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Digital design engineer vs controls engineer

The differences between digital design engineers and controls 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 controls engineer. Additionally, a digital design engineer has an average salary of $108,993, which is higher than the $84,532 average annual salary of a controls engineer.

The top three skills for a digital design engineer include digital design, synthesis and verilog. The most important skills for a controls engineer are C++, troubleshoot, and UL.

Digital design engineer vs controls engineer overview

Digital Design EngineerControls Engineer
Yearly salary$108,993$84,532
Hourly rate$52.40$40.64
Growth rate3%3%
Number of jobs87,16750,203
Job satisfaction-4
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 67%Bachelor's Degree, 67%
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 controls engineer do?

A Controls Engineer is responsible for designing, developing, and supervising electrical control systems, machinery, and equipment. They oversee projects from initial concept to installation and commissioning.

Digital design engineer vs controls engineer salary

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

Digital Design EngineerControls Engineer
Average salary$108,993$84,532
Salary rangeBetween $82,000 And $143,000Between $64,000 And $111,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CAPalo Alto, CA
Highest paying stateWashingtonCalifornia
Best paying companyMetaApple
Best paying industryAutomotiveAutomotive

Differences between digital design engineer and controls engineer education

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

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

Digital design engineer vs controls engineer demographics

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

Digital Design EngineerControls Engineer
Average age4545
Gender ratioMale, 90.3% Female, 9.7%Male, 90.8% Female, 9.2%
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, 4.8% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.1% Asian, 14.5% White, 64.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between digital design engineer and controls 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

Controls engineer example responsibilities.

  • Lead team to upgrade new syringe lines to current OSHA and NFPA safety standards.
  • Lead a team of 12 programmers to validate a common library of 70 DeltaV modules.
  • Promote to manage the advanced process control (APC) program, responsible for the generation of $30MM per year.
  • Establish communication links and prepare machines for bench-testing to attain UL certification.
  • Design electrical controls using Allen-Bradley PLC for automatic filling of emergency breathing air bottles.
  • Complete system design, installation, troubleshooting and technical support of PC and PLC control automated and robotic manufacturing equipment.
  • Show more

Digital design engineer vs controls engineer skills

Common digital design engineer skills
  • Digital Design, 12%
  • Synthesis, 8%
  • Verilog, 5%
  • RTL, 4%
  • SOC, 4%
  • RF, 4%
Common controls engineer skills
  • C++, 8%
  • Troubleshoot, 6%
  • UL, 5%
  • Hmi Programming, 4%
  • MATLAB, 4%
  • Simulink, 4%

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