What impact could you make?
The potential for an engineer is massive. You can take it wherever you want to go.AndyHead of Tech Development and Digitalisation, Booth Welsh
Engineering and manufacturing at a glance
There are lots of exciting opportunities, from aerospace and pharmaceuticals to food and fast-moving consumer goods production. It’s a global industry, so an engineering and manufacturing career can take you all across the world.
Employment
As of October 2025, there are around 118,300 people working in engineering across Scotland. Engineering skills are in high demand in offshore wind, hydrogen and transport.
Future demand
Between 2025 and 2028, it's expected there will be 5,800 people needed to fill job openings in Scotland.
Job diversity
There are engineering opportunities across all of Scotland. In 2025, the areas with the biggest proportion of engineers were Aberdeenshire, Aberdeen City, South Ayrshire and Angus.
Career insights from industry professionals
Design the future
We’ve pulled out some engineering job profiles for you to explore.
Machine learning engineer
Marine engineer
Rail engineering technician
Robotics engineer
Electrical engineering technician
Aerospace engineer
Mechanical engineer
Solar design engineer
Things you may not know about engineering and manufacturing
Glasgow builds more satellites than anywhere else in Europe.
Many successful entrepreneurs and inventors, such as James Dyson and Mary Jackson, were engineers – creating tech we can’t imagine living without!
Source: The IET – inspiring engineers
Scottish spaceport SaxaVord in Shetland is the first fully-licensed vertical launch Spaceport in Europe.
Source: SaxaVord
What subjects you could take in school
We've pulled together some examples of subjects and Foundation Apprenticeships (FAs) that could be useful for getting into an engineering and manufacturing career.
English
Engineering FA
Maths
Computing
Design and Manufacture
Science
Physics
Design
Civil Engineering FA
IT Software Development FA
Leaders in engineering and manufacturing
Discover some of the organisations within Scottish engineering and manufacturing and how they’re making an impact on the industry.
Scottish Engineering
Scottish Engineering connects businesses and individuals to the resources they need to meet their goals.
Visit Scottish Engineering
Aerospace, Defence, Security and Space Scotland
Aerospace, Defence, Security and Space Scotland (ADS) represents and supports more than 1,100 engineering-based businesses.
Visit ADS
Space Scotland
Find out all the latest news within Scotland's ever-growing space industry.
Visit Space Scotland
Equate Scotland - Women in Science, Engineering and Technology
Equate Scotland makes a positive difference for women working in, entering or studying STEM and can help you get started.
Visit Equate Scotland
The Institute of Engineering and Technology - Career and learning
The Institute of Engineering and Technology (IET) provides tools and resources to help any stage of your career in engineering and technology.
Visit the IET
Enginuity role explorer
A large, data-driven library of job roles, work activities, and skills that help you understand common skills and work activities in the engineering and manufacturing sector.
Visit Enginuity