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What is a design/applications engineer and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
Quoted experts
Marco Schoen Ph.D.,
Brian Denton Ph.D.
There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a design/applications engineer. For example, did you know that they make an average of $39.34 an hour? That's $81,822 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 2% and produce 6,400 job opportunities across the U.S.

What general advice would you give to a design/applications engineer?

Marco Schoen Ph.D.Marco Schoen Ph.D. LinkedIn profile

Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Director of the Measurement and Control Engineering Research Center (MCERC), Idaho State University

Stay current. Engineering evolves continuously; new tools, new technologies, and new areas where engineers can contribute, learn, and work. When graduating, students have the feeling they are set for their careers. However, this is not true; they might be set to start their careers. To be consistently successful in their pages, they need to stay informed and updated.
ScoreDesign/Applications EngineerUS Average
Salary
6.4

Avg. Salary $81,822

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
7.4

Growth rate 2%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
6.4
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.11%

Asian 15.02%

Black or African American 3.25%

Hispanic or Latino 8.64%

Unknown 4.56%

White 68.42%

Gender

female 9.81%

male 90.19%

Age - 39
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 39
Stress level
7.4

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
8.6

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance
5.1

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Design/applications engineer career paths

Key steps to become a design/applications engineer

  1. Explore design/applications engineer education requirements

    Most common design/applications engineer degrees

    Bachelor's

    74.3 %

    Associate

    12.1 %

    Master's

    11.1 %
  2. Start to develop specific design/applications engineer skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Solidworks7.86%
    RF5.84%
    Product Design5.71%
    Technical Support5.70%
    Aerospace4.49%
  3. Complete relevant design/applications engineer training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 1-2 years on post-employment, on-the-job training. New design/applications engineers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a design/applications engineer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real design/applications engineer resumes.
  4. Research design/applications engineer duties and responsibilities

    • Collaborate with cross-functional teams to develop and manage new aerospace products line.
    • Engineer, manage and implement configuration and installation of complex Ethernet network backbones.
    • Ensure adherence to UL electrical design standards.
    • Perform & train FEA stress analysis with various company.
  5. Prepare your design/applications engineer resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your design/applications engineer resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a design/applications engineer resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable design/applications engineer resume templates

    Build a professional design/applications engineer resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your design/applications engineer resume.
    Design/Applications Engineer Resume
    Design/Applications Engineer Resume
    Design/Applications Engineer Resume
    Design/Applications Engineer Resume
    Design/Applications Engineer Resume
    Design/Applications Engineer Resume
    Design/Applications Engineer Resume
    Design/Applications Engineer Resume
    Design/Applications Engineer Resume
  6. Apply for design/applications engineer jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a design/applications engineer job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first design/applications engineer job

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Average design/applications engineer salary

The average design/applications engineer salary in the United States is $81,822 per year or $39 per hour. Design/applications engineer salaries range between $58,000 and $115,000 per year.

Average design/applications engineer salary
$81,822 Yearly
$39.34 hourly

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How do design/applications engineers rate their job?

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Design/applications engineer reviews

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A zippia user wrote a review on Oct 2023
Pros

It can gurantee you a good salary and if you are creative you can do many things.

Cons

you have to be creative.


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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