Career change as a mechanical engineer
With your experience you can switch to 8 jobs in Germany: 6 with on-the-job training and 2 with training or a course.
In the job search you can sort by what matters to you, save jobs and see where they lead.
Career change paths
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Management consultant for production
Also: Lean consultant
With on-the-job training
At a consultancy, you improve production, supply chains and development processes for industrial clients.
- What you bring:
- You know design, manufacturing and cost structures in industry and can combine technical and business questions.
- How to get there:
- Consultancies that focus on industry hire engineers with work experience directly, and you learn methods such as lean or Six Sigma in training courses lasting a few days to a few weeks. Expect a lot of travel to clients.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with people€6,768gross per monthMedian salary
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Vehicle expert appraiser
Also: Expert appraiser for machinery and equipment
With on-the-job training
As an expert appraiser, you assess accident damage to vehicles, or damage to and values of machinery and equipment, for insurers, courts and companies.
- What you bring:
- You understand mechanics, materials and damage patterns and can explain causes technically.
- How to get there:
- Expert appraiser organizations and appraisal offices train mechanical engineers over a few months, often with courses on damage calculation. For periodic vehicle inspections as an officially recognized expert (amtlich anerkannter Sachverständiger), a separate, legally regulated training applies. 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€4,431gross per monthMedian salary
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Sales engineer
Also: Key account manager in mechanical engineering
With on-the-job training
In technical sales, you clarify requirements, prepare quotes and concepts and support projects through to commissioning.
- What you bring:
- You understand machines and plants technically and can advise customers on design as an equal.
- How to get there:
- Manufacturers and dealers hire mechanical engineers directly and train them in products and sales. Expect travel and sales targets; good English is often expected.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with people€6,758gross per monthMedian salary
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Head of design engineering
Also: Head of development
With on-the-job trainingPromotion
As head of design or development, you lead a team, are responsible for budgets and schedules and decide on technical concepts.
- What you bring:
- You have developed products, led projects and know how design, testing and manufacturing work together.
- How to get there:
- You usually make this step internally via a group or project lead role. Courses on leadership and project management help. A further qualification is not needed.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLittle customer contactIn an office -
Patent engineer
Also: Expert at a technical inspection organization
With on-the-job training
As a patent engineer, you research and assess inventions in companies; at an inspection organization, you inspect plants such as pressure vessels, elevators or machines according to regulations.
- What you bring:
- You can describe technical solutions precisely, distinguish them from each other and check them against rules.
- How to get there:
- Patent departments and inspection organizations hire engineers and train them in-house; as an inspector, this usually takes several months and includes internal exams. You only become a patent attorney through a separate training of several years.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically light€7,039gross 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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Teacher of metal technology at a vocational school
Also: Teacher at a vocational school through the alternative route (Seiteneinstieg)
With a degree
At vocational schools, you teach apprentices and future technicians in metal and vehicle technology.
- What you bring:
- You can explain engineering mechanics, design and manufacturing and know how things work in companies.
- How to get there:
- For metal technology, depending on the state, career changers with an engineering degree are admitted through the alternative route into teaching (Seiteneinstieg). You then teach and complete a preparatory service (Vorbereitungsdienst) or a qualification alongside work, usually lasting one to two years. The state decides whether a bachelor's degree is enough or a master's is needed, and which second subject is recognized.*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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Occupational safety specialist
Also: Safety engineer
With vocational training
As an occupational safety specialist, you advise companies on risk assessments, machine safety and accident prevention, either as an employee or as an external service provider.
- What you bring:
- You know machines, danger points and technical rules and can assess risks in companies.
- How to get there:
- You need the safety engineering expertise (sicherheitstechnische Fachkunde), which you gain in training at employers' liability insurance associations (Berufsgenossenschaften) or approved providers, usually lasting one to two years alongside work, with practical phases. As an engineer with at least two years of professional experience, you meet the entry requirements for this training.*Regulated by law (Occupational Safety Act (ASiG) § 7).
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically light€5,574gross per monthMedian salary
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.
Frequently asked questions
Which jobs can I do as a mechanical engineer without vocational training or retraining?
Without a new qualification, often with on-the-job training: Management consultant for production, Vehicle expert appraiser, Sales engineer, Head of design engineering, Patent engineer and PLM consultant.
Which retraining or further training suits me as a mechanical engineer?
With vocational training, retraining, further training or a course: Teacher of metal technology at a vocational school and Occupational safety specialist.
What promotion options do I have as a mechanical engineer?
Promotions include, for example: Head of design engineering.
Which of these jobs pay the most?
According to official statistics, the highest median full-time salaries are: Patent engineer (€7,039 gross per month), Management consultant for production (€6,768 gross per month) and Sales engineer (€6,758 gross per month). Half of employees earn more, half earn less; when you start it is often lower. Source: Federal Statistical Office of Germany (Destatis), April 2025. No guarantee of accuracy.
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