Elite: Dangerous PvE - Mobius

How do I even get to engineering? Do I have to have a certain type of ship? Be at a certain level? I'm pretty new, just bought a Cobra MKIII, and haven't even gotten into combat yet (well, I tried once and got destroyed pretty quickly - I probably took on someone at too high a level).

Hi, Finnyhawk1 here. From Southern California, and feel quite overwhelmed by Elite Dangerous. Been on the forums and watching YouTube vids. Hope to take part in the PvE mode as I don't have hours and hours a day to play games so I always get destroyed in any PvP games. OK, also I'm perhaps a bit old...