Bachelor of Engineering in Design and Manufacturing Engineering Careers
Key information
Employability skills from this degree: A wide range of employers are seeking graduates with these skills, and the skills are highly transferable across many industry sectors from biomedical devices to Tesla cars to agricultural products. Based on a recent survey, graduates of this programme are working in industries including Industrial Machinery Manufacturing, Medical Equipment Manufacturing, Design Services and Pharmaceutical Manufacturing. The current major employers include Stryker, Boston Scientific, Regeneron, Johnson & Johnson Vision & Modular Automation.
The year after graduating with this degree (This section will be amended by Cooperative Division).
This course is accredited by Engineers Ireland.
Follow-On Study
Students graduating from this degree can undertake the MEng in Mechatronics or many other masters programmes in other disciplines at UL. There are also lots of research opportunities to masters or doctorate level available in the areas of Design and Manufacture. UL has strong, funded research programmes in a number of manufacturing disciplines.
Job titles for graduates with this degree:
- Field Services Engineer
- Process Engineer
- Design Engineer
- Process Development Engineer
- Manufacturing Engineer
- Operational Specialist
- Mechanical Design Engineer
Student profiles
Cian Hogan
I chose Design and Manufacture Engineering as my elective for the Common Entry Engineering degree because it encompasses a good mix of the technical drawing and problem-solving skills I liked in school. Design and Manufacture Engineering is a great course for gaining practical knowledge about current practices and equipment used in the manufacturing industry today. Throughout the four years, I gained experience in many relevant areas for industry like how to effectively use CAD software SolidWorks, how to work with electrical and pneumatic systems and how modern manufacturing methods like 3D printing work. The combination of expert lecturers, enthusiastic classmates and interesting, industry relevant modules made the course feel relevant to life after university, but above all very enjoyable to me.
For my 8-month Co-op Placement in 3rd year, I was based in Modular Automation in Shannon, Co. Clare. Modular are a solutions partner to industry leading Med-Tech companies around the globe. While I was in Modular, I was given the opportunity to work on many projects by designing custom equipment from scratch, detailing drawings and then ordering these parts from vendors. While on Coop, I was able to use the skills I gained on my course to contribute to innovative design in industry. One benefit of the Co-op program in UL is that you gain 8 months industry experience while in university, which always helps with job opportunities after college. It also helps that the manufacturing industry in Ireland is booming now! My successful UL Coop period at Modular has led me right back to them now where I work as a Mechanical Design Engineer, all thanks to the skills I gained in my Design and Manufacture Degree.
Lisa Daly
When I was 17 I did not realise I wanted to become an engineer because I did not fully understand what engineers learnt in college or did in work. Due to this I had not chosen many Leaving Certificate subjects that were applicable to engineering but I did love Technical Graphics. I specifically chose Design and Manufacture Engineering because I wanted to learn how products are innovated, the design considerations and the practicalities of sustainable manufacturing. The modules in Design and Manufacture foster engaging group and individual project work, finishing with the FYP.
I chose the University of Limerick for the fantastic resources that they offer to students such as the maths learning centre, clubs and societies as well as the Co-op placement. I did my Co-op placement with Abbott Diagnostics. While I was on placement, I gained project management skills in a professional setting and applied the theoretical knowledge I learned from my degree like Solidworks, Lean Manufacturing and Operations Management. My Co-op with Abbott gave me a foundation in understanding manufacturing businesses as a whole. This foundation set me up well for Abbott's global rotational program where I have since worked in various roles from project engineer, operations supervisor and procurement specialist across Ireland, the United States and the Netherlands.
