Post job

Digital design engineer vs control systems engineer

The differences between digital design engineers and control systems 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 digital design engineer and a control systems engineer. Additionally, a digital design engineer has an average salary of $108,993, which is higher than the $92,727 average annual salary of a control systems engineer.

The top three skills for a digital design engineer include digital design, synthesis and verilog. The most important skills for a control systems engineer are PLC, HMI, and C++.

Digital design engineer vs control systems engineer overview

Digital Design EngineerControl Systems Engineer
Yearly salary$108,993$92,727
Hourly rate$52.40$44.58
Growth rate3%3%
Number of jobs87,167133,220
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 67%Bachelor's Degree, 74%
Average age4545
Years of experience66

What does a digital design engineer do?

A digital design engineer is responsible for developing technology solutions to create digital content and improve its marketing factors in various media platforms. Digital design engineers research the current trends in the technology industry to provide timely deliverables according to business requirements and client specifications. They also identify cost-efficient techniques and resources for outputs and ensure that the product maintains or exceeds high-quality standards. A digital design engineer must have excellent communication and technical skills to navigate different network platforms and assess the feasibility of every design.

What does a control systems engineer do?

Control systems engineers are interdisciplinary engineers managing the company's control systems. They are expected to be familiar with different engineering disciplines such as mechanical, industrial, and computer science, among others. They are responsible for designing systems based on the company's requirements. Control systems engineers must conduct feasibility studies to ensure that the company's requirements can be met. They are also responsible for developing the systems, creating prototypes, and testing. They test whether the control systems produce desired results. After testing, control systems engineers implement the system and conduct routine maintenance checks.

Digital design engineer vs control systems engineer salary

Digital design engineers and control systems engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Digital Design EngineerControl Systems Engineer
Average salary$108,993$92,727
Salary rangeBetween $82,000 And $143,000Between $72,000 And $118,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateWashingtonCalifornia
Best paying companyMetaApple
Best paying industryAutomotiveAutomotive

Differences between digital design engineer and control systems engineer education

There are a few differences between a digital design engineer and a control systems engineer in terms of educational background:

Digital Design EngineerControl Systems Engineer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 67%Bachelor's Degree, 74%
Most common majorElectrical EngineeringElectrical Engineering
Most common collegeNortheastern UniversityGeorgia Institute of Technology

Digital design engineer vs control systems engineer demographics

Here are the differences between digital design engineers' and control systems engineers' demographics:

Digital Design EngineerControl Systems Engineer
Average age4545
Gender ratioMale, 90.3% Female, 9.7%Male, 90.5% Female, 9.5%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 4.6% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 10.5% Asian, 19.9% White, 60.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%Black or African American, 5.0% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.6% Asian, 15.4% White, 63.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between digital design engineer and control systems engineer duties and responsibilities

Digital design engineer example responsibilities.

  • Manage DSP communication applications and algorithms for cellular base stations and cable modems.
  • Perform EMI debugging and validate system to achieve compliance certification for both FCC and CE marks.
  • Perform back-end flow from RTL code synthesis, timing driven physical design to achieve a timing closure type-out database.
  • Design and build digital, analog, and RF circuitry for digital circuit test equipment
  • Incorporate the knowledge of the end-to-end ASIC design flow from RTL to GDSII file generation.
  • Redesign a parameter encoder ASIC (600k gates , 0.35u), performing VHDL updates to a largely schematic-base design.
  • Show more

Control systems engineer example responsibilities.

  • Lead the development of smarter controls utilizing DeviceNet and Profibus architecture.
  • Establish communication links and prepare machines for bench-testing to attain UL certification.
  • Research NFPA, ISA, NEC, OSHA, specs and standards.
  • Install Allen-Bradley PLCS, interface to DCS.
  • Set up Ethernet communications from K-tron feeders back to DCS.
  • Assist commissioning team of gas analyzers for ISO compliance of equipment.
  • Show more

Digital design engineer vs control systems engineer skills

Common digital design engineer skills
  • Digital Design, 12%
  • Synthesis, 8%
  • Verilog, 5%
  • RTL, 4%
  • SOC, 4%
  • RF, 4%
Common control systems engineer skills
  • PLC, 9%
  • HMI, 8%
  • C++, 7%
  • MATLAB, 6%
  • Simulink, 5%
  • Troubleshoot, 4%

Browse architecture and engineering jobs