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The differences between principal 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 principal design engineer and a control systems engineer. Additionally, a principal design engineer has an average salary of $134,300, which is higher than the $92,727 average annual salary of a control systems engineer.
The top three skills for a principal design engineer include RF, principal design and CAD. The most important skills for a control systems engineer are PLC, HMI, and C++.
| Principal Design Engineer | Control Systems Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $134,300 | $92,727 |
| Hourly rate | $64.57 | $44.58 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 120,887 | 133,220 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
A principal design engineer is responsible for designing and managing manufacturing automation, renewable and solar systems integration engineering projects, and energy reduction projects. You will oversee the project's design, estimate and secure materials, and manage schedules. Additionally, you will be responsible for drafting and executing construction contracts, monitor project status and progress, and conducting engineering research and investigations. You will also train new design engineers, guide other departments on engineering matters, and keeping up-to-date with the latest industry trends.
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.
Principal design engineers and control systems engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Principal Design Engineer | Control Systems Engineer | |
| Average salary | $134,300 | $92,727 |
| Salary range | Between $99,000 And $180,000 | Between $72,000 And $118,000 |
| Highest paying City | Mountain View, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Microsoft | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a principal design engineer and a control systems engineer in terms of educational background:
| Principal Design Engineer | Control Systems Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Georgia Institute of Technology | Georgia Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between principal design engineers' and control systems engineers' demographics:
| Principal Design Engineer | Control Systems Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 92.4% Female, 7.6% | Male, 90.5% Female, 9.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.6% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 10.6% Asian, 19.7% 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 Percentage | 6% | 6% |