Career change as an engineer

Career change paths

• Head of development

  Also: Team leader, research and development

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  As head of a development department, you steer teams, budgets and project portfolios.

  What you bring:

  You have professionally run development projects and know requirements, tests and approval.

  How to get there:

  You usually make this step internally after some years as a project or team leader. Leadership seminars and experience in project management help.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLittle customer contactIn an office

  €9,800gross per monthMedian salary

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• Construction project manager

  Also: Branch manager of a construction company

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  As a project or branch manager, you are responsible for several construction sites, staff and the financial result.

  What you bring:

  You have planned or led construction projects and know calculation, change orders and schedules.

  How to get there:

  You usually make this move within your company or by applying to larger construction companies, after some years of site management. Leadership seminars and knowledge of construction law and contract management help.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Fixed daytime hoursPhysically light

  €5,970gross per monthMedian salary

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• Sales engineer

  Also: Key account manager, technology

  With on-the-job training

  In technical sales, you clarify requirements, prepare quotes and support projects through to acceptance.

  What you bring:

  You understand technical products in detail and can advise customers as an equal.

  How to get there:

  Manufacturers give engineers product and sales training over a few weeks to a few months. Expect travel and sales targets.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with people

  €6,758gross per monthMedian salary

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• Technical management consultant

  Also: Lean manager

  With on-the-job training

  In consultancies or internal teams, you improve processes, costs and quality in companies.

  What you bring:

  You know development, manufacturing or energy technology and can combine technical and business questions.

  How to get there:

  Technical consultancies hire experienced engineers and train them in methods such as lean or project management. You can earn certificates for these in courses lasting a few days to a few weeks.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically light

  €6,768gross per monthMedian salary

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• Technical expert appraiser

  Also: Damage appraiser for machinery and equipment

  With on-the-job training

  As an expert appraiser, you assess damage to machinery, plants or energy systems for insurers, companies or courts.

  What you bring:

  You can analyze the causes of technical damage and write up your findings clearly.

  How to get there:

  Expert appraisal offices and insurers train experienced engineers in appraisal practice, and expert appraiser courses usually take a few weeks to a few months. You become publicly appointed and sworn in (öffentlich bestellt und vereidigt) after the chamber has examined your special expertise.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hours
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• Quality manager

  Also: Process engineer in manufacturing

  With on-the-job training

  In manufacturing, you ensure quality, improve processes and support audits at customers and suppliers.

  What you bring:

  You know test methods, standards and technical processes and like working in a structured way.

  How to get there:

  Industrial companies train engineers from different fields on the job in their manufacturing and quality systems. Courses to become a quality manager usually take a few weeks.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsPhysically light

  €5,017gross per monthMedian salary

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• PLM consultant

  Also: IT consultant for CAD systems

  With on-the-job training

  As a consultant for engineering software, you set up systems at industrial clients, adapt processes and train users.

  What you bring:

  You work every day with CAD, PLM and ERP systems and know what designers need from them.

  How to get there:

  Software companies and system integrators train mechanical engineers with vendor training lasting a few weeks. Programming skills are an advantage but not always required.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with people

  €5,568gross per monthMedian salary

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• Policy advisor in the road construction or building ministry

  Also: Engineer in the building supervision authority

  With on-the-job training

  In building supervision, road construction administration or ministries, you review projects, steer public construction projects and help develop regulations.

  What you bring:

  You can professionally assess building applications, structural analysis and plans, and you know building law from practice.

  How to get there:

  Building administrations look for civil engineers and hire them as employees under collective pay agreements (Tarif), in some cases also through a traineeship (Referendariat) in the higher technical service. Working hours are usually more predictable than in an office or construction company.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLittle customer contactIn an office

  €6,457gross per monthMedian salary

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• Traffic planner

  Also: Planner for cycling and mobility

  With on-the-job training

  In municipalities, transport associations or planning offices, you plan bike paths, junctions and mobility concepts.

  What you bring:

  You know road design, traffic engineering and construction processes and can think about planning and execution together.

  How to get there:

  Municipalities and planning offices train civil engineers who have a traffic focus in traffic planning and participation procedures. Without a traffic focus in your studies, further training lasting a few weeks helps.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightIn an office

  €6,354gross per monthMedian salary

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• Occupational safety specialist

  Also: Safety engineer

  With a degree

  As an occupational safety specialist, you advise companies, prepare risk assessments and train employees.

  What you bring:

  You can assess technical risks and know standards, inspections and plants from practice.

  How to get there:

  After your engineering degree and work experience, you gain the safety engineering expertise (sicherheitstechnische Fachkunde) in training at statutory accident insurance bodies or recognized providers, usually lasting one to two years alongside work. After that, you work as an employee in a company or at a service provider, or freelance.*Regulated by law (Occupational Safety Act (ASiG) § 7).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically light

  €5,574gross per monthMedian salary

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• Teacher of electrical or metal technology at a vocational school

  Also: Teacher at a technical school

  With a degree

  You teach apprentices and future technicians in theory and lab work.

  What you bring:

  You bring expertise from industry that you can pass on in technical subjects at vocational schools.

  How to get there:

  Depending on the state, engineers with a master's or Diplom degree are admitted through the alternative route into teaching (Seiteneinstieg), with a preparatory service (Vorbereitungsdienst) alongside work, usually lasting 18 to 24 months. Each state regulates which fields are recognized and whether a second subject is needed.*Regulated by law (State law: teacher education acts and alternative-route regulations of the German states).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursLittle customer contact

  €5,140gross per monthMedian salary

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• Trade supervisory officer (Gewerbeaufsichtsbeamter)

  Also: Supervisory officer at an employers' liability insurance association (Berufsgenossenschaft)

  With training or an exam

  In the trade supervisory office (Gewerbeaufsicht) or at an employers' liability insurance association (Berufsgenossenschaft), you inspect companies and advise them on occupational safety and plant safety.

  What you bring:

  You can assess plants, machines and working conditions technically.

  How to get there:

  Employers' liability insurance associations train engineers to become supervisory officers in a preparatory service that usually lasts about two years. The state trade supervisory offices hire engineers, in some cases through a preparatory service in the technical administrative service.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically light

  €4,842gross per monthMedian salary

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Salary: median of all full-time employees in the job, gross per month excluding special payments, as of April 2025. Half earn more, half earn less. Source: Federal Statistical Office of Germany (Destatis), table 62361-0030, license dl-de/by-2-0. Assigned to the jobs by quereinsteiger.de. No guarantee of accuracy.