The pathway
How you actually get there, here
How you become one varies far more by country than what one does. This is the UK route. Most people take one of these ways in; the right one depends on where you're starting from.
- 1
Graduate Engineering Scheme
1-2 yearsSkills to master
- Technical fundamentals, project management basics, cross-functional collaboration, presentation skills.
You're ready to move on when
- Successfully completed all rotations and projects with positive feedback.
- Demonstrated strong technical aptitude and problem-solving abilities.
- Expressed a clear interest in a client-facing technical role.
- 2
Technical Support Engineer
1-3 yearsSkills to master
- Deep product knowledge, troubleshooting, client communication (problem resolution), documentation.
You're ready to move on when
- Consistently resolved complex technical issues for clients.
- Developed a comprehensive understanding of our product's limitations and workarounds.
- Showed initiative in identifying recurring client problems that could be solved with new solutions.
- 3
Junior Field Service Engineer
2-4 yearsSkills to master
- On-site installation, maintenance, repair, direct client interaction in operational settings, practical application of products.
You're ready to move on when
- Successfully completed field installations and maintenance tasks independently.
- Developed strong hands-on product knowledge and troubleshooting skills.
- Enjoyed the client interaction aspect of the role and wanted more pre-sales involvement.