What does a product engineer do?
A product engineer specializes in designing and developing commercial materials and services. They are primarily responsible for conducting thorough research and analysis of the latest trends and marketing conditions to come up with new ideas and products for the public. Moreover, they are also responsible for producing reports and presentations, coordinating with the development team of their company. Product engineers also reach out to vendors and suppliers for the raw materials, set regulations and standards for the product, and even conduct a rigorous and regular quality check.
Product engineer responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real product engineer resumes:
- Lead team to achieve project objectives and report results to Sr. Management.
- Manage outsourced $500k mix mode voice security IC development.
- Manage various EHS activities at the Fremont, California facility.
- Manage coordination of APQP, component timing, and technical resource allocation for commercial issues.
- Manage the manufacturing of defense and aerospace electro-mechanical print circuit boards from prototype to production level.
- Sketch concepts (Creo), coordinate prototype builds, provide assembly instructions and troubleshoot build issues.
- Configure regression suite in JENKINS CI.
- Create JUNIT suites & creating Jenkins jobs for them.
- Replace an older system build entirely in ANT-XML and Java.
- Develop and code a software API command set for this program.
- Design all part files using UG NX or the current software.
- Save $500K by implementing six sigma projects on high runner products.
- Involve in development of LDAP authentication java utility classes for use in web applications.
- Create test plans and experiments (DVP) used in the developments of products.
- Design and detail private office furniture products using 3d modeling software (creo 2.0).
Product engineer skills and personality traits
We calculated that 6% of Product Engineers are proficient in CAD, Product Design, and Project Management. They’re also known for soft skills such as Mechanical skills, Creativity, and Listening skills.
We break down the percentage of Product Engineers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- CAD, 6%
Utilized SolidEdge for generating CAD data, and extensively operated in TeamCenter and SAP for documentation and data management.
- Product Design, 5%
Performed concept reviews, product design, verification and certification testing, tooling design and drawing/specification creation in support of manufacturing.
- Project Management, 4%
Applied design methodologies using 3-D software, AutoCAD, generating bill of materials, established engineering specifications and project management.
- C++, 4%
Managed and directed development in C++, for diagnostics testing the computer systems on board ships using COTS equipment.
- Solidworks, 3%
Utilized SolidWorks to create models of custom computer rack cabinets from customer specifications for estimating contract work.
- Product Development, 3%
Develop and recommend controls product enhancements based on customer input, work with new product development in integration of these recommendations.
"cad," "product design," and "project management" are among the most common skills that product engineers use at work. You can find even more product engineer responsibilities below, including:
Mechanical skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a product engineer to have is mechanical skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "mechanical skills allow engineers to apply basic engineering concepts and mechanical processes to the design of new devices and systems." Product engineers often use mechanical skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "performed the product design and testing of mechanical components for residential overhead door systems and created product design drawings for fabrication. "
Creativity. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling product engineer duties is creativity. The role rewards competence in this skill because "mechanical engineers design and build complex pieces of equipment and machinery." According to a product engineer resume, here's how product engineers can utilize creativity in their job responsibilities: "conducted inspections, fea(failure analysis) inspection reports, and managed inventory. "
Listening skills. This is an important skill for product engineers to perform their duties. For an example of how product engineer responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "mechanical engineers often work on projects with others, such as architects and computer scientists." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a product engineer: "provided failure analysis to define product design and quality issues and communicated effectively with cross-functional development teams. ".
Math skills. product engineer responsibilities often require "math skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "mechanical engineers use the principles of calculus, statistics, and other advanced subjects in math for analysis, design, and troubleshooting in their work." This resume example shows what product engineers do with math skills on a typical day: "developed applications to generate reports and graphs for quality control statistics, product performance statistics, and manage project inventory. "
Problem-solving skills. A commonly-found skill in product engineer job descriptions, "problem-solving skills" is essential to what product engineers do. Product engineer responsibilities rely on this skill because "mechanical engineers need good problem-solving skills to take scientific principles and discoveries and use them to design and build useful products." You can also see how product engineer duties rely on problem-solving skills in this resume example: "developed solutions to product design problems reported by manufacturing in order to timely restore production flow and meet delivery date. "
The three companies that hire the most product engineers are:
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Compare different product engineers
Product engineer vs. Mechanical design engineer
A mechanical design engineer specializes in designing various mechanical devices that will be vital in developing machinery or large structures. One of their primary responsibilities revolves around conducting thorough research and analysis, establishing layouts and prototypes, producing progress reports, and working alongside fellow engineers and skilled professionals. Typically assigned in an office setting, a mechanical design engineer must visit construction sites or factories to test and observe equipment qualities. Furthermore, during production, there are instances when a mechanical engineer must coordinate with suppliers, contractors, and clients.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between product engineers and mechanical design engineer. For instance, product engineer responsibilities require skills such as "c++," "solidworks," "continuous improvement," and "data analysis." Whereas a mechanical design engineer is skilled in "mechanical design," "creo," "engineering design," and "mechanical systems." This is part of what separates the two careers.
Mechanical design engineers earn the highest salaries when working in the automotive industry, with an average yearly salary of $87,483. On the other hand, product engineers are paid more in the technology industry with an average salary of $90,301.The education levels that mechanical design engineers earn slightly differ from product engineers. In particular, mechanical design engineers are 1.2% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a product engineer. Additionally, they're 0.2% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Product engineer vs. Research and development engineer
Research and development engineers generally execute research and tests on product ideas, develop new products, and perform redesigns. They are employed in many industries, including manufacturing, electrical, and science-based companies. Their duties vary and depend on the industries they work in. Responsibilities of these engineers include developing new technologies, designing products, and managing the projects until they are completed. Additionally, they lead the project team members to manage their schedules, design the project plans, and collaborate with key departments in developing new products.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that product engineer responsibilities requires skills like "continuous improvement," "troubleshoot," "dvp," and "corrective action." But a research and development engineer might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "python," "c #," "patients," and "prototype."
On average, research and development engineers earn a higher salary than product engineers. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, research and development engineers earn the most pay in the technology industry with an average salary of $107,654. Whereas product engineers have higher pay in the technology industry, with an average salary of $90,301.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Research and development engineers tend to reach higher levels of education than product engineers. In fact, they're 5.4% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.2% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for product engineers in the next 3-5 years?
Andrea Welker Ph.D.
Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, College of Engineering Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Villanova University
Product engineer vs. Quality control engineer
A quality control engineer is responsible for conducting quality assessments for the company's products and services to ensure adherence to federal regulations and quality standards. Quality control engineers recommend strategic methods by analyzing processes and writing test results. They also identify opportunities for more services that meet public demands and market trends, helping the business generate more resources for revenues. A quality control engineer utilizes various software tools and applications to document findings, requiring them to have excellent communication and technical skills.
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 engineer resumes include skills like "cad," "product design," "project management," and "c++," whereas a quality control engineer is more likely to list skills in "quality standards," "management system," "quality system," and "process control. "
Quality control engineers earn the best pay in the technology industry, where they command an average salary of $83,131. Product engineers earn the highest pay from the technology industry, with an average salary of $90,301.Most quality control engineers achieve a similar degree level compared to product engineers. For example, they're 1.6% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.2% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Product 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.
Even though a few skill sets overlap between product engineers and mechanical engineers, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a product engineer might have more use for skills like "c++," "continuous improvement," "data analysis," and "java." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of mechanical engineers require skills like "mechanical systems," "mechanical design," "plumbing," and "engineering design. "
Mechanical engineers enjoy the best pay in the energy industry, with an average salary of $84,748. For comparison, product engineers earn the highest salary in the technology industry.The average resume of mechanical engineers showed that they earn similar levels of education compared to product engineers. So much so that theyacirc;euro;trade;re 1.4% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 0.2%.Types of product engineer
Updated January 8, 2025
