What does a design/applications engineer do?
Design/applications engineer responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real design/applications engineer resumes:
- 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.
- Work with chip designers to ensure quality PCB design.
- Lead the QA reconciliation team to ensure that the data conversion is accurate.
- Create engineering system, including part number systems used in indent BOM's and production travelers.
- Construct top-level chips, bottom-up database, including full hierarchy creation/editing for QA extensive testing of company products.
- Implement customer designs/benchmarks on DynaChip's FPGA products, using schematic entry, synthesis, or structural HDL.
- Enhance and increase efficiency of board bringing up and debugging process by improving and automating existing TCL base script/software.
- Engineer encasement assemblies, details and bill of materials (BOM) from customer concept to design and manufacturing to shipment.
- Design and prototyping of electronic test equipment
- Create and maintain customer and manufacturing drawings using SolidWorks.
- Detail manufacturing drawings , 3D assembly models using SolidWorks.
- Provide innovative designs to improve aerospace operations to ensure market directives.
Design/applications engineer skills and personality traits
We calculated that 8% of Design/Applications Engineers are proficient in Solidworks, RF, and Product Design. They’re also known for soft skills such as Creativity, Listening skills, and Math skills.
We break down the percentage of Design/Applications Engineers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Solidworks, 8%
Created and maintained customer and manufacturing drawings using SolidWorks.
- RF, 6%
Worked on high speed Wi-Max, RF and Wireless networking boards, utilizing Cadence Allegro 15.7, 16.2
- Product Design, 6%
Engaged with process engineers to optimize product designs and identify business opportunities.
- Technical Support, 6%
Handled Technical Support communications with customers and Regional Sales personnel regarding applications, quotations, pricing discounts and customer complaints.
- Aerospace, 4%
Designed and developed new products for commercial, military and Aerospace applications.
- Linux, 4%
Redesigned and implemented a new user interface for embedded Linux web application.
Most design/applications engineers use their skills in "solidworks," "rf," and "product design" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential design/applications engineer responsibilities here:
Creativity. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a design/applications engineer to have is creativity. Their role and responsibilities require that "mechanical engineers design and build complex pieces of equipment and machinery." Design/applications engineers often use creativity in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "created virtual prototypes of linear motion systems using inventor simulation/analysis models. "
Listening skills. Many design/applications engineer duties rely on listening skills. "mechanical engineers often work on projects with others, such as architects and computer scientists," so a design/applications engineer will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways design/applications engineer responsibilities rely on listening skills: "communicated and answered questions of contractors regarding designed hvac components. "
Math skills. design/applications engineers are also known for math skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to design/applications engineer responsibilities, because "mechanical engineers use the principles of calculus, statistics, and other advanced subjects in math for analysis, design, and troubleshooting in their work." A design/applications engineer resume example shows how math skills is used in the workplace: "defined all asic's by writing/generating the boolean algebra equations. "
Mechanical skills. design/applications engineer responsibilities often require "mechanical skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "mechanical skills allow engineers to apply basic engineering concepts and mechanical processes to the design of new devices and systems." This resume example shows what design/applications engineers do with mechanical skills on a typical day: "provided pre/post sales cadds 4x and cadds5 technical support for leading mechanical cad/cam/cae software vendor. "
Problem-solving skills. A commonly-found skill in design/applications engineer job descriptions, "problem-solving skills" is essential to what design/applications engineers do. Design/applications engineer responsibilities rely on this skill because "mechanical engineers need good problem-solving skills to take scientific principles and discoveries and use them to design and build useful products." You can also see how design/applications engineer duties rely on problem-solving skills in this resume example: "design work on custom, one off solutions for customers in rf microwave and semiconductor industry. "
The three companies that hire the most design/applications engineers are:
- Accenture19 design/applications engineers jobs
- MLC CAD Systems
9 design/applications engineers jobs
- Synopsys7 design/applications engineers jobs
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Design/applications engineer vs. Engineer
Engineers are highly trained professionals who determine the feasibility of various projects, usually related to the construction industry. They are considered experts in mathematics and science, two disciplines that they need to use in designing and coming up with plans for projects. They should also be well-versed in different construction or industrial materials, and they ensure that appropriate materials are used for the project. They also ensure that the projects meet the requirements of the groups that hired them. They create spaces that would both address the needs of the end-users and the industry standards. They also ensure that the projects they make would stand the test of time.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, design/applications engineer responsibilities require skills like "product design," "aerospace," "ul," and "assembly drawings." Meanwhile a typical engineer has skills in areas such as "python," "cloud," "c #," and "aws." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Engineers really shine in the automotive industry with an average salary of $97,672. Comparatively, design/applications engineers tend to make the most money in the automotive industry with an average salary of $95,172.On average, engineers reach similar levels of education than design/applications engineers. Engineers are 1.5% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.8% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Design/applications engineer vs. Staff engineer
Staff engineers are responsible for designing, developing, and inspecting various products, equipment, or structures. These professionals may perform varied duties depending on their specialization that includes overseeing the design and construction of buildings, bridges, sewer systems, and other infrastructure, estimating the financial costs of construction projects, and ensuring compliance with health and safety laws and regulations. Other duties include designing and developing machinery, tools, and engines, solving design problems, and building the manufacturing equipment needed to create their products.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that design/applications engineer responsibilities requires skills like "solidworks," "product design," "aerospace," and "ul." But a staff engineer might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "python," "architecture," "software development," and "project management."
Staff engineers earn a higher average salary than design/applications engineers. But staff engineers earn the highest pay in the telecommunication industry, with an average salary of $119,079. Additionally, design/applications engineers earn the highest salaries in the automotive with average pay of $95,172 annually.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Staff engineers tend to reach similar levels of education than design/applications engineers. In fact, they're 4.5% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.8% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for design/applications engineers in the next 3-5 years?
Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Department Head, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
Design/applications engineer vs. Tool engineer
A tooling engineer is responsible for creating and adjusting tools or parts for cars, heavy equipment, and other products that need customized or personalized components. Your duties and responsibilities will include creating design blueprints, using computer-aided (CAD) software to develop two- and three-dimensional prints, and validating and evaluating products. As a tooling engineer, it is your responsibility to ensure compliance with operational standards such as the ISO 9000. You also have to provide technical assistance to manufacturing personnel and quality assurance.
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from design/applications engineer resumes include skills like "rf," "aerospace," "ul," and "assembly drawings," whereas a tool engineer is more likely to list skills in "python," "cad," "jenkins," and "ruby. "
Tool engineers make a very good living in the technology industry with an average annual salary of $94,406. On the other hand, design/applications engineers are paid the highest salary in the automotive industry, with average annual pay of $95,172.When it comes to education, tool engineers tend to earn similar degree levels compared to design/applications engineers. In fact, they're 3.6% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.1% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Design/applications engineer vs. Product engineer
A product engineer specializes in designing and developing commercial materials and services. They are primarily responsible for conducting thorough research and analysis of the latest trends and marketing conditions to come up with new ideas and products for the public. Moreover, they are also responsible for producing reports and presentations, coordinating with the development team of their company. Product engineers also reach out to vendors and suppliers for the raw materials, set regulations and standards for the product, and even conduct a rigorous and regular quality check.
Types of design/applications engineer
Updated January 8, 2025











