They’ve been HR people in small companies. Being quite familiar with one of the two companies which had already contacted me twice (same HR person) and interviewed me once in the past I think it’s particularly odd. … They have Industrial designers and likely at least one engineer on staff.
Sounds like a stereo-typical, small time, HR secretary… [so call me a misogynist, I’m not, but you can call me one this time].
… there is no clear distinction between the two, to them.
But since you seem to have an “in” with this company perhaps you can parlay this into a “design” job, while you’re explaining the distinction between industrial engineer and industrial designer (?) 