Engineering in the Digital Age: A Career-Level Competency Framework Validated by the Productive Sector

Nádya Zanin Muzulon (), Luis Mauricio Resende, Gislaine Camila Lapasini Leal, Paulo Cesar Ossani and Joseane Pontes
Additional contact information
Nádya Zanin Muzulon: Postgraduate Program in Production Engineering, Federal University of Technology-Paraná, Ponta Grossa 84016-210, PR, Brazil
Luis Mauricio Resende: Postgraduate Program in Production Engineering, Federal University of Technology-Paraná, Ponta Grossa 84016-210, PR, Brazil
Gislaine Camila Lapasini Leal: Postgraduate Program in Production Engineering, State University of Maringá, Maringá 87020-900, PR, Brazil
Paulo Cesar Ossani: Postgraduate Program in Production Engineering, State University of Maringá, Maringá 87020-900, PR, Brazil
Joseane Pontes: Postgraduate Program in Production Engineering, Federal University of Technology-Paraná, Ponta Grossa 84016-210, PR, Brazil

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 16, 1-28

Abstract: This study investigates the essential competencies for engineers in the context of digital transformation, with the aim of proposing a refined framework to guide professional development across career levels. A mixed-methods, sequential approach was adopted: (1) a systematic literature review, conducted between 2014 and 2024, which identified 46 competencies organized into seven dimensions; (2) a quantitative survey with 392 engineers who self-assessed their level of mastery for each competency; (3) semi-structured interviews with 20 company representatives, who validated and contextualized the essential competencies according to hierarchical levels (junior, mid-level, and senior); (4) data triangulation, resulting in a final competency model by career level. The findings reveal a widespread deficit in digital competencies, regardless of hierarchical level. In total, 33 competencies assessed by career level showed statistically significant differences in employer perceptions and were identified as progressive throughout the career trajectory. Analysis of self-assessments and interviews indicates that for early-career engineers, there is a strong emphasis on personal and basic cognitive competencies. For mid-level engineers, the data show a significant valuation of social competencies. Senior engineers are perceived as having accumulated experience across all seven mapped dimensions. This study offers a practical model that can be used by educational institutions, companies, and professionals to align education, market demands, and career planning.

Keywords: engineering; competencies; skills; social sustainability; digital transformation; Industry 4.0; professional development; employability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/16/7425/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/16/7425/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:16:p:7425-:d:1726120

Access Statistics for this article

Sustainability is currently edited by Ms. Alexandra Wu

More articles in Sustainability from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().