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What does a design development engineer do?

Updated January 8, 2025
8 min read
Quoted expert
Dr. Richard Onyancha

Design development engineers are engineering professionals who are responsible for testing products for various industries such as electronics and synthetic textiles. These engineers must collaborate with the research and development (R&D;) organization to carry out initial new product development projects. They are required to coordinate a project with clients and consultants to ensure the approval of project permits and construction feasibility. Design development engineers must also possess skills in using software such as SolidWorks to model complex product parts and components.

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Design development engineer responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real design development engineer resumes:

  • Manage automation projects including purchasing, scheduling fabrication and assembly, debugging, and delivery to customer.
  • Perform project mechanical design activities such as engineering analysis including structural FEA, prototype fabrication, testing and qualification.
  • Review Gerber file and component layout on the PCB, DFM, and equipment evaluation.
  • Involve in research, stress analysis, load calculation using ANSYS and MATLAB and failure analysis.
  • Modele complex automotive parts, assemblies using SolidWorks.
  • Utilize SolidWorks to develop product concepts and KeyShot to render designs for CEO and investors.
  • Follow up on external agency approval process such as UL or CSA and customer approval such as BellSouth.
  • Specify equipment to be used in the testing of industrial products design to meet UL and CE certification standards.
  • Lead a team to deliver skin temperature sensor and battery drivers as part of the thermal framework for android and windows.
  • Develop windows applications in VB.net that interface with custom peripherals.
  • Conduct FMEA analysis for military vehicle programs in support of reliability-centered maintainability requirements.
  • Perform experimental, statistical and FEA base computational analysis of diffusion kinetics of porous ceramic disks.
  • Design and create complete web business applications for internal departments, including system architecture, front-end UI and back-end database functionality.
  • Install Cisco 2950 10/100 switches for test LAN.
  • Project lead for design projects in Puerto Rico pharmaceutical API manufacturing facility.

Design development engineer skills and personality traits

We calculated that 7% of Design Development Engineers are proficient in Solidworks, FEA, and C++. They’re also known for soft skills such as Creativity, Listening skills, and Math skills.

We break down the percentage of Design Development Engineers that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Solidworks, 7%

    Created solid models and performed FEA analysis using SolidWorks and Simulation.

  • FEA, 6%

    Performed routine engineering duties such as DFMEA, tolerance stack up, FEA analysis, and design reviews.

  • C++, 5%

    Design & develop GUI application in Visual C++.

  • Prototype, 4%

    Assisted in the supervision and fabrication of prototype equipment including conveyors, robotics, and pharmaceutical equipment and automated beverage systems.

  • R, 4%

    Attended Steven R Schmidt Design of Experiments training.

  • Product Development, 4%

    Research and Design engineer in charge of new product development programs for worlds most recognized aftermarket automotive instrumentation manufacturer.

"solidworks," "fea," and "c++" are among the most common skills that design development engineers use at work. You can find even more design development engineer responsibilities below, including:

Creativity. The most essential soft skill for a design development engineer to carry out their responsibilities is creativity. This skill is important for the role because "mechanical engineers design and build complex pieces of equipment and machinery." Additionally, a design development engineer resume shows how their duties depend on creativity: "create sheet metal models and assembly drawings in autocad inventor. "

Listening skills. Many design development engineer duties rely on listening skills. "mechanical engineers often work on projects with others, such as architects and computer scientists," so a design development engineer will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways design development engineer responsibilities rely on listening skills: "generated boms (bill of material) and communicated invoices. "

Math skills. This is an important skill for design development engineers to perform their duties. For an example of how design development engineer responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "mechanical engineers use the principles of calculus, statistics, and other advanced subjects in math for analysis, design, and troubleshooting in their work." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a design development engineer: "maintained all files for engineering drawings, part prints and math models. ".

Mechanical skills. A big part of what design development engineers do relies on "mechanical skills." You can see how essential it is to design development engineer responsibilities because "mechanical skills allow engineers to apply basic engineering concepts and mechanical processes to the design of new devices and systems." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical design development engineer tasks: "key achievements: reviewed mechanical designs for all product developments within the company to ensure quality and adherence to design standards. "

Problem-solving skills. Another common skill required for design development engineer responsibilities is "problem-solving skills." This skill comes up in the duties of design development engineers all the time, as "mechanical engineers need good problem-solving skills to take scientific principles and discoveries and use them to design and build useful products." An excerpt from a real design development engineer resume shows how this skill is central to what a design development engineer does: "analyzed an automotive component for a failure issue and resolved using fea. "

All design development engineer skills

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Compare different design development engineers

Design development engineer vs. Senior mechanical engineer

A senior mechanical engineer is responsible for designing and improving mechanical equipment, as well as industrial devices and machinery. Senior mechanical engineers verify the materials and resources, ensuring that the processes meet the budget goals from clients' specifications and requirements. They also monitor the manufacturing process, developing strategic procedures for operations improvement, and maximizing staff productivity. A senior mechanical engineer runs multiple diagnostic tests to guarantee the stability and efficiency of the item and coordinating with the client for any plan adjustments as needed.

We looked at the average design development engineer salary and compared it with the wages of a senior mechanical engineer. Generally speaking, senior mechanical engineers are paid $11,657 higher than design development engineers per year.Even though design development engineers and senior mechanical engineers are distinct careers, a few of the skills required for both jobs are similar. For example, both careers require solidworks, r, and product development in the day-to-day roles and responsibilities.

These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a design development engineer are more likely to require skills like "fea," "c++," "prototype," and "visualization." On the other hand, a job as a senior mechanical engineer requires skills like "mechanical engineering," "cad," "mechanical systems," and "hvac." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.

Senior mechanical engineers earn the highest salaries when working in the energy industry, with an average yearly salary of $105,778. On the other hand, design development engineers are paid more in the automotive industry with an average salary of $84,855.On average, senior mechanical engineers reach similar levels of education than design development engineers. Senior mechanical engineers are 2.9% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and 1.2% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Design development 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.

A career as a engineer brings a lower average salary when compared to the average annual salary of a design development engineer. In fact, engineers salary is $102 lower than the salary of design development engineers per year.A few skills overlap for design development engineers and engineers. Resumes from both professions show that the duties of each career rely on skills like "solidworks," "fea," and "c++. "

Each career also uses different skills, according to real design development engineer resumes. While design development engineer responsibilities can utilize skills like "prototype," "product development," "product design," and "engineering design," engineers use skills like "python," "cloud," "c #," and "aws."

Engineers may earn a lower salary than design development engineers, but engineers earn the most pay in the automotive industry with an average salary of $97,672. On the other hand, design development engineers receive higher pay in the automotive industry, where they earn an average salary of $84,855.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Engineers tend to reach similar levels of education than design development engineers. In fact, they're 2.1% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 1.2% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for design development engineers in the next 3-5 years?

Dr. Richard OnyanchaDr. Richard Onyancha LinkedIn profile

Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Department Head, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology

Automation and control, robotics, and to some extent supply chain management

Design development 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.

An average staff engineer eans a higher salary compared to the average salary of design development engineers. The difference in salaries amounts to staff engineers earning a $15,351 higher average salary than design development engineers.Using the responsibilities included on design development engineers and staff engineers resumes, we found that both professions have similar skill requirements, such as "c++," "r," and "product development.rdquo;

The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, design development engineers are more likely to have skills like "solidworks," "fea," "prototype," and "product design." But a staff engineer is more likely to have skills like "python," "architecture," "software development," and "project management."

Staff engineers make a very good living in the telecommunication industry with an average annual salary of $119,079. On the other hand, design development engineers are paid the highest salary in the automotive industry, with average annual pay of $84,855.staff engineers typically earn similar educational levels compared to design development engineers. Specifically, they're 0.9% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 2.6% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Design development 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.

Tool engineers typically earn higher pay than design development engineers. On average, tool engineers earn a $8,956 higher salary per year.According to resumes from design development engineers and tool engineers, some of the skills necessary to complete the responsibilities of each role are similar. These skills include "solidworks," "fea," and "r."Each job also requires different skills to carry out their responsibilities. A design development engineer uses "c++," "prototype," "visualization," and "engineering design." Tool engineers are more likely to have duties that require skills in "python," "cad," "jenkins," and "ruby. "In general, tool engineers earn the most working in the technology industry, with an average salary of $94,406. The highest-paying industry for a design development engineer is the automotive industry.tool engineers reach lower levels of education compared to design development engineers, in general. The difference is that they're 7.2% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.4% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Types of design development engineer

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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