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The differences between design release engineers and mechanical design 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 mechanical design engineer. Additionally, a design release engineer has an average salary of $98,886, which is higher than the $75,821 average annual salary of a mechanical design engineer.
The top three skills for a design release engineer include DFMEA, dvp r and DVP. The most important skills for a mechanical design engineer are CAD, mechanical design, and GD.
| Design Release Engineer | Mechanical Design Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $98,886 | $75,821 |
| Hourly rate | $47.54 | $36.45 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 103,172 | 120,258 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| 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 mechanical design engineer specializes in designing various mechanical devices that will be vital in developing machinery or large structures. One of their primary responsibilities revolves around conducting thorough research and analysis, establishing layouts and prototypes, producing progress reports, and working alongside fellow engineers and skilled professionals. Typically assigned in an office setting, a mechanical design engineer must visit construction sites or factories to test and observe equipment qualities. Furthermore, during production, there are instances when a mechanical engineer must coordinate with suppliers, contractors, and clients.
Design release engineers and mechanical design engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Design Release Engineer | Mechanical Design Engineer | |
| Average salary | $98,886 | $75,821 |
| Salary range | Between $72,000 And $134,000 | Between $59,000 And $96,000 |
| Highest paying City | Palo Alto, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Waymo | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a design release engineer and a mechanical design engineer in terms of educational background:
| Design Release Engineer | Mechanical Design Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Michigan Technological University | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between design release engineers' and mechanical design engineers' demographics:
| Design Release Engineer | Mechanical Design Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 87.8% Female, 12.2% | Male, 91.9% Female, 8.1% |
| 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, 3.2% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 8.2% Asian, 16.4% White, 67.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |