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The differences between mechanical systems engineers and lead 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 mechanical systems engineer and a lead engineer. Additionally, a mechanical systems engineer has an average salary of $85,387, which is higher than the $84,927 average annual salary of a lead engineer.
The top three skills for a mechanical systems engineer include mechanical systems, CAD and system design. The most important skills for a lead engineer are java, python, and architecture.
| Mechanical Systems Engineer | Lead Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $85,387 | $84,927 |
| Hourly rate | $41.05 | $40.83 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 158,980 | 301,777 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 78% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
A mechanical systems engineer is responsible for designing tools and equipment, overseeing manufacturing processes, and running quality checks on the products to ensure adherence to business requirements and guidelines. Mechanical systems engineers analyze blueprints and specifications to recommend cost-reduction techniques and materials for production. They also inspect the operating systems and performance of equipment, resolving machinery failures, and modifying designs to improve feasibility. A mechanical systems engineer must have excellent technical and organizational skills, especially on researching current trends to identify opportunities that would generate more revenue resources and increase the company's profits.
A lead engineer's duties vary on their line of work or industry of employment. Typically, their responsibilities will revolve around overseeing the progress of operations and performance of the workforce, ensuring that everything is running smoothly. They are also responsible for addressing issues and concerns, assessing risks, monitoring the budget, coordinating with clients and architects, and even training workers. Furthermore, as a lead engineer, it is crucial to conduct regular inspections to ensure the quality of work and maintain a safe environment for all workers.
Mechanical systems engineers and lead engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Mechanical Systems Engineer | Lead Engineer | |
| Average salary | $85,387 | $84,927 |
| Salary range | Between $62,000 And $115,000 | Between $60,000 And $120,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Zoox | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a mechanical systems engineer and a lead engineer in terms of educational background:
| Mechanical Systems Engineer | Lead Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 78% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Michigan Technological University | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between mechanical systems engineers' and lead engineers' demographics:
| Mechanical Systems Engineer | Lead Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 91.5% Female, 8.5% | Male, 90.8% Female, 9.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.3% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 8.9% Asian, 12.8% White, 70.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | Black or African American, 3.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.8% Asian, 16.8% White, 67.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |