What does a product development engineer do?
A Product Development Engineer is responsible for creating and testing new product designs. They collaborate with market researchers to evaluate market needs, existing competition, and potential costs.
Product development engineer responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real product development engineer resumes:
- Manage design control including FMEA risk analysis, surgeon clinical input documentation, design verification and validation activities.
- Manage project from conceptual design through final debugging and animal/clinical testing resulting in a new business unit within the company.
- Create java test template design to vary equation specs and loop pattern bursts.
- Develop and maintain websites in HTML, CSS and JAVA script by writing, debugging, and testing.
- Set up, troubleshot and maintain the Linux and Unix machines used in the development, build and test of ADINA.
- Participate in engineering DFMEA activities.
- Develop lab monitoring applications utilizing LabView software.
- Participate in ISO certification readiness team and prepare documents.
- Develop several qualification validations to comply with FDA requirements.
- Support production and troubleshoots manufacturing issues guide by FMEA methodology.
- Perform engineering tests for verification and validation process regulate by the FDA.
- Design products using SolidWorks and other methods to develop prototypes to meet customer specifications.
- Design lift mechanisms and non-magnetic transport carts for MRI medical research applications using SolidWorks and CosmosWorks
- Evaluate product according to specifications per associate ISO 13485 and/or other applicable standards or requirements.
- Analyze and correlate events to provide timely updates to management via custom dashboards and data extraction.
Product development engineer skills and personality traits
We calculated that 6% of Product Development Engineers are proficient in CAD, Solidworks, and Product Development. They’re also known for soft skills such as Creativity, Listening skills, and Math skills.
We break down the percentage of Product Development Engineers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- CAD, 6%
Generate component, sub-assembly, and assembly level CAD design for combination product including primary and secondary packaging.
- Solidworks, 5%
Designed lift mechanisms and non-magnetic transport carts for MRI medical research applications using SolidWorks and CosmosWorks
- Product Development, 5%
Managed product development budgets and schedules along with developed testing protocol, conducting FEA analysis, developing various product acceptance criteria.
- Project Management, 4%
Project management responsibilities for sustaining engineering activities, which include material obsolescence and design changes for current surgical product lines.
- Data Analysis, 4%
Developed multiple visual basic enabled database applications to streamline data analysis and to organize and calculate manufacturing costs for quote preparation.
- Product Design, 4%
Developed and reviewed design prototypes, performed tests, finalized product design and facilitated product transfer to manufacturing for general production.
Most product development engineers use their skills in "cad," "solidworks," and "product development" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential product development engineer responsibilities here:
Creativity. The most essential soft skill for a product development engineer to carry out their responsibilities is creativity. This skill is important for the role because "mechanical engineers design and build complex pieces of equipment and machinery." Additionally, a product development engineer resume shows how their duties depend on creativity: "generated 3d models of concept product designs using autodesk inventor to send to customers. "
Listening skills. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling product development engineer duties is listening skills. The role rewards competence in this skill because "mechanical engineers often work on projects with others, such as architects and computer scientists." According to a product development engineer resume, here's how product development engineers can utilize listening skills in their job responsibilities: "communicated directly with the fda to resolve issues regarding disposable resuscitation bag testing methods. "
Math skills. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of product development engineers is math skills. This skill is critical to many everyday product development engineer duties, as "mechanical engineers use the principles of calculus, statistics, and other advanced subjects in math for analysis, design, and troubleshooting in their work." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "performed biomechanical motion studies for optimizing geometry, and prepared a complete pma investigational packet for submission to the fda. "
Mechanical skills. For certain product development engineer responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "mechanical skills." The day-to-day duties of a product development engineer rely on this skill, as "mechanical skills allow engineers to apply basic engineering concepts and mechanical processes to the design of new devices and systems." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what product development engineers do: "participated in mechanical testing of spine implants for validation/verification reports to submit to the fda. "
Problem-solving skills. Another crucial skill for a product development engineer to carry out their responsibilities is "problem-solving skills." A big part of what product development engineers relies on this skill, since "mechanical engineers need good problem-solving skills to take scientific principles and discoveries and use them to design and build useful products." How this skill relates to product development engineer duties can be seen in an example from a product development engineer resume snippet: "charged with overall product design integrity and reduction of engineering costs via design improvements and warranty problem resolution. "
The three companies that hire the most product development engineers are:
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Compare different product development engineers
Product development engineer vs. Engineer
Engineers are highly trained professionals who determine the feasibility of various projects, usually related to the construction industry. They are considered experts in mathematics and science, two disciplines that they need to use in designing and coming up with plans for projects. They should also be well-versed in different construction or industrial materials, and they ensure that appropriate materials are used for the project. They also ensure that the projects meet the requirements of the groups that hired them. They create spaces that would both address the needs of the end-users and the industry standards. They also ensure that the projects they make would stand the test of time.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, product development engineer responsibilities require skills like "product development," "product design," "prototype," and "ul." Meanwhile a typical engineer has skills in areas such as "python," "cloud," "c #," and "aws." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Engineers really shine in the automotive industry with an average salary of $97,672. Comparatively, product development engineers tend to make the most money in the technology industry with an average salary of $86,062.On average, engineers reach similar levels of education than product development engineers. Engineers are 2.7% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.3% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Product development engineer vs. Mechanical engineer
Mechanical Engineers oversee the development of various mechanical devices in different industries. Most of the responsibilities will revolve around crafting, improving, or designing technologies by utilizing extensive expertise in the subject; they identify and detect errors, provide in-depth analysis, and resolve issues. They are often in designated offices, but they can also work on-site and travel if necessary. Furthermore, Mechanical Engineers usually function in a group or team setting, often supervised by personnel in higher positions.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that product development engineer responsibilities requires skills like "data analysis," "prototype," "c++," and "fea." But a mechanical engineer might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "mechanical systems," "plumbing," "engineering design," and "creo."
Mechanical engineers earn a lower average salary than product development engineers. But mechanical engineers earn the highest pay in the energy industry, with an average salary of $84,748. Additionally, product development engineers earn the highest salaries in the technology with average pay of $86,062 annually.mechanical engineers earn similar levels of education than product development engineers in general. They're 3.9% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.3% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for product development engineers in the next 3-5 years?
Dr. Richard Onyancha
Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Department Head, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
Product development engineer vs. Staff engineer
Staff engineers are responsible for designing, developing, and inspecting various products, equipment, or structures. These professionals may perform varied duties depending on their specialization that includes overseeing the design and construction of buildings, bridges, sewer systems, and other infrastructure, estimating the financial costs of construction projects, and ensuring compliance with health and safety laws and regulations. Other duties include designing and developing machinery, tools, and engines, solving design problems, and building the manufacturing equipment needed to create their products.
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from product development engineer resumes include skills like "solidworks," "product design," "prototype," and "fea," whereas a staff engineer is more likely to list skills in "python," "architecture," "software development," and "api. "
Staff engineers make a very good living in the telecommunication industry with an average annual salary of $119,079. On the other hand, product development engineers are paid the highest salary in the technology industry, with average annual pay of $86,062.staff engineers typically earn similar educational levels compared to product development engineers. Specifically, they're 0.3% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 1.8% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Product development engineer vs. Facility engineer
A facilities engineer specializes in managing and maintaining equipment and machinery in manufacturing plants or similar settings. Duties will revolve around conducting research and analysis through extensive data and blueprints, evaluating systems using various reports, handling issues, providing corrective measures, and performing regular inspections and maintenance. Furthermore, it is essential to implement all safety standards and regulations to ensure a safe and productive work environment for everyone.
Types of product development engineer
Updated January 8, 2025
