Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between senior computer engineers and senior design engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a senior computer engineer, becoming a senior design engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a senior computer engineer has an average salary of $127,660, which is higher than the $104,698 average annual salary of a senior design engineer.
The top three skills for a senior computer engineer include C++, CAD and infrastructure. The most important skills for a senior design engineer are CAD, project management, and RF.
| Senior Computer Engineer | Senior Design Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $127,660 | $104,698 |
| Hourly rate | $61.38 | $50.34 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 42,662 | 127,035 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 44 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 6 |
A senior computer engineer's main goal is to conduct research and design different types of computer hardware and software systems. They must know to manage servers and create automation in projects. They should also know how to resolve network issues and troubleshoot problems.
A senior design engineer is responsible for creating mechanical and electrical designs for machines and systems, following clients' specifications and business guidelines. Senior design engineers also assist junior design engineers with their tasks, sharing best practices and techniques, and suggesting adjustments as needed. They also oversee the manufacturing process, inspect possible inconsistencies, and revise plans without exceeding the agreed budget or compromising the quality. A senior design engineer must be keen with details and highly organizational, especially on meeting deadlines with the highest client satisfaction.
Senior computer engineers and senior design engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Senior Computer Engineer | Senior Design Engineer | |
| Average salary | $127,660 | $104,698 |
| Salary range | Between $94,000 And $173,000 | Between $80,000 And $136,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Cupertino, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | California |
| Best paying company | Apple | |
| Best paying industry | Retail | Technology |
There are a few differences between a senior computer engineer and a senior design engineer in terms of educational background:
| Senior Computer Engineer | Senior Design Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Harvard University | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between senior computer engineers' and senior design engineers' demographics:
| Senior Computer Engineer | Senior Design Engineer | |
| Average age | 44 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 88.3% Female, 11.7% | Male, 91.8% Female, 8.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.1% Unknown, 2.9% Hispanic or Latino, 9.5% Asian, 29.7% White, 50.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 3.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 17.1% White, 67.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 5% |