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What is a development engineer/engineering manager and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
Quoted expert
Yi Yang PhD

Development Engineers are professionals who design, create, and test new products for companies. Due to their unique roles, they can work in any industry. The Development Engineer/ Engineering Manager devises detailed plans, processes, and procedures for the engineering staff to use and follow.

They conduct research on the market and the target audience before they can develop a new product. The manager also creates prototypes to evaluate his/her designs and implement necessary changes. Also, he/she provides specifications for the manufacturing process.

Getting a job in this position is easy if you have a bachelor's degree in engineering or a related field. You must have over six years of experience in a management role. More importantly, you must possess interpersonal, communication, creativity, analytical, and other advanced skills. On average, your salary is $83,586, and it ranges between $77,090 and $89,853.

What general advice would you give to a development engineer/engineering manager?

Yi Yang PhDYi Yang PhD LinkedIn profile

Associate Professor, Pennsylvania State University - Abington

For new graduates beginning their careers in engineering, I would advise them to consider the broader impact of their work and look for opportunities to expand their management potential. While engineering is a highly technical field, it's important to recognize the value of leadership roles in preserving a culture of innovation. By taking on these positions, you can help ensure that companies prioritize long-term innovation over short-term gains (cutting R&D to boost the balance sheet), thus preserving the engineering culture that drives meaningful progress.
ScoreDevelopment Engineer/Engineering ManagerUS Average
Salary
8.4

Avg. Salary $132,156

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
7.4

Growth rate 2%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
1.6
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.16%

Asian 14.03%

Black or African American 3.12%

Hispanic or Latino 8.93%

Unknown 4.68%

White 69.08%

Gender

female 9.67%

male 90.33%

Age - 48
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 - 48
Stress level
7.4

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
10.0

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance
3.5

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Development engineer/engineering manager career paths

Key steps to become a development engineer/engineering manager

  1. Explore development engineer/engineering manager education requirements

    Most common development engineer/engineering manager degrees

    Bachelor's

    74.2 %

    Master's

    16.6 %

    Associate

    5.8 %
  2. Start to develop specific development engineer/engineering manager skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Java11.15%
    Architecture6.68%
    Software Development6.52%
    R5.38%
    Project Management5.15%
  3. Complete relevant development engineer/engineering manager training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New development engineer/engineering managers 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 development engineer/engineering manager based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real development engineer/engineering manager resumes.
  4. Research development engineer/engineering manager duties and responsibilities

    • Work directly with approval agencies (CSA, UL, and CE) to manage certifications.
    • Manage multiple OEM and localization projects simultaneously.
    • Manage scheduling and implementation of technology for applications migrations to cloud, ensuring consistency adherence to university practices.
    • Introduce proprietary mesh RF network (IoT) battery-powered NIR thermal sensors.
  5. Prepare your development engineer/engineering manager resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your development engineer/engineering manager 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 development engineer/engineering manager resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable development engineer/engineering manager resume templates

    Build a professional development engineer/engineering manager 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 development engineer/engineering manager resume.
    Development Engineer/Engineering Manager Resume
    Development Engineer/Engineering Manager Resume
    Development Engineer/Engineering Manager Resume
    Development Engineer/Engineering Manager Resume
    Development Engineer/Engineering Manager Resume
    Development Engineer/Engineering Manager Resume
    Development Engineer/Engineering Manager Resume
    Development Engineer/Engineering Manager Resume
    Development Engineer/Engineering Manager Resume
  6. Apply for development engineer/engineering manager jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a development engineer/engineering manager 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 development engineer/engineering manager job

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Average development engineer/engineering manager salary

The average development engineer/engineering manager salary in the United States is $132,156 per year or $64 per hour. Development engineer/engineering manager salaries range between $97,000 and $179,000 per year.

Average development engineer/engineering manager salary
$132,156 Yearly
$63.54 hourly

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How do development engineer/engineering managers rate their job?

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Development engineer/engineering manager reviews

profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Jan 2020
Pros

Being able to solve technical problems and manage staff for work

Cons

Less pay and not being able to freely speak what's on my mind


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Dec 2019
Pros

Solving problems with the utmost educated confidence

Cons

Indecisive colleagues and related problems because if their lack of ability and skills


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on May 2019
Pros

The logic and precision required as well as the ability to create something

Cons

The amount of time spent in the office


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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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