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What is a design engineer and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
5 min read
Quoted Experts
Jerry Leth,
Brian Denton Ph.D.
introduction image

A design engineer uses technical and creative skills to design and develop new products, systems, and solutions. They work in industries such as manufacturing, construction, and technology. Design engineers use computer-aided design (CAD) software and other tools to create drawings, prototypes, and specifications. They also collaborate with project managers, architects, and technicians to meet the required standards and specifications. Design engineers must have problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and the ability to meet tight deadlines.

What general advice would you give to a Design Engineer?

Jerry LethJerry Leth LinkedIn Profile

VP/General Manager, MANA

We are the Manufacturers' Agents National Association, a trade association of independent manufacturers' representative businesses. We will address this question from that perspective.
To a recent college graduate, a question I pose is, "Am I going to be happier and more satisfied working for someone? Or would I be more satisfied if I embarked on a path that leads me to own my own business?"
If the answer is owning your own business, consider looking for employment as an outside salesperson for an existing manufacturers' representative business. Our average member employs six outside salespersons, and the largest employs 160. Starting out as an employee provides an opportunity to learn about the business while earning an income. When you are ready, many manufacturers' representative firms offer ownership opportunities to employees, or you may choose to move on and start your own business. Either way, you achieve your goal of owning and running your own business.
ScoreDesign EngineerUS Average
Salary
6.0

Avg. Salary $77,134

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 16.79%

Black or African American 3.16%

Hispanic or Latino 8.22%

Unknown 4.53%

White 67.19%

Gender

female 11.14%

male 88.86%

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

What are the pros and cons of being a Design Engineer?

Pros

  • High earning potential and job security

  • Chance to work with a variety of professionals, including scientists, engineers, and architects

  • Possibility to work remotely or on a flexible schedule

  • Potential for career growth and advancement

  • Option to work on international projects or travel for work

Cons

  • Long hours and overtime may be required during peak periods

  • May require extensive travel or relocation for certain projects

  • Can be repetitive or tedious at times, especially during the design phase

  • Limited opportunities for creative freedom based on client preferences or industry regulations

  • Potential for burnout or lack of work-life balance due to demanding schedules and deadlines

Design Engineer career paths

Key steps to become a design engineer

  1. Explore design engineer education requirements

    Most common design engineer degrees

    Bachelor's

    72.0 %

    Associate

    12.3 %

    Master's

    11.5 %
  2. Start to develop specific design engineer skills

    SkillsPercentages
    C++4.48%
    UL4.42%
    Project Management3.95%
    Work Ethic3.82%
    Engineering Design3.63%
  3. Complete relevant design engineer training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 1-2 years on post-employment, on-the-job training. New design 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 engineer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real design engineer resumes.
  4. Research design engineer duties and responsibilities

    • Utilize CREO surfacing to achieve stylize toilets and components.
    • Lead innovative cost reduction activities for MBD which lead to industry wide changes.
    • Develop software in MATLAB & LabVIEW to post-process data, analyze images, and automate test modules.
    • Participate in new product design reviews, lead DFM sessions with suppliers, and develop part specifications.
  5. Prepare your design engineer resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your design 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 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 Engineer Resume templates

    Build a professional Design 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 Engineer resume.
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  6. Apply for design engineer jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a design 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 Engineer Job

Zippi

Are you a Design Engineer?

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Average design engineer salary

The average Design Engineer salary in the United States is $77,134 per year or $37 per hour. Design engineer salaries range between $57,000 and $102,000 per year.

Average Design Engineer Salary
$77,134 Yearly
$37.08 hourly

What Am I Worth?

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How do design engineers rate their job?

5/5

Out of 1 Design Engineer reviews, 100% were positive.

5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

Based On 1 Ratings

Work/Life Balance
3.0
Career Growth
5.0
Pay / Salary
4.0
Overall Rating
5.0

Design Engineer reviews

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5.0
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.


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Dec 2021
Pros

Finding NEW devices to open up the range of features for nrw development! New technologies, new materials, allowing new concepts!


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A zippia user wrote a review on May 2020
Pros

The diversity of tasks, interaction with all stakeholders, continuous learning process, communication. Allows great progression in many technical skills


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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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