This pathway provides the opportunity to blend Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses with Engineering courses to help students apply technical skills along with Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) skills to solve real-world problems. Design Engineers have a working knowledge of mechanical parts as well as computer-aided design (CAD) software such as AutoCAD, Autodesk Inventor, or Solidworks. Mechanical designers begin a project by meeting with project manager, engineers, and clients to understand the needs and requirements for a new product or mechanical system. For example, designers working on a project to create an automobile engine may consult engineers regarding which structural materials to use or clients regarding engine efficiency requirements. Once materials and specifications have been determined, designers begin using CAD (computer-aided design) software to plan and develop models.