What does a senior design project do?
A senior design project worker is responsible for developing digital content designs and applications using various software tools, following clients' specifications and requests. Senior designers must be highly-organizational and communicative, especially on providing progress updates to the client and performing multiple design adjustments as needed. A senior designer should create and recommend designs based on the clients' budget goals without compromising the quality of the output. Senior design projects work closely with the design engineering team to maintain flawless layouts and achieve client satisfaction.
Senior design project responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real senior design project resumes:
- Used CFD to evaluate airflow and test nozzle geometries that moreevenly distribute coal particulates to achieve optimal air fuel mixture.
- Design and lead hardware embed systems comprising brakes, door actuators, and HVAC units for buses, subways and trains.
- Engineer, manage and implement configuration and installation of complex Ethernet network backbones.
- Develop the software part in python for result display.
- Calculate the toe joint requirements using MATLAB base on the data from biomedical labs.
- Gain experience in impedance matching, component selection, RF design, and PCB design.
- Work with Accu-Router to design a better way to extract chips from the cutting surface of a CNC router.
- Involve in a cost-benefit analysis base study for optimizing the productivity of valve body fabrication process on a CNC.
- Master computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software, MixSim, to simulate tank agitation and obtain usable data.
- Code Arduino micro-controller to control stepper motor for seat operation.
- Perform aerodynamic testing of models in university wind tunnel using LabView.
- Create GUI optimization tool using python to improve accuracy in forecasting variables.
- Design and perform failure analysis of mechanical structures and electronics using ANSYS workbench.
- Present final design to manufacturing, global and medical device engineers through PowerPoint.
- Develop LabView virtual instrument that process and display visually, signals receive from a sensor
Senior design project skills and personality traits
We calculated that 11% of Senior Design Projects are proficient in Solidworks, Medical Devices, and Prototype. They’re also known for soft skills such as Mechanical skills, Creativity, and Listening skills.
We break down the percentage of Senior Design Projects that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Solidworks, 11%
Developed concept layout of potential designs using SolidWorks to convey manufacturing and production configurations to get designs 3D printed.
- Medical Devices, 9%
Assisted the Engineers in designing Medical Devices as well as created 3-D solid models, 3-D assemblies and detailed drawings.
- Prototype, 8%
Designed the prototype of power regulation, actuation and sensor system of Radiation Detection Robot with Nuclear and Mechanical engineering students.
- CAD, 7%
Participated in production and review of documentation including project proposal, progress reports, CAD assembly models, and machine drawings.
- Autocad, 7%
Created 2D electrical design drawings including cabling and wiring diagrams, equipment elevation, installation and fabrication using AutoCAD 2010.
- Design Projects, 6%
Managed both large and small commercial design projects from Schematic design through Site supervision.
Most senior design projects use their skills in "solidworks," "medical devices," and "prototype" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential senior design project responsibilities here:
Mechanical skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a senior design project 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." Senior design projects often use mechanical skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "formulated a mechanical design in autocad contingent on peer and advisor review while under a stringent departmental budget. "
Creativity. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling senior design project 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 senior design project resume, here's how senior design projects can utilize creativity in their job responsibilities: "completed adjustable height kitchen table for food industry as senior project created models using autocad and inventor and participated in design developments"
Listening skills. This is an important skill for senior design projects to perform their duties. For an example of how senior design project 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 senior design project: "designed a graphic user interface that communicated between the field fox analyzer and the stepper motors controlling the 2 axis table. ".
Math skills. senior design project 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 senior design projects do with math skills on a typical day: "collected data, built mathematical models, and simulated the system by using matlab/simulink. "
Problem-solving skills. A commonly-found skill in senior design project job descriptions, "problem-solving skills" is essential to what senior design projects do. Senior design project 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 senior design project duties rely on problem-solving skills in this resume example: "implemented the circuit and pcb layout for the team s proposed solution two weeks ahead of schedule. "
The three companies that hire the most senior design projects are:
- HNTB8 senior design projects jobs
- Perkins&Will3 senior design projects jobs
- Affiliated Engineers3 senior design projects jobs
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Senior design project vs. Consulting engineer
A consulting engineer is an individual who aids in the planning, designing, and construction of a project from the public and private clients. Consulting engineers are required to advise on the best component suitable according to the needs of their clients. They can manage the project by coordinating with designers, architects, and relevant persons who have commissioned the project. They may incorporate green sustainable energy solutions based on the demands of their clients. Consulting engineers must also conduct a feasibility study and prepare the estimated cost for the project.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, senior design project responsibilities require skills like "medical devices," "prototype," "design projects," and "arduino." Meanwhile a typical consulting engineer has skills in areas such as "java," "working independently," "project management," and "azure." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Consulting engineers really shine in the technology industry with an average salary of $99,126. Comparatively, senior design projects tend to make the most money in the technology industry with an average salary of $92,334.On average, consulting engineers reach higher levels of education than senior design projects. Consulting engineers are 11.7% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and 2.6% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Senior design project 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.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that senior design project responsibilities requires skills like "medical devices," "prototype," "autocad," and "design projects." But an engineer might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "cloud," "aws," "java," and "troubleshoot."
Engineers earn a lower average salary than senior design projects. But engineers earn the highest pay in the automotive industry, with an average salary of $97,672. Additionally, senior design projects earn the highest salaries in the technology with average pay of $92,334 annually.In general, engineers achieve higher levels of education than senior design projects. They're 7.3% more likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 2.6% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Senior design project 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.
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from senior design project resumes include skills like "medical devices," "prototype," "autocad," and "design projects," whereas a mechanical engineer is more likely to list skills in "mechanical systems," "mechanical design," "plumbing," and "project management. "
Mechanical engineers earn the best pay in the energy industry, where they command an average salary of $84,748. Senior design projects earn the highest pay from the technology industry, with an average salary of $92,334.When it comes to education, mechanical engineers tend to earn higher degree levels compared to senior design projects. In fact, they're 6.1% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.7% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Senior design project vs. Operations engineer
An operations engineer is an individual who is responsible for ensuring that the operations of a company are working properly in industries such as manufacturing or shipping. Operations engineers are required to handle repairs or upgrades to the company's machinery and coordinate with department heads to assist in fine-tuning their operations system. When they have upgraded their system, operations engineers should conduct training with managers as well as employees and other workers. They are also required to examine machinery for defects and communicate maintenance schedules with department heads.
Types of senior design project
Updated January 8, 2025











