What does a design supervisor do?
A design supervisor oversees the daily operations of an organization's design team, ensuring projects are completed within deadlines, budgets, and client requirements. They are primarily responsible for understanding project specifications, establishing budgets and guidelines, coordinating with managers, delegating responsibilities, and conducting regular assessments and evaluations to ensure operations run smoothly and efficiently according to industry standards and regulations. They may also communicate directly with clients to provide them with updates, present reports to the director, and liaise with external parties such as suppliers and distributors.
Design supervisor responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real design supervisor resumes:
- Manage Chrysler's CMHE standards.
- Engineer, manage and implement configuration and installation of complex Ethernet network backbones.
- Train new employees in the use of SolidWorks and SourceSafe.
- Design military vehicle parts and assemblies using Unigraphics NX7 and Teamcenter.
- Assure the accuracy of the 3D models and workflow integration with PDM tool.
- Position require heavy emphasis on layout, design and evaluating Unigraphics design and customer standards.
- Coordinate the efforts of internal model shops and outside vendors to fabricate accurate and timely prototype parts.
- Work out of the PDM data vault to ensure drawings and associate models are current and redline changes incorporate.
- Initiate and/or follow up on ECO"s generate in engineering or production floor to improve or change designs.
- Provide thorough checking support of numerous prototypes design and production releases of semiconductor parts and assemblies, including ECO packages.
- Lead design and development teams to ensure consistency of the company brand, UI design and functionality through to final deployment.
- Contribute to marketing of new products, ranging from sampling, literature, sample photography, website, and trade shows.
- Enter part and drawing numbers into PLM tracking system to track work from purchasing through assembly and facilitate future repeat orders.
- Implement and administer SolidWorks EPDM.
- Support engineers with design and modeling of prototype equipment.
Design supervisor skills and personality traits
We calculated that 15% of Design Supervisors are proficient in Autocad, Engineering Drawings, and Engineering Design. They’re also known for soft skills such as Listening skills, Mechanical skills, and Problem-solving skills.
We break down the percentage of Design Supervisors that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Autocad, 15%
Created and revised Block Diagrams, Interconnect Diagrams, Assembly, Fabrication, Wiring Diagrams, and QA drawings in AutoCad.
- Engineering Drawings, 8%
Developed engineering drawings for construction, reviewed and approved vendor drawings, interfaced with construction, and issued field modifications.
- Engineering Design, 7%
Established centralized, enterprise-wide engineering design and records and information management program streamlining the business process.
- Graphic Design, 7%
Implemented a graphic design internship program to identify a talent pipeline and provide a learning opportunity for participants.
- Design Software, 6%
Train other employees in proper use of copy machines and design software to assist with work overflow.
- Design Drawings, 4%
Facilitated meetings with all stakeholders to review project scope, procedures, budget, schedule, and design drawings.
Most design supervisors use their skills in "autocad," "engineering drawings," and "engineering design" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential design supervisor responsibilities here:
Listening skills. One of the key soft skills for a design supervisor to have is listening skills. You can see how this relates to what design supervisors do because "mechanical engineers often work on projects with others, such as architects and computer scientists." Additionally, a design supervisor resume shows how design supervisors use listening skills: "communicated regularly with agents and factories through videoconference, phone conference & email to support product development and production related issues. "
Mechanical skills. Many design supervisor duties rely on mechanical skills. "mechanical skills allow engineers to apply basic engineering concepts and mechanical processes to the design of new devices and systems.," so a design supervisor will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways design supervisor responsibilities rely on mechanical skills: "supervised mechanical design department, responsible for construction drawings submitted to manufacturing for production. "
Problem-solving skills. design supervisors are also known for problem-solving skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to design supervisor responsibilities, because "mechanical engineers need good problem-solving skills to take scientific principles and discoveries and use them to design and build useful products." A design supervisor resume example shows how problem-solving skills is used in the workplace: "established engineering design and manufacturing reviews, mitigated risks and recommended solutions. "
Creativity. A big part of what design supervisors do relies on "creativity." You can see how essential it is to design supervisor responsibilities because "mechanical engineers design and build complex pieces of equipment and machinery." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical design supervisor tasks: "supervised 7 designers using autocad / inventor and updated on new features and functions. "
Math skills. A commonly-found skill in design supervisor job descriptions, "math skills" is essential to what design supervisors do. Design supervisor responsibilities rely on this skill because "mechanical engineers use the principles of calculus, statistics, and other advanced subjects in math for analysis, design, and troubleshooting in their work." You can also see how design supervisor duties rely on math skills in this resume example: "produced engineering drawing views from cad geometry. "
The three companies that hire the most design supervisors are:
- Floor & Decor31 design supervisors jobs
- Fluor Corporation9 design supervisors jobs
- Best Buy2 design supervisors jobs
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Compare different design supervisors
Design supervisor 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.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between design supervisors and product engineer. For instance, design supervisor responsibilities require skills such as "autocad," "engineering design," "graphic design," and "design software." Whereas a product engineer is skilled in "cad," "product design," "project management," and "c++." This is part of what separates the two careers.
Product engineers earn the highest salaries when working in the technology industry, with an average yearly salary of $90,301. On the other hand, design supervisors are paid more in the technology industry with an average salary of $101,922.On average, product engineers reach higher levels of education than design supervisors. Product engineers are 6.2% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.5% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Design supervisor 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.
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, design supervisor responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "autocad," "engineering drawings," "engineering design," and "graphic design." Meanwhile, an engineer has duties that require skills in areas such as "python," "cloud," "c++," and "c #." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
On average, engineers earn a higher salary than design supervisors. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, engineers earn the most pay in the automotive industry with an average salary of $97,672. Whereas design supervisors have higher pay in the technology industry, with an average salary of $101,922.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Engineers tend to reach higher levels of education than design supervisors. In fact, they're 6.0% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.5% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Design supervisor vs. Senior project engineer
A senior project engineer is responsible for monitoring the project team's overall process and operations from conceptualization until completion, ensuring the adherence to the clients' specifications, within the budget's goals, and the required deadline. Senior project engineers regularly communicate with the client regarding updates or necessary adjustments. They develop strategic procedures to finish the project efficiently by running diagnostic tests and troubleshooting discrepancies. A senior project engineer must have excellent communication and leadership skills to handle the team's performance and provide assistance when necessary.
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 supervisor resumes include skills like "autocad," "engineering drawings," "graphic design," and "design software," whereas a senior project engineer is more likely to list skills in "project management," "construction management," "cad," and "ul. "
Senior project engineers earn the highest salary when working in the automotive industry, where they receive an average salary of $104,214. Comparatively, design supervisors have the highest earning potential in the technology industry, with an average salary of $101,922.Most senior project engineers achieve a higher degree level compared to design supervisors. For example, they're 6.3% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.9% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Design supervisor vs. Project engineer
A Project Engineer develops the plan that the entire team or company will undertake. The project engineer develops the plans, strategies, and goals of a project and then gives it to the management for approval and allocation. The Project Engineer will also recommend material, equipment, and the type of personnel needed. This position is integral in the smooth flow of any project, so hiring someone to hold this position will decide the success of a project.
Types of design supervisor
Updated January 8, 2025
