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The differences between senior embedded software engineers and software 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 embedded software engineer, becoming a software design engineer takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a senior embedded software engineer has an average salary of $113,699, which is higher than the $98,799 average annual salary of a software design engineer.
The top three skills for a senior embedded software engineer include software development, python and linux. The most important skills for a software design engineer are software development, python, and software design.
| Senior Embedded Software Engineer | Software Design Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $113,699 | $98,799 |
| Hourly rate | $54.66 | $47.50 |
| Growth rate | 21% | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 207,872 | 315,080 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 4 |
A senior embedded software engineer is in charge of designing and developing software for embedded systems and equipment. In a company setting, their responsibilities include coordinating with different teams, identifying and meeting the company's needs, establishing guidelines for new systems, and implementing solutions in vulnerable areas for a smooth and efficient workflow. Furthermore, as a senior embedded software engineer, it is essential to lead and serve as a mentor to junior engineers, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
A software design engineer or SDE is part of a software development enterprise. Software design engineers determine the problems or issues and figure out how to establish programs to ease and automate the situations. They fabricate style sheets for the management of the individual aspects of huge engineering projects. It is their job to develop strategies for hardware architecture and software engineering. They also handle and mentor engineering interns for professional guidance.
Senior embedded software engineers and software design engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Senior Embedded Software Engineer | Software Design Engineer | |
| Average salary | $113,699 | $98,799 |
| Salary range | Between $88,000 And $146,000 | Between $74,000 And $130,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Apple | |
| Best paying industry | Retail | Technology |
There are a few differences between a senior embedded software engineer and a software design engineer in terms of educational background:
| Senior Embedded Software Engineer | Software Design Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Harvard University | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between senior embedded software engineers' and software design engineers' demographics:
| Senior Embedded Software Engineer | Software Design Engineer | |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 90.5% Female, 9.5% | Male, 81.6% Female, 18.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.6% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.3% Asian, 30.5% White, 51.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 4.5% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.2% Asian, 29.9% White, 52.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |