It's not all oily rags and overalls – design engineering is a creative, fascinating job. Engineers spend their time solving problems – using their brains and their hands.

Jon's worked at Dyson for 11 years – his last project was the Dyson DC22, a compact but powerful vacuum cleaner. Jon is now working in Dyson's facility in Malaysia, where products are fine tuned and prepared for production.

"I discovered my love of designing and making when my grandfather showed me his workshop in his garden shed. He taught me how to use a lathe, and then I was hooked. I've been fascinated by the way things work ever since.

At school, I loved D&T because it was so different from trying to remember dates and formulae. The thing I love most about being a design engineer is the freedom to try out new ideas. You soon realise that you can learn as much from the failures as from the successes (and there are always more failures!). My proudest moments are seeing a product I've been working on in the shops and listening to customers and store staff talking about it. I find it very hard to resist getting drawn into their conversations."

Out of work, Jon enjoys climbing, cycling and travelling.

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Dan manages a Top Secret team of design engineers, working with Dyson's research teams to prove new ideas and technology that will be patented and developed into a future product.

"I've been interested in Design Technology for as long as I can remember. I like the opportunity to create something by applying my creativity, knowledge and practical skills. In the beginning though, it was all about having fun. It was after studying GCSE Design Communication I began to understand what Design Technology means and what I could do in that field.

When I was at university, I did a placement at Jones Garrard with the people who designed the Eurostar exterior. The opportunity to work on real projects with the talented people who had delivered such an iconic design really inspired me. It also made me think that maybe one day I could be responsible for the design of something as iconic."

When not researching top secret projects, Dan enjoys climbing, building fire poi and is learning Mandarin.

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At Dyson, it’s not just design engineers who help develop new projects. Tom is a senior scientist in the microbiology lab.

"The great thing about the job is that it is research based so we are constantly finding out new things and setting up experiments that have never been done before. Although I am based in the Research Design and Development Centre in Malmesbury, my work has a global aspect. Now that Dyson machines are sold all over the world, our research has to account for many different climates and cultures.

Almost every product you can think of has a hygiene angle these days, as the general public know so much more about the subject thanks to the media; this means I get to have an input on almost everything we do at Dyson, both during the research and development stage and then supporting our claims beyond launch. That can range from finding new ways to make sure our vacuum cleaners are suitable for allergy sufferers, to conducting experiments to look at the transfer of bacteria from damp skin.

We use a lot of specialist equipment in the lab. For example, incubators are used to create the perfect conditions for growing bacteria and mould (25°C is the perfect temperature for fungi and 30° or 37°C work well for most bacteria). We also use microscopes with 1000x magnification, a spectrophotometer to measure levels of allergens in dust samples, and pipettes to accurately measure tiny quantities of liquid in tests – accuracy is incredibly important given the size of the things that I work with!"

Out of work, Tom enjoys building, restoring and riding two-stroke motorcycles, playing football and relaxing at home.

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"My interest in engineering and design stems from a curiosity to understand how things work. And my frustration with things leads me to question why things are the way they are."

"I have a people-centered approach to design. I like to solve problems. My engineering background means I incorporate both aesthetics and technical engineering in my designs. I also aim to create prototypes and sketch models for development with users early on. I believe design is about creating new possibilities, working with multiple teams and using marketing insights to create great products, experiences and services."

"In my spare time I play a lot of basketball, enjoy inline skating and reading graphic novels. I also have a passion for martial arts movies and comedy."

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"My passion for engineering and design began when I learnt how to take things apart. I love discovering how things are made and why. "

"My Design Engineer position at Nokia gave me an introduction to 3D CAD, an invaluable tool for my future. My next step was to complete an MA in Innovation Engineering Design at the Royal College of Art and Imperial College."

"I’ve always wanted to start my own business so on completion of my MA, I entered Design London, a business incubator with several colleagues. We developed Plumis Ltd, a fire protection device which fits between the tap and sink in the kitchen which won the Dyson Award in 2010. Plumis is now selling well."

"I have now founded another company called Made in Mind. We are developing the Folding Plug which came third in the James Dyson Award 2010. The plug has also won the Brit Insurance Award. It has huge potential."

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