifications optional
- required, not held define part requirements required
- optional, not held analyse stress resistance of products optional
- optional, not held analyse test data optional
- optional, not held record test data optional
- required, not held calibrate precision instrument required
- optional, not held operate precision machinery optional
- optional, not held operate precision measuring equipment optional
- optional, not held use testing equipment optional
- optional, not held conduct performance tests optional
- optional, not held maintain test equipment optional
- optional, not held perform test run optional
- optional, not held design principles optional
2 further areas in the appendix
Table 4 · Where to start
The 3 entries a precision engineer role is least likely to hire without. The ordering is computed from the skill data, not from what pays.
- 01 define part requirements skill · sector specific
- 02 calibrate precision instrument skill · cross sector
- 03 design microelectromechanical systems skill · cross sector
Each entry opens a course search for that skill. Career Overlap earns nothing from these links.
Appendix · The rest of the record
All 13 skills that carry over
- already held define technical requirements skill
- already held engineering principles knowledge
- already held engineering processes knowledge
- already held interpret technical requirements skill
- already held manage engineering project skill
- already held perform scientific research skill
- already held project management knowledge
- already held technical drawings knowledge
- already held use technical drawing software skill
- already held apply advanced manufacturing skill
- already held develop test procedures skill
- already held industrial engineering knowledge
- already held use CAD software skill
The 2 learning areas not shown above
- optional, not held product data management optional
- optional, not held manage product testing optional
18 supplementary skills, helpful but not required
- optional, not held mechanical engineering optional
- optional, not held analyse stress resistance of products optional
- optional, not held analyse test data optional
- optional, not held conduct performance tests optional
- optional, not held design principles optional
- optional, not held design prototypes optional
- optional, not held draft design specifications optional
- optional, not held electrical engineering optional
- optional, not held electronics optional
- optional, not held maintain test equipment optional
- optional, not held manage product testing optional
- optional, not held mechatronics optional
- optional, not held operate precision machinery optional
- optional, not held operate precision measuring equipment optional
- optional, not held perform test run optional
- optional, not held product data management optional
- optional, not held record test data optional
- optional, not held use testing equipment optional
24 held skills the precision engineer role does not ask for
- not needed by the target role CAD software knowledge
- not needed by the target role adjust engineering designs skill
- not needed by the target role apply safety procedures in laboratory skill
- not needed by the target role assist scientific research skill
- not needed by the target role battery design knowledge
- not needed by the target role bioeconomy knowledge
- not needed by the target role cognitive computing knowledge
- not needed by the target role collect samples for analysis skill
- not needed by the target role computational mechanics knowledge
- not needed by the target role conduct experiments on animals skill
- not needed by the target role execute feasibility study skill
- not needed by the target role gather experimental data skill
- not needed by the target role industrial research and development knowledge
- not needed by the target role laboratory techniques knowledge
- not needed by the target role materials engineering knowledge
- not needed by the target role perform laboratory tests skill
- not needed by the target role perform project management skill
- not needed by the target role physics knowledge
- not needed by the target role run laboratory simulations skill
- not needed by the target role scientific literature knowledge
- not needed by the target role scientific research methodology knowledge
- not needed by the target role use mathematical tools and equipment skill
- not needed by the target role use non-destructive testing equipment skill
- not needed by the target role write manuals skill
8 gaps that are knowledge rather than practice
Knowledge gaps usually close through study. Practical skill gaps usually need something you can point at.
- required, not held precision engineering required
- required, not held precision mechanics required
- optional, not held mechanical engineering optional
- optional, not held design principles optional
- optional, not held electrical engineering optional
- optional, not held electronics optional
- optional, not held mechatronics optional
- optional, not held product data management optional
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.