Mastering Your Design Engineer Interview: Real Questions You Need to Prepare | Engineer’s Interview

Here, you should explain your responsibilities as a design engineer, such as product development, working with CAD software, collaborating with teams, and ensuring quality and efficiency in designs. 

14. What type of machines are used in machining? 

Machines used include lathes, CNC (Computer Numerical Control) machines, milling machines, and drilling machines. These machines help shape, cut, and finish materials in manufacturing processes. 

15. What is the use of a lathe machine? 

A lathe machine rotates a workpiece against a cutting tool, shaping the material into a desired form by removing excess material. 

16. What are your favorite subjects in your career? 

This is an opportunity to talk about subjects that interest you, such as mechanical design, thermodynamics, or fluid mechanics, and how they align with the role of a design engineer. 

17. What are the design guidelines for plastics? 

Design guidelines for plastics include ensuring appropriate wall thickness, adding ribs for strength, and avoiding sharp corners to reduce stress concentrations. 

18. What are the types of projections used in technical drawings? 

The two primary types are first-angle projection (commonly used in Europe) and third-angle projection (used in the U.S.). These are methods to represent 3D objects on 2D surfaces. 

19. What is sketcher analysis in CATIA? 

Sketcher analysis in CATIA is used to check whether a sketch is fully constrained, meaning all dimensions and relationships between elements are defined. 

20. What are the different load conditions in car roof design? 

Common load conditions include static loads (such as the weight of the vehicle) and dynamic loads (caused by motion, wind resistance, and other forces acting on the roof structure). 

21. Are you more confident in plastic or sheet metal design? 

Here, you can express your preference based on your experience and highlight the projects you've worked on that demonstrate your expertise. 

22. What are the types of defects encountered in your work? 

Common defects in manufacturing include warping, shrinkage, cracking, and surface defects. These need to be identified and corrected during the design process. 

23. What are the types of gears? 

There are several types, including spur gears, helical gears, bevel gears, and worm gears. Each has specific applications depending on the torque and speed requirements. 

24. What is the exact function of a bevel gear? 

Bevel gears are used to transmit power between two intersecting shafts at different angles, commonly found in differential systems in vehicles. 

25. Which turbine is more efficient, horizontal or vertical axis? 

Horizontal axis wind turbines are generally more efficient due to better wind capture, but vertical axis turbines occupy less space and can operate in more variable wind conditions. 

26. What types of plastics are commonly used in industry? 

Common plastics include polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene), each chosen for their specific properties. 

27. What is the difference between thermoplastics and thermosets? 

Thermoplastics can be melted and reshaped, making them ideal for recycling. Thermosets, once hardened, cannot be remelted or reshaped. 

28. What is the purpose of GD&T? 

GD&T ensures that parts fit together as intended by providing precise tolerances. It helps reduce manufacturing errors and improves the functionality of assembled components. 

29. Why use GD&T over conventional dimensioning? 

GD&T offers more precise control over geometric tolerances, improving the assembly and function of complex parts compared to conventional dimensioning. 

30. What have you learned from Skill-Lync? 

You can describe how courses from Skill-Lync have enhanced your skills in areas like CAD software, product design, or specialized domains such as electric vehicles. 

31. Why are you transitioning from mechanical to the EV domain? 

This is an opportunity to explain your interest in sustainable technologies and how your mechanical engineering background aligns with the growing electric vehicle industry. 

32. Have you used GD&T in your drawings? 

Yes, you can describe specific projects where you’ve applied GD&T to ensure that parts meet precise dimensional tolerances and fit together correctly. 

33. How would you rate your CATIA skills out of five? 

Provide an honest self-assessment and highlight your experience with CATIA, mentioning specific projects and advanced functions you’ve worked with. 

34. What is your field of interest? 

This could be mechanical design, product development, or a specific focus like automotive or aerospace design. Align your interest with the job you're applying for. 

Conclusion 

Securing a role as a design engineer requires a blend of technical expertise and the ability to communicate that knowledge effectively during interviews.  

With these insights, you’ll be ready to tackle any challenge the interview process presents, bringing you one step closer to landing your ideal design engineer job. 

With Skill-Lync's Post Graduate Programs, you'll build a rock-solid foundation in all these critical concepts, making you interview-ready in no time. Plus, our Career Experts offer hands-on support through mock interviews, resume workshops, LinkedIn profile optimization, and much more! 

Sign up for a FREE course demo today, and let’s start your journey toward landing that dream job!