Where a research engineer can go next
5 destinations recorded, ranked by how much of the target role a research engineer already meets. The closer to the top of Table 1, the less there is to learn.
Research engineers combine research skills and knowledge of engineering principles to assist in the development or design of new products and technology. They also improve existing technical processes, machines and systems and create new, innovative technologies. The duties of research engineers depend on the branch of engineering and the industry in which they work. Research engineers generally work in an office or laboratory, analysing processes and conducting experiments.
Also known as engineering scientist, agricultural research engineer, engineering analyst, engineer researcher, bionic engineer, engineering researcher, engineering research analyst, engineering scholar, engineering science researcher, engineering research scientist.
Professionals 37 skills on file 5 career moves 0 above 60% overlap Closest: process engineer, 57%
- 70% and above · short step
- 50 to 70% · real move
- Below 50% · substantial retraining
Table 2 · A bigger jump
Possible, but expect real retraining rather than a sideways step.
Table 3 · What the job itself asks for
A research engineer needs 14 required skills and areas of knowledge. These 10 are the ones fewest other jobs share, so they say the most about the work.
- interpret technical requirements information skills
- industrial research and development engineering, manufacturing and construction
- manage engineering project management skills
- gather experimental data information skills
- execute feasibility study information skills
- define technical requirements management skills
- collect samples for analysis handling and moving
- project management business, administration and law
- use technical drawing software working with computers
- technical drawings engineering, manufacturing and construction
Table 4 · Jobs that lead here
The reverse view: occupations whose skills already cover much of what a research engineer does. The figure is how much of this job each one brings.
- process engineer 58% covered · difficulty 43.2
- precision engineer 47% covered · difficulty 52.5
- contract engineer 42% covered · difficulty 56.5
- language engineer 41% covered · difficulty 57.8
- logistics engineer 41% covered · difficulty 57.8
- environmental engineer 37% covered · difficulty 61.7
- installation engineer 32% covered · difficulty 65.4
- engineering assistant 26% covered · difficulty 70.2
- research manager 18% covered · difficulty 76.3
Look up another occupation
Research engineer is filed under Professionals, ISCO major group 2. The full index lists all ten groups.
How these figures were compiled
Overlap is how much of the target role is already part of a research engineer’s work. It is directional: the figure for the reverse move differs. Every entry above opens the full comparison for that move: what carries over, what is missing, and where to start. The full method.