What skills does a precision engineer need?

A precision engineer needs 14 essential skills including engineering principles, precision engineering, precision mechanics, technical drawings, project management. Core competencies include .

Will AI replace precision engineer jobs?

The AI disruption score for precision engineer is 33/100 (low risk). Some tasks may be automated but the role will evolve rather than disappear entirely.

Science & ResearchScience and engineering professionalsISCO 2144

precision engineer

Precision engineers design processes, machines, fixtures and other equipment that have exceptionally low engineering tolerances, are repeatable and stable over time. They ensure prototypes are built and tested and make sure the designs meet system specifications and operational requirements.

European Skills Framework

Skills and knowledge areas required for this occupation based on European classification.

Essential (14)

engineering principlesengineering principlesThe engineering elements like functionality, replicability, and costs in relation to the design and how they are applied in the completion of engineering projects.precision engineeringprecision engineeringEngineering discipline related to the fields of electrical engineering, electronics engineering, software engineering, optical engineering, and mechanical engineering that deals with the development o...precision mechanicsprecision mechanicsPrecision or fine mechanics is a subdiscipline in engineering that focuses on the design and development of smaller precision machines.technical drawingstechnical drawingsDrawing software and the various symbols, perspectives, units of measurement, notation systems, visual styles and page layouts used in technical drawings.project managementproject managementThe discipline of project management, the activities which comprise this area and the variables implied in it, such as time, resources, requirements, deadlines, and responding to unexpected events.perform scientific researchperform scientific researchGain, correct or improve knowledge about phenomena by using scientific methods and techniques, based on empirical or measurable observations.use technical drawing softwareuse technical drawing softwareCreate technical designs and technical drawings using specialised software.calibrate precision instrumentcalibrate precision instrumentExamine the precision instruments and assess whether the instrument meets the quality standards and production specifications. Correct and adjust the reliability by measuring output and comparing resu...manage engineering projectmanage engineering projectManage engineering project resources, budget, deadlines, and human resources, and plan schedules as well as any technical activities pertinent to the project.define part requirementsdefine part requirementsCalculate and determine the functional, physical, structural, geometrical and size dimensions for the parts necessary to create machines or equipment.interpret technical requirementsinterpret technical requirementsAnalyse, understand and apply the information provided regarding technical conditions.design microelectromechanical systemsdesign microelectromechanical systemsDesign and develop microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), such as microsensing devices. Make a model and a simulation using technical design software to assess the viability of the product and examine...define technical requirementsdefine technical requirementsSpecify technical properties of goods, materials, methods, processes, services, systems, software and functionalities by identifying and responding to the particular needs that are to be satisfied acc...design scientific equipmentdesign scientific equipmentDesign new equipment or adapt existing equipment to aid scientists in gathering and analysing data and samples.

Optional (21)

electrical engineeringelectrical engineeringThe field of engineering that deals with the study and application of electricity, electronics, and electromagnetism.design principlesdesign principlesThe elements used in design such as unity, scale, proportion, balance, symmetry, space, form, texture, colour, light, shade and congruence and their application into practice.electronicselectronicsThe functioning of electronic circuit boards, processors, chips, and computer hardware and software, including programming and applications.mechanical engineeringmechanical engineeringDiscipline that applies principles of physics, engineering and materials science to design, analyse, manufacture and maintain mechanical systems.industrial engineeringindustrial engineeringThe field of engineering concerned with the development, improvement, and implementation of complex processes and systems of knowledge, people, equipment, etc.mechatronicsmechatronicsMultidisciplinary field of engineering that combines principles of electrical engineering, telecommunications engineering, control engineering, computer engineering, and mechanical engineering in the ...product data managementproduct data managementThe use of software to track all information concerning a product such as technical specifications, drawings, design specifications, and production costs.record test datarecord test dataRecord data which has been identified specifically during preceding tests in order to verify that outputs of the test produce specific results or to review the reaction of the subject under exceptiona...operate precision measuring equipmentoperate precision measuring equipmentMeasure the size of a processed part when checking and marking it to check if it is up to standard by use of two and three dimensional precision measuring equipment such as a caliper, a micrometer, an...perform test runperform test runPerform tests putting a system, machine, tool or other equipment through a series of actions under actual operating conditions in order to assess its reliability and suitability to realise its tasks, ...apply advanced manufacturingapply advanced manufacturingImprove production rates, efficiencies, yields, costs, and changeovers of products and processes using relevant advanced, innovative, and cutting edge technology.analyse stress resistance of productsanalyse stress resistance of productsAnalyse the ability of products to endure stress imposed by temperature, loads, motion, vibration and other factors, by using mathematical formulas and computer simulations.use testing equipmentuse testing equipmentUse equipment to test performance and operation of machinery.analyse test dataanalyse test dataInterpret and analyse data collected during testing in order to formulate conclusions, new insights or solutions.maintain test equipmentmaintain test equipmentMaintain equipment used for testing the quality of systems and products.draft design specificationsdraft design specificationsList the design specifications such as materials and parts to be used and a cost estimate.use CAD softwareuse CAD softwareUse computer-aided design (CAD) systems to assist in the creation, modification, analysis, or optimisation of a design.design prototypesdesign prototypesDesign prototypes of products or components of products by applying design and engineering principles.conduct performance testsconduct performance testsConduct experimental, environmental and operational tests on models, prototypes or on the systems and equipment itself in order to test their strength and capabilities under normal and extreme conditi...operate precision machineryoperate precision machineryOperate machinery used for the making of small systems or components with a high level of precision.develop test proceduresdevelop test proceduresDevelop testing protocols to enable a variety of analyses of products, systems, and components.