Career Overview
Design, develop, test, and evaluate integrated systems for managing industrial production processes, including human work factors, quality control, inventory control, logistics and material flow, cost analysis, and production coordination.
Also Known As
- Engineer
- Industrial Engineer
- Process Engineer
- Project Engineer
Alternate Job Titles
- Continuous Improvement Engineer
- District Plant Engineer
- Documentation Engineer
- Efficiency Analyst
- Efficiency Engineer
- Efficiency Expert
- Engineer
- Engineering Inspector
- Facilities Engineer
- Factory Engineer
- Factory Expert
- Factory Lay Out Engineer
- Factory Lay-Out Engineer
- Field Engineer
- Industrial Engineer
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- Estimate production costs, cost saving methods, and the effects of product design changes on expenditures for management review, action, and control.
- Plan and establish sequence of operations to fabricate and assemble parts or products and to promote efficient utilization.
- Analyze statistical data and product specifications to determine standards and establish quality and reliability objectives of finished product.
- Confer with clients, vendors, staff, and management personnel regarding purchases, product and production specifications, manufacturing capabilities, or project status.
- Communicate with management and user personnel to develop production and design standards.
- Evaluate precision and accuracy of production and testing equipment and engineering drawings to formulate corrective action plan.
- Recommend methods for improving utilization of personnel, material, and utilities.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- Engineering and Technology
- Production and Processing
- Mechanical
- Design
- English Language
- Mathematics
- Computers and Electronics
Essential Skills
Success in this career requires strong skills in:
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Speaking
- Complex Problem Solving
- Writing
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Oral Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Written Expression
- Deductive Reasoning
- Inductive Reasoning
- Written Comprehension
- Problem Sensitivity
- Near Vision
- Information Ordering
- Selective Attention
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Attention to Detail
- Dependability
- Intellectual Curiosity
- Innovation
- Achievement Orientation
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Recognition
- Independence
- Achievement
- Working Conditions
- Support
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: Bachelor's Degree
Related Work Experience Needed: Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years
On-the-Job Training: Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year
Education Details: Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Experience Required: A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- Bentley MicroStation
- C++
- Dassault Systemes SolidWorks
- Extensible markup language XML
- GitHub
- JUnit
- Linux
- Microsoft Access
- Microsoft Excel
Tools & Equipment
- Anechoic auditory test chambers
- Anthropometers
- Audio amplifiers
- Audio equalizers
- Audio tape recorders
- Audiometers
- Camera controllers
- Computer servers
- Coordinate measuring machines CMM
- Digital cameras
- Electrogoniometers
- Electrophysics infrared cameras
- Environmental ovens
- Fast Fourier transform FFT spectrum analyzers
- Force plates
Work Environment
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Telephone Conversations
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
- Contact With Others
Salary & Job Market
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $70,000 |
| Median | $101,140 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | $157,140 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 350,230
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians
Education: Some College Courses
Median Salary: $64,790
Manufacturing Engineers
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $101,140
Industrial Production Managers
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $121,440
Validation Engineers
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $101,140
Mechanical Engineers
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $102,320
Is This Career Right for You?
Discover your perfect career match with our free comprehensive assessment! Get personalized recommendations based on your interests, skills, and values.
Take the Free Career Assessment →
Want Personalized Guidance?
For customized career recommendations, college selection strategies, and expert application support, explore the MehtA+ Admissions Consulting Program. We help students identify the right opportunities and navigate the path to achieving their academic and career goals.
Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.