Wheelchair Development Engineer
くるまいすかいはつぎじゅつしゃ
Industry & Occupation
Classification
Summary
Wheelchair development engineers are technical professionals who design, prototype, and evaluate wheelchairs adapted to users' physical needs.
Description
Wheelchair development engineers analyze users' physical characteristics and usage environments, handling everything from CAD-based design to prototyping, evaluation, and mass-production design. They conduct durability tests, dynamic tests, and usability tests to verify safety, comfort, and operability. Collaborating with medical professionals, manufacturing departments, and users, they develop products in compliance with laws and regulations (Medical Device Act) and quality management (ISO 13485), while promoting technological innovations such as lightweighting and smart feature integration.
Future Outlook
Due to the progression of aging society and increasing needs for support for the independence of people with disabilities, demand for the development of welfare equipment including wheelchairs is expected to expand. As technological innovations such as enhanced functionality, lightweighting, and smart feature integration advance, the market value of specialized technical professionals is expected to rise.
Personality Traits
Emphasizes user perspective / Has an eye for detail / Has curiosity and inquisitiveness / Has good cooperativeness
Work Style
Consulting / Field Trips Available / In-house Development / Remote
Career Path
Design Assistant → Wheelchair Development Engineer → Senior Development Engineer → Project Leader → Product Manager → Technical Department Manager
Required Skills
3D CAD / Prototyping Technology / Strength of Materials / Structural Analysis / Usability Testing
Recommended Skills
Ergonomics / Lightweighting Technology / Medical Device Regulatory Knowledge / Programming (Macros) / Reading English Papers
Aptitudes (Strengths Preferred)
| Item | Description |
|---|---|
| Analytical & Logical Thinking | Because it is necessary to logically analyze users' physical conditions and product specifications and reflect them in the design. |
| Attention to Detail & Accuracy | Because the precision of details directly impacts user safety and comfort. |
| Creativity & Ideation | To create innovative designs that respond to diverse user needs. |
| Numerical & Quantitative Analysis | Because quantitative analysis such as material strength calculations and fatigue analysis is required. |
| Problem Solving | To solve challenges tailored to usage environments and physical characteristics. |
Aptitudes (Weaknesses Acceptable)
| Item | Description |
|---|---|
| Physical Stamina & Endurance | Mainly desk work and small-scale prototyping, with little heavy labor. |
Related Qualifications
- Certified Welfare Equipment Consultant
- Mechanical Design Engineer Exam
- Professional Engineer (Mechanical Department)
Aliases
- Wheelchair Design Engineer
- Wheelchair Engineer
Related Jobs
- Medical Device Development Engineer
- Product Development Engineer
- Rehabilitation Equipment Developer