CAREER & HIRING ADVICE

By Ryan Bradshaw |  Engineering Staffing & Career Expert  | 

At Apollo Technical, we specialize in placing engineers and technical professionals across the country. We work directly with hiring managers who list SOLIDWORKS proficiency as a core requirement for mechanical, product design, and manufacturing roles.

That firsthand exposure to hundreds of job descriptions and candidate skill sets gives us a clear view of why SOLIDWORKS matters in today’s engineering market and what it actually does in practice.

SOLIDWORKS is one of the most recognized names in engineering software. Whether you are a student considering a career in product design, a hiring manager building out a technical team, or an engineer switching platforms, understanding what SOLIDWORKS is and what it does is worth your time. This article breaks it all down without the jargon.

Key Takeaways

• SOLIDWORKS is 3D CAD and CAE software owned by Dassault Systèmes, used to design, simulate, and document physical products.
• As of 2024, it has an estimated 7.5 million users across more than 80 countries.
• It is used in aerospace, automotive, medical devices, consumer products, and dozens of other industries.
• SOLIDWORKS uses parametric, feature-based modeling, meaning design changes update automatically across the entire model.
• Knowing SOLIDWORKS is one of the most in-demand skills on engineering job postings in the United States.

What Is SOLIDWORKS, Exactly?

According to Wikipedia, SOLIDWORKS is a brand of software used for solid modeling computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided engineering (CAE). It was one of the first 3D CAD applications designed to run on a standard Windows desktop PC, which was a significant shift when it launched in 1995.

Today it is owned by French software company Dassault Systèmes, the same company behind the enterprise-level CATIA platform used by aerospace and defense contractors.

The core function of SOLIDWORKS is to let engineers and designers build precise three-dimensional models of physical parts and assemblies entirely on screen, before anything is manufactured.

Those models can then be used to create detailed engineering drawings, run structural and thermal simulations, check for interference between parts, and generate documentation for production teams.

Q: Is SOLIDWORKS just for 3D modeling?

A: No. While 3D modeling is its foundation, SOLIDWORKS also includes tools for simulation (stress, thermal, fluid flow), product data management, electrical design, rendering, and manufacturing documentation. It covers most of the product development workflow in a single platform.

A Brief History: Where Did SOLIDWORKS Come From?

SOLIDWORKS Corporation was founded in December 1993 by MIT graduate Jon Hirschtick. His goal was straightforward: build powerful 3D CAD software that ran on a Windows PC and was accessible to individual engineers and small companies, not just large defense contractors.

The first product, SolidWorks 95, shipped in November 1995. Two years later, Dassault Systèmes acquired the company for $310 million in stock, giving it the backing to grow into a global platform.

Since then, the software has expanded far beyond its original scope. SOLIDWORKS 2026 now includes cloud collaboration tools, AI-assisted command prediction, real-time team notifications, and integration with the broader 3DEXPERIENCE platform. That is a long way from a desktop CAD tool running on Windows 95.

• 7.5M Estimated users worldwide as of 2024
• 80+Countries with active SOLIDWORKS users
• 13.6%CAD software market share globally
• 1993Year the company was founded

How Does SOLIDWORKS Actually Work?

SOLIDWORKS uses what engineers call a parametric, feature-based modeling approach. In plain terms, that means you build a 3D model by adding individual design features, like extrusions, holes, fillets, and cuts, and each feature is controlled by numerical dimensions you define. If you need to change the diameter of a bolt hole from 8mm to 10mm, you change one number and the model updates everywhere that dimension is referenced.

This is fundamentally different from older “dumb solid” modeling approaches where every geometry change required manual rework. Parametric modeling saves enormous amounts of time when products go through design revisions, which in engineering is nearly always.

Q: What is the difference between a part, assembly, and drawing in SOLIDWORKS?

A: A part file (.SLDPRT) is a single component. An assembly file (.SLDASM) combines multiple parts into one product, showing how they fit together and move. A drawing file (.SLDDRW) is the 2D technical document generated from the 3D model, used by machinists and manufacturers to build the actual part.

What Is the SOLIDWORKS Simulation Add-On?

SOLIDWORKS Simulation is a built-in finite element analysis (FEA) tool that lets engineers test how a part or assembly will behave under real-world conditions without building a physical prototype. You can apply loads and boundary conditions to a model, run a stress analysis, and see where the design is likely to fail.

This dramatically reduces the cost and time of product development by catching structural problems digitally before they become manufacturing problems.

SOLIDWORKS also includes Flow Simulation for computational fluid dynamics (CFD), which tests how air, water, or other fluids move through or around a design. This is particularly valuable for HVAC components, pump housings, heat sinks, and aerodynamic structures.

What Is SOLIDWORKS Used For in the Real World?

The software is used across virtually every product-based industry. If a physical object was engineered in the past three decades, there is a reasonable chance a version of it was modeled in SOLIDWORKS at some point in its development cycle.

• Aerospace & DefenseBrackets, airframe components, harness routing
• AutomotiveBody panels, drivetrain components, fixtures
• Medical DevicesSurgical instruments, implants, diagnostic equipment
• Consumer ProductsAppliances, electronics enclosures, sporting goods
• Industrial MachineryConveyors, presses, robotic systems
• Architecture & ConstructionStructural steel, custom fabrications
• ElectronicsPCB enclosures, cooling systems, connectors
• Marine & EnergyTurbine components, hull structures, valves

Research from Apps Run The World shows that companies using SOLIDWORKS span professional services, manufacturing, and aerospace and defense, with adoption tracked across 195 countries worldwide. Notable organizations that use SOLIDWORKS include Meta Reality Labs, RTX Corporation (aerospace), Baker Hughes, and Emerson, along with thousands of small and mid-sized manufacturers.

Is SOLIDWORKS Used for 3D Printing?

Yes, and this is one of the most common questions people ask about SOLIDWORKS online. Engineers and designers regularly use SOLIDWORKS to model parts that are then exported as STL or 3MF files and sent directly to a 3D printer.

Because SOLIDWORKS produces watertight, dimensionally accurate solid models, the files it produces are cleaner than those created in general-purpose polygon modelers. This matters a great deal when you need printed parts that actually fit together as intended.

Q: Can hobbyists use SOLIDWORKS or is it only for professionals?

A: SOLIDWORKS offers a Maker edition aimed at non-commercial hobbyists, and students can access it through academic licensing at significantly reduced cost. That said, the primary market is professional engineers, product designers, and manufacturing companies. The full commercial license is priced accordingly.

How Does SOLIDWORKS Compare to Other CAD Software?

Engineers who are new to the field often want to know how SOLIDWORKS stacks up against Fusion 360, AutoCAD, or Inventor. The honest answer is that these tools serve overlapping but distinct markets.

SOLIDWORKS sits in a strong middle ground. It is more capable and industry-standard than Fusion 360 for pure mechanical engineering, but more accessible and widely adopted at the mid-market level than CATIA. That positioning is exactly why it appears on so many engineering job descriptions in the United States.

Who Should Learn SOLIDWORKS?

If you are pursuing a career as a mechanical engineer, product design engineer, manufacturing engineer, or industrial designer, learning SOLIDWORKS is one of the highest-leverage things you can do for your employability. SOLIDWORKS certifications are recognized by employers as meaningful proof of competence, and companies actively use them as benchmarks for promotion decisions.

Students have a particularly strong incentive. More than two million students use SOLIDWORKS at 31,000 schools worldwide, meaning the software is built into engineering curricula at universities and community colleges globally. Graduating with hands-on SOLIDWORKS experience is increasingly an expectation rather than a bonus.

Q: How long does it take to learn SOLIDWORKS?

A: Most people can handle basic part and assembly modeling within 20 to 40 hours of focused practice. Getting comfortable with simulation, sheet metal, surfacing, and weldments takes considerably longer, typically several months of regular use on real projects. The CSWP (Certified SOLIDWORKS Professional) exam is the most widely recognized benchmark for professional competency.

Is SOLIDWORKS a Good Career Skill in 2026?

Based on what we see across hundreds of technical job postings every month at Apollo Technical, SOLIDWORKS remains one of the most consistently requested software skills in mechanical engineering roles. Demand is especially strong in manufacturing, aerospace, medical device, and defense sectors.

The addition of cloud collaboration tools in SOLIDWORKS 2025 and 2026 has also increased relevance in larger, distributed engineering teams where real-time co-design matters.

Market data from 6sense shows that engineering, manufacturing, and design are the top three industries using SOLIDWORKS as of 2026, confirming that the demand is driven by core product development functions rather than niche use cases.

What Are the Main SOLIDWORKS Products?

SOLIDWORKS is not a single product. It is a portfolio. Understanding the different tiers helps when evaluating what your team or career actually needs.

SOLIDWORKS Standard, Professional, and Premium

The desktop SOLIDWORKS license comes in three tiers. Standard covers core 3D CAD. Professional adds photorealistic rendering, advanced bill of materials tools, and SOLIDWORKS Routing for piping and electrical design. Premium includes all of the above plus SOLIDWORKS Simulation, Motion, and advanced surface tools. Most serious engineering roles assume at least the Professional tier.

3DEXPERIENCE SOLIDWORKS

This is the cloud-connected version of SOLIDWORKS, accessed through Dassault Systèmes’ 3DEXPERIENCE platform. SOLIDWORKS 2025 made significant investments here, including real-time collaboration, instant team notifications inside the interface, and smarter version control. For companies with distributed engineering teams, this version removes a lot of the friction that used to require external communication tools.

SOLIDWORKS Simulation and Flow Simulation

These are dedicated analysis tools built into the SOLIDWORKS environment. Simulation handles structural FEA while Flow Simulation handles computational fluid dynamics. Both are deeply integrated with the CAD model, meaning you run analyses on the same geometry you use for manufacturing drawings rather than having to export to a separate analysis platform.

Q: Does SOLIDWORKS work on Mac?

A: No, SOLIDWORKS does not natively support macOS. It runs on Windows only. Mac users who need SOLIDWORKS typically run it through a Windows virtual machine or a Boot Camp partition. Dassault Systèmes has not announced native Mac support as of 2026.

What Are the Newest SOLIDWORKS Features in 2025 and 2026?

SOLIDWORKS has moved from one major annual release to a continuous delivery model. Engineers Rule reports that there were 259 enhancement functions delivered across SOLIDWORKS 2024 service packs alone, with another 169 arriving in the 2025 release. SOLIDWORKS 2026 continues this cadence.

The most notable recent addition is the AI-powered Command Predictor, a new tab in the Command Manager that uses artificial intelligence to suggest which tools you are likely to need next based on your current task. For experienced users this is a productivity accelerator.

For new users it reduces the steep discovery curve of finding the right command among hundreds of options. The 2025 release also introduced real-time team collaboration directly inside the SOLIDWORKS interface, eliminating the need to switch to Slack or Teams to discuss design decisions with colleagues.

The Bottom Line: Is SOLIDWORKS Worth Learning?

SOLIDWORKS is not the only 3D CAD platform on the market, and it is not right for every workflow. But for mechanical engineers, product designers, and manufacturing professionals working on physical products in professional environments, it is the most widely adopted parametric CAD platform in the world.

With an estimated 7.5 million users, a presence in over 80 countries, and deep roots in engineering education, SOLIDWORKS proficiency opens more career doors than almost any other single technical skill in the mechanical engineering field.

If you are weighing whether to invest time in learning it, the market has already answered that question. Employers are asking for it. Schools are teaching it. And the software itself keeps getting more capable with every release cycle. That combination is hard to argue with.

Q: What is the best way to get started with SOLIDWORKS?

A: SOLIDWORKS offers free trials, and the official MySolidWorks training portal has structured learning paths. If you are a student, check whether your school provides free academic access. The CSWA (Certified SOLIDWORKS Associate) exam is a good early goal to work toward. YouTube has thousands of project-based tutorials that cover real engineering scenarios.

Looking for SolidWorks engineering talent or a SolidWorks job? Reach out to the SolidWorks CAD recruiters at Apollo Technical

Sources: Wikipedia SolidWorks  |  SOLIDWORKS official  |  6sense market data  |  SOLIDWORKS certification blog  |  Engineers Rule  |  Apps Run The World