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The differences between design release engineers and lead 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 design release engineer and a lead engineer. Additionally, a design release engineer has an average salary of $98,886, which is higher than the $84,927 average annual salary of a lead engineer.
The top three skills for a design release engineer include DFMEA, dvp r and DVP. The most important skills for a lead engineer are java, python, and architecture.
| Design Release Engineer | Lead Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $98,886 | $84,927 |
| Hourly rate | $47.54 | $40.83 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 103,172 | 301,777 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
A design release engineer is responsible for creating and evaluating technology and mechanical designs used for commercial and industrial equipment to support business operations and customer activities. Design release engineers utilize various software applications and tools to implement design models according to business requirements and client specifications. They also identify the estimated costs and resources for the production by negotiating with trusted suppliers and vendors for materials that meet the highest quality standards. A design release engineer reviews the outputs before the launch to resolve possible issues and adjust design features as needed.
A lead engineer's duties vary on their line of work or industry of employment. Typically, their responsibilities will revolve around overseeing the progress of operations and performance of the workforce, ensuring that everything is running smoothly. They are also responsible for addressing issues and concerns, assessing risks, monitoring the budget, coordinating with clients and architects, and even training workers. Furthermore, as a lead engineer, it is crucial to conduct regular inspections to ensure the quality of work and maintain a safe environment for all workers.
Design release engineers and lead engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Design Release Engineer | Lead Engineer | |
| Average salary | $98,886 | $84,927 |
| Salary range | Between $72,000 And $134,000 | Between $60,000 And $120,000 |
| Highest paying City | Palo Alto, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Waymo | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a design release engineer and a lead engineer in terms of educational background:
| Design Release Engineer | Lead Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Michigan Technological University | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between design release engineers' and lead engineers' demographics:
| Design Release Engineer | Lead Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 87.8% Female, 12.2% | Male, 90.8% Female, 9.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.3% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 8.7% Asian, 15.4% White, 68.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | Black or African American, 3.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.8% Asian, 16.8% White, 67.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |