Industrial engineer

Alternative job titles for this role

• Manufacturing engineer
• Mechanical engineer
• Process engineer
• Systems engineer

Introduction

Industrial and manufacturing engineering is about the combined art and science of designing, developing and managing the manufacture of quality products. The industrial and manufacturing engineering team are responsible for both manufacturing technology and management. They are constantly challenged to use both innovation and imagination to find better ways to make the products that we need such as MP3 players, mobile phones, cars, planes, food and pharmaceuticals. In fact almost everything we come across needs to be manufactured and behind everything we buy and use lies the talents of an industrial engineer.

What the job involves

• Design and develop the process that makes a product
• Strive to meet the challenges of producing high quality products at the fast pace that our society now demands.
• Design and develop processes and systems that improve quality and productivity in the manufacturing of a product
• Meet the stringent requirements of product health and safety
• Invent and design the tools for the machines used in the manufacturing process
• Design and ensure operation of robotic systems in a variety of industries, including the automotive and spacecraft sectors
• Measure the performance of materials and components

How your career can develop

With global demands for the faster delivery of new and exciting products, the demand for the industrial and manufacturing engineering graduate is very strong. They can enjoy a rewarding future in industrial and manufacturing engineering, with a wide variety of career paths to choose to from both locally and internationally.

Why industrial engineering matters

Irish engineers shine internationally. David O’Reilly of Chevron and Martin Naughton of Glen Dimplex , both engineers, are among the most successful business leaders to have emerged from Ireland. Analog Devices , one of the first multinationals to establish a significant presence in Ireland, now has a University of Limerick engineering graduate as president and chief executive.

Skills

• Aptitude for design
• Keen interest in technology and engineering
• Knowledge of physics
• Good maths skills
• Good problem-solving and analytical skills
• Planning and organisational ability
• Excellent IT skills
• The ability to manage projects, budgets and people
• Good spoken and written communication skills
• The ability to work as part of a team
• A clear understanding of the commercial application of science

Typical employers

• Household and industrial products manufacturers
• Manufacturers of industrial machinery
• Aviation and aerospace industries
• Telecommunications
• Pharmaceutical companies
• Electronics and robotics industries
• Engineering companies

Typical salary

Graduate/Starting €30,000

Senior/Potential €45,000+

Typical qualifications

Engineers who graduate after 2013 and wish to become chartered engineers will need to hold an accredited masters degree (level 9), or equivalent. Level 8 bachelor degrees will satisfy the requirements for Institution of Engineers Ireland membership only. Gateway degrees for the profession include:

• Electrical engineering
• Communications engineering
• Telecommunications engineering