Post job

Project field engineer vs product development engineer

The differences between project field engineers and product development 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 project field engineer and a product development engineer. Additionally, a product development engineer has an average salary of $86,075, which is higher than the $71,292 average annual salary of a project field engineer.

The top three skills for a project field engineer include shop drawings, project management and OSHA. The most important skills for a product development engineer are CAD, solidworks, and product development.

Project field engineer vs product development engineer overview

Project Field EngineerProduct Development Engineer
Yearly salary$71,292$86,075
Hourly rate$34.27$41.38
Growth rate7%2%
Number of jobs78,589202,155
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 75%Bachelor's Degree, 75%
Average age4141
Years of experience66

What does a project field engineer do?

Field engineers are engineering professionals who work on-site in a different setting to direct workers and report to the management about the status of different projects. These engineers are required to resolve malfunctions or other crises such as construction or machinery problems while overseeing repairs and technical improvements. They must conduct research and studies on-site and installing new systems and technology to ensure smooth operations of machinery. Field engineers must also communicate with clients to discuss and determine the needs and explain complex issues of projects.

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.

Project field engineer vs product development engineer salary

Project field engineers and product development engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Project Field EngineerProduct Development Engineer
Average salary$71,292$86,075
Salary rangeBetween $56,000 And $90,000Between $64,000 And $113,000
Highest paying CityRoseville, CASunnyvale, CA
Highest paying stateOklahomaCalifornia
Best paying companyOHL USAAmazon
Best paying industryEnergyTechnology

Differences between project field engineer and product development engineer education

There are a few differences between a project field engineer and a product development engineer in terms of educational background:

Project Field EngineerProduct Development Engineer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 75%Bachelor's Degree, 75%
Most common majorCivil EngineeringMechanical Engineering
Most common collegeColumbia University in the City of New YorkMichigan Technological University

Project field engineer vs product development engineer demographics

Here are the differences between project field engineers' and product development engineers' demographics:

Project Field EngineerProduct Development Engineer
Average age4141
Gender ratioMale, 91.1% Female, 8.9%Male, 86.8% Female, 13.2%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 4.1% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 12.0% Asian, 11.2% White, 67.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%Black or African American, 3.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.8% Asian, 16.7% White, 67.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%
LGBT Percentage5%5%

Differences between project field engineer and product development engineer duties and responsibilities

Project field engineer example responsibilities.

  • Manage work orders utilizing client's MAXIMO and BSL system.
  • Manage document control including change orders, billings, RFI tracking, purchasing documentation and contract administration.
  • Manage and/or participate in a variety of water and wastewater assist company principles as engineering consultants for numerous municipal clients.
  • Obtain and evaluate geotechnical data at project sites.
  • Negotiate change-order work and prepare monthly project CPM updates.
  • Create and maintain change order logs on each project also maintaining RFI logs on all projects.
  • Show more

Product development engineer example responsibilities.

  • 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.
  • Show more

Project field engineer vs product development engineer skills

Common project field engineer skills
  • Shop Drawings, 10%
  • Project Management, 9%
  • OSHA, 7%
  • Construction Management, 7%
  • Field Supervision, 6%
  • Construction Projects, 5%
Common product development engineer skills
  • CAD, 6%
  • Solidworks, 5%
  • Product Development, 5%
  • Project Management, 4%
  • Data Analysis, 4%
  • Product Design, 4%

Browse architecture and engineering jobs