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The differences between controls design engineers and senior design engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a controls design engineer and a senior design engineer. Additionally, a senior design engineer has an average salary of $104,698, which is higher than the $90,850 average annual salary of a controls design engineer.
The top three skills for a controls design engineer include autocad, PLC and CAD. The most important skills for a senior design engineer are CAD, project management, and RF.
| Controls Design Engineer | Senior Design Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $90,850 | $104,698 |
| Hourly rate | $43.68 | $50.34 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 95,461 | 127,035 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
It is the responsibility of a controls design engineer to research and design a company's new systems and products. Controls design engineers oversee the production of complicated equipment and systems. They perform tests and analyze the design use associated with the system's element function. Part of their job is to seek consistent system results and operation within specific tolerances. They also draft blueprints, oversee manufacturing processes, and establish test prototypes.
A senior design engineer is responsible for creating mechanical and electrical designs for machines and systems, following clients' specifications and business guidelines. Senior design engineers also assist junior design engineers with their tasks, sharing best practices and techniques, and suggesting adjustments as needed. They also oversee the manufacturing process, inspect possible inconsistencies, and revise plans without exceeding the agreed budget or compromising the quality. A senior design engineer must be keen with details and highly organizational, especially on meeting deadlines with the highest client satisfaction.
Controls design engineers and senior design engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Controls Design Engineer | Senior Design Engineer | |
| Average salary | $90,850 | $104,698 |
| Salary range | Between $69,000 And $119,000 | Between $80,000 And $136,000 |
| Highest paying City | Cupertino, CA | Cupertino, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Apple | |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Technology |
There are a few differences between a controls design engineer and a senior design engineer in terms of educational background:
| Controls Design Engineer | Senior Design Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Georgia Institute of Technology | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between controls design engineers' and senior design engineers' demographics:
| Controls Design Engineer | Senior Design Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 89.6% Female, 10.4% | Male, 91.8% Female, 8.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.9% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.4% Asian, 14.4% White, 64.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 3.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 17.1% White, 67.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 5% |