What does an engineering associate do?
An engineering associate is an individual whose job duties include analysis of project plans, development of product designs, and maintenance of equipment. The engineering fields where an engineering associate can find a job include civil, mechanical, and environmental. The requirements to qualify for the position include obtaining a bachelor's degree in engineering, familiarity with a specific industry, prior work experience related to the field, and possessing strong technical skills.
Engineering associate responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real engineering associate resumes:
- Work closely with project managers, procurement, shipping/receiving, stores, QA and project leads.
- Manage and analyze the SEO, SEM and analytics programs for both defensive and offensive marketing opportunities.
- Demonstrate professionalism and the ability to manage projects independently, performing facility layouts within AutoCAD to forecast customer costs.
- Work in maintaining the database and data analysis of all the records using SQL.
- Create PowerPoint exhibits for traffic report.
- Develop test scripts to deal with pop-up windows and alerts.
- Develop a plant model of a stump cutter on Simulink software.
- Design vinyl windows & door, from conception, to end product.
- Develop MATLAB Simulink models of various electrical loads for production vehicle testing.
- Work in a team of 10 to ensure maintenance of servers, IP addresses
- Review Java thread and heap dumps to find root cause of unexpect software behavior.
- Present SEO recommendations to site redesigns, product enhancements, and new site features.
- Monitor daily SQL jobs, event logs, error logs and performance of the database.
- Design and construction of mine infrastructure: haul roads, ponds, diversions, etc.
- Implement custom java programs to split the service start and end date on a yearly basis.
Engineering associate skills and personality traits
We calculated that 7% of Engineering Associates are proficient in Python, Java, and CAD. They’re also known for soft skills such as Mechanical skills, Writing skills, and Reading skills.
We break down the percentage of Engineering Associates that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Python, 7%
Used Python scripts to generate various reports like transaction history, user privileges, limit rules and commission schedule reports.
- Java, 6%
Implemented custom java programs to split the service start and end date on a yearly basis.
- CAD, 6%
Design responsibilities included development of process and instrumentation schematic, facility conceptual layout, and CAD drawings.
- C++, 5%
Developed a programmable simulator using C++ for various operating system scheduling algorithms.
- Project Management, 5%
Provided project management for assigned projects including cost estimating, scheduling, coordination and quality control.
- UL, 3%
Investigate hardware and specification needed for the GPS Interface, such as the Antenna, the GPS software and UL requirements.
Common skills that an engineering associate uses to do their job include "python," "java," and "cad." You can find details on the most important engineering associate responsibilities below.
Mechanical skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for an engineering associate to have is mechanical skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "electronic engineering technologists and technicians must use hand tools and soldering irons on small circuitry and electronic parts to build components by hand." Engineering associates often use mechanical skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "established mechanical and process engineering standards and procedures, using iso 9000 documentation. "
Writing skills. Another essential skill to perform engineering associate duties is writing skills. Engineering associates responsibilities require that "electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians write reports about onsite construction, design problems, or testing results." Engineering associates also use writing skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "worked with manufacturing and process engineers in material evaluation, data collection and writing process instructions. "
Math skills. A commonly-found skill in engineering associate job descriptions, "math skills" is essential to what engineering associates do. Engineering associate responsibilities rely on this skill because "electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians use mathematics for analysis, design, and troubleshooting tasks." You can also see how engineering associate duties rely on math skills in this resume example: "provided training in spc, iso 9000, problem solving, communication skills and mathematics to all levels of personnel. "
Problem-solving skills. Lastly, "problem-solving skills" is an important element of what an engineering associate does. Engineering associate responsibilities require this skill because "electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians must be able to identify and fix problems that arise in assembling and inspecting electrical engineers' designs and prototypes." This resume example highlights how engineering associate duties rely on this skill: "interpret complex engineering drawings, diagrams and schematics for comprehensive understanding of network systems and problem resolution. "
The three companies that hire the most engineering associates are:
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Compare different engineering associates
Engineering associate vs. Research engineer
Research Engineers are responsible for a wide range of duties, including researching and developing new technologies and prototypes, and finding solutions to improve techniques, procedures, and technologies.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of an engineering associate are more likely to require skills like "ul," "powerpoint," "troubleshoot," and "cost estimates." On the other hand, a job as a research engineer requires skills like "software development," "c," "research projects," and "strong analytical." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Research engineers earn the highest salaries when working in the start-up industry, with an average yearly salary of $141,240. On the other hand, engineering associates are paid more in the energy industry with an average salary of $88,950.The education levels that research engineers earn slightly differ from engineering associates. In particular, research engineers are 13.7% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than an engineering associate. Additionally, they're 8.3% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Engineering associate vs. Chemical engineer
A chemical engineer provides support for chemical operations and testing new processes. The processes they successfully come up with are used to make different products from gas, oil, food, and drink. It is their job to assist in designing new chemical processes and make improvements. They implement fresh ideas to improve standard quality and efficiency. They must be good planners and schedulers of project activities to help chemical technicians to achieve their project objectives and provide technical support to maintain safe, stable, and reliable operations.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real engineering associate resumes. While engineering associate responsibilities can utilize skills like "python," "java," "cad," and "c++," chemical engineers use skills like "chemistry," "co-op," "chemical process," and "safety procedures."
Chemical engineers may earn a higher salary than engineering associates, but chemical engineers earn the most pay in the energy industry with an average salary of $97,766. On the other hand, engineering associates receive higher pay in the energy industry, where they earn an average salary of $88,950.In general, chemical engineers achieve similar levels of education than engineering associates. They're 3.5% more likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 8.3% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for engineering associates in the next 3-5 years?
Dr. Aslihan Spaulding
Professor of Agribusiness and Food Industry Management, Illinois State University
Engineering associate 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.
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, engineering associates are more likely to have skills like "python," "java," "c++," and "c #." But a project engineer is more likely to have skills like "autocad," "construction management," "engineering design," and "project scope."
Project engineers earn the best pay in the energy industry, where they command an average salary of $85,761. Engineering associates earn the highest pay from the energy industry, with an average salary of $88,950.project engineers typically earn similar educational levels compared to engineering associates. Specifically, they're 3.1% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Engineering associate vs. Junior engineer
A Junior Engineer helps design, build, or maintain engines, machines, or public works. They work under the supervision of an engineer.
Even though a few skill sets overlap between engineering associates and junior engineers, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, an engineering associate might have more use for skills like "python," "cad," "ul," and "sql." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of junior engineers require skills like "provisioning," "matlab," "lan wan," and "lan. "
The technology industry tends to pay the highest salaries for junior engineers, with average annual pay of $72,489. Comparatively, the highest engineering associate annual salary comes from the energy industry.In general, junior engineers hold similar degree levels compared to engineering associates. Junior engineers are 0.5% more likely to earn their Master's Degree and 0.1% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Types of engineering associate
Updated January 8, 2025
