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Job outlook for senior product development engineers in the United States
Senior product development engineer job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected senior product development engineer job growth rate is 2% from 2018-2028.
About 6,400 new jobs for senior product development engineers are projected over the next decade.
Senior product development engineer salaries have increased 7% for senior product development engineers in the last 5 years.
There are over 28,151 senior product development engineers currently employed in the United States.
There are 195,294 active senior product development engineer job openings in the US.
The average senior product development engineer salary is $98,348.
Are senior product development engineer jobs in demand?
Senior product development engineer job and salary trends over time
Senior product development engineer jobs over time
Senior product development engineer job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 28,151 | 0.01% |
| 2020 | 29,655 | 0.01% |
| 2019 | 30,921 | 0.01% |
| 2018 | 30,527 | 0.01% |
| 2017 | 29,292 | 0.01% |
Average senior product development engineer salary over time
Senior product development engineer salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $98,348 | $47.28 | +2.0% |
| 2024 | $96,460 | $46.38 | +1.2% |
| 2023 | $95,304 | $45.82 | +1.7% |
| 2022 | $93,679 | $45.04 | +2.0% |
| 2021 | $91,835 | $44.15 | +0.7% |
Senior product development engineer jobs by state
Most common states for senior product development engineers
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 451 | 65% |
| 2 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 3,855 | 52% |
| 3 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 691 | 51% |
| 4 | Vermont | 623,657 | 293 | 47% |
| 5 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 3,136 | 37% |
| 6 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 2,232 | 37% |
| 7 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 2,051 | 37% |
| 8 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 2,507 | 36% |
| 9 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 273 | 36% |
| 10 | Alaska | 739,795 | 264 | 36% |
| 11 | Georgia | 10,429,379 | 3,348 | 32% |
| 12 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 618 | 32% |
| 13 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 3,230 | 31% |
| 14 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 2,114 | 31% |
| 15 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 1,717 | 31% |
| 16 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 267 | 31% |
| 17 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 1,751 | 30% |
| 18 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 899 | 29% |
| 19 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 607 | 29% |
| 20 | California | 39,536,653 | 10,841 | 27% |
Most common cities for senior product development engineers
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chanhassen | 3 | 12% | $91,647 |
| 2 | Canton | 1 | 4% | $93,275 |
| 3 | Waltham | 2 | 3% | $113,487 |
| 4 | Goleta | 1 | 3% | $121,834 |
| 5 | Ann Arbor | 2 | 2% | $89,470 |
| 6 | Wichita | 2 | 1% | $74,517 |
| 7 | New Haven | 1 | 1% | $103,827 |
| 8 | Springfield | 1 | 1% | $87,450 |
| 9 | Boston | 2 | 0% | $113,574 |
| 10 | Atlanta | 1 | 0% | $93,738 |
| 11 | Indianapolis | 1 | 0% | $86,830 |
| 12 | San Jose | 1 | 0% | $125,574 |
Senior Product Development Engineer job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of senior product development engineer experts
Seattle University
University of Minnesota - Duluth
New Jersey Institute of Technology
Weber State University
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
Missouri University of Science and Technology
Duke University
Marshall University
University of Wisconsin - Green Bay
York College of Pennsylvania
What Senior Product Development Engineer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Tzuyang Yu Ph.D.: Improve communication skills, develop organization skills, continue learning new knowledge in the areas related to work, expand connections by learning what other people do, identify one or two mentors as role models for long-term career development.
What will help Senior Product Development Engineers increase their earning potential?
Tzuyang Yu Ph.D.: A few tips to share with junior engineers are listed below. Be eager to learn from peers and other senior engineers, be open-minded to make friends, be adaptive to different cultures in the work environment, be professional (e.g., be punctual at deadlines, be mindful in appearance), be empathetic (focus on people, not mobile devices).
What Senior Product Development Engineer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Kambiz Farahmand Ph.D., P.E.: Hit the ground running. If you are asked to put in 40 hours work 50 hours. Prove yourself and always take on new challenges since that is how you grow.
What will help Senior Product Development Engineers increase their earning potential?
Kambiz Farahmand Ph.D., P.E.: All engineering and technical skills will be in need. People who are capable to use technology will be in high demand. Project management skills. Ability to use various software and be able to do some coding. Understanding of AI and how it applies to the specific work that you do.
What general advice would you give to a Senior Product Development Engineer?
Julie Brandis: Oregon State University provides support in salary negotiation, also students can work with mentors who are familiar with company hiring practices and wage structures. If you have internship experience, that can help to boost your starting salary.
What Senior Product Development Engineer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Julie Brandis: The nation needs engineers across many disciplines. There isn’t one skill that is needed. Honesty and integrity (do what’s right, be honest and be dependable) Leadership - ability to meet deadlines, resolve conflict, balance competing demands, communicate in groups and influence peers, manage budgets
Christopher Misorski FASM
Brunswick Technical Fellow-Materials Product Development & EngineeringWhat will help Senior Product Development Engineers increase their earning potential?
Christopher Misorski FASM: Maximizing salary potential at the start of your career is not a clear pathway generally. One way that you can be considered more valuable, and hence worth a better salary, is to have participated in a co-op or internship program with a company in your field. This experience gives employers some confidence that you were able to carry out assignments and thrive in a workplace environment. The employer that you worked for may be inclined to offer you a position upon graduation and you are now worth more because you have already proven to them your abilities. Even if they don’t offer you a job (no appropriate open position may be available) your ability to discuss your experiences with the HR recruiter or hiring manager at another company can instill confidence in your selection as a hire. Just remember, if you tell them you did a project, be prepared to explain it so it doesn’t appear you were just in the background of this project, just going along for the ride.
What Senior Product Development Engineer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Thomas Congedo PhD: That comes from your ability to focus on technical product of the highest quality, always seeking to truly understand the customer’s needs. For example, often a customer will phrase a problem by stating the solution he or she assumes. Taking the time to respectfully draw out the thinking further can make you the customer’s hero, and this makes you the person likely to be selected for the challenging and most rewarded assignments.
Jhon Smith
Associate Professor and Director of MS in Structural EngineeringSeattle University
Civil Engineering
What general advice would you give to a Senior Product Development Engineer?
Jhon Smith: Do not be afraid to ask questions to your supervisors (although do not take it to an extreme and become demanding—show initiative). You get the fundamentals of engineering at school and you are equipped to use them but it takes a few years to feel comfortable. Engineering is a profession of practice and it is only through practice that you best learn it.
What Senior Product Development Engineer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Jhon Smith: Expand your network, join professional organizations and committees, become valuable in whatever company you work for, never stop learning, seek for opportunities for professional work, get your PE license. After these you will become more valuable naturally and could comfortably ask for a promotion or a salary increase because you’d know you deserve it.
Jiayue Shen
Mechanical Engineering Technology Program CoordinatorWhat general advice would you give to a Senior Product Development Engineer?
Jiayue Shen: To maximize your salary potential when starting your career in Mechanical Engineering Technology, contemplate acquiring certifications like the FE or PE license, or additional training in high-demand specialized areas such as semiconductors. Moreover, gaining practical experience through academic clubs, undergraduate research, internships, or co-op programs can increase your appeal to employers, potentially resulting in higher salary offers.
What Senior Product Development Engineer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Jiayue Shen: It's essential to stay curious and eager to learn, as the field is continually evolving. Keeping abreast of the latest technologies and trends through seeking out learning opportunities and maintaining a curiosity about new developments is crucial. Additionally, building a robust professional network and seeking mentorship can offer valuable insights and guidance. Embracing interdisciplinary projects is also key, as the field is expanding beyond purely mechanical aspects. Being dynamic and proactive in interacting with individuals from diverse backgrounds will be beneficial, as collaboration across disciplines is increasingly important in this field.
What will help Senior Product Development Engineers increase their earning potential?
Richard Davis: Engineering offers career opportunities across various industries, from technology and healthcare to infrastructure and environmental sustainability. With technological advancements and the increasing complexity of global challenges, such as climate change, food and clean water, and urbanization, engineers are in high demand to develop innovative solutions. For example, environmental engineers are crucial in developing sustainable solutions to reduce pollution and conserve resources. Engineering provides opportunities for creativity and problem-solving, making it a rewarding career choice for those who enjoy tackling complex problems. The global focus on sustainability and renewable energy presents exciting prospects for engineers to contribute to meaningful projects that positively impact society and the environment.
What general advice would you give to a Senior Product Development Engineer?
Mishah Salman Ph.D.: An underappreciated skill that I think will become more sought-after is the ability to validate computer-made decisions and their shortcomings. With the growing prominence of AI use in design, problem solving, and decision making, the engineering field will need experts to error-check decisions made using these technologies. Sometimes there are unexplored gaps that these technologies overlook, and sometimes there are biases or inappropriate assumptions baked into AI-based results. Humans are inherently imaginative and creative. We excel at picking up on things that computer algorithms may miss. Talented experts that recognize and address these issues will remain invaluable in the workforce. Another indispensable skill that is often overlooked in engineering is effective interpersonal communication. Whether in a teamwork context, a leadership role, or a client interaction, competent communication is crucial. This can take the form of conversation, live presentations, written correspondence, and beyond. People that hone their communication skills are often recognized, and tend to be the individuals that are promoted to more senior roles.
What will help Senior Product Development Engineers increase their earning potential?
Mishah Salman Ph.D.: My advice to recent graduates is to be open to non-conventional roles. Taking on responsibilities beyond one’s official discipline provides broader value to employers. Many students that graduate with degrees in mechanical engineering (or similar disciplines) find great success by stepping outside of their expected job title. Sometimes exploring roles with titles like “analyst” or “manager” or “designer” can provide interesting opportunities to apply one’s engineering skillset in an alternate context. The real strength of your degree is the transferable skillset that you developed along your educational journey. Keep your options open!
What Senior Product Development Engineer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Mansooreh Mollaghasemi Ph.D.: Concurrent with building technical skills, they must build soft skills such as communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and leadership. These skills are often the differentiators between good and great engineers.
What Senior Product Development Engineer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Megumi Usui: Given the rapid advancement in AI technology, its potential integration into the drafting and design field remains uncertain in terms of timing and methodology. However, if and when AI becomes a significant component of this industry, it will be crucial to find ways to collaborate effectively with AI systems to leverage their capabilities for the betterment of society. As technology continues to advance at an unprecedented pace, this collaborative approach will be essential. In this evolving landscape, proficiency in CAD skills remains indispensable. It is important to emphasize that CAD expertise extends beyond mere modeling; professionals must also ensure that their designs are sustainable and adhere to the latest industry standards. This holistic approach is critical for addressing contemporary challenges and aligning with global sustainability goals. Moreover, the significance of complementary skills such as effective communication and time management cannot be overstated. These competencies are vital for the successful execution of projects and fostering productive collaboration within multidisciplinary teams. By integrating technical proficiency with these essential soft skills, professionals can excel in an increasingly dynamic and competitive environment, positioning themselves to adapt to future technological advancement.
What will help Senior Product Development Engineers increase their earning potential?
Megumi Usui: Even after obtaining a degree, it is crucial to recognize that continuous learning is a fundamental aspect of professional development in the workplace. One must cultivate an open-minded attitude and demonstrate a willingness to acquire new knowledge and skills at any time and in any context. Effective communication with colleagues and clients is essential for successful collaboration and project execution. It is important to understand that the professional environment is significantly different from the academic setting. In a company, the focus is delivering work that meets the expectations and standards set by the employer and satisfies the needs of clients, rather than merely fulfilling personal criteria. Furthermore, it is imperative to produce high-quality work consistently. Mediocre performance is unacceptable, and organizations will not hesitate to seek replacements if the work delivered does not meet their standards. Ensuring that your work is thorough, precise, and aligns with the company's objectives is critical for maintaining the position and advancing their career.
What general advice would you give to a Senior Product Development Engineer?
Michael Denn: 1. Become the expert in whatever you do. 2. Understand how your work fits into the bigger picture and keep that in mind when you do your work. 3. Keep learning! Your engineering degree is not the end of your education! 4. Take stretch assignments and opportunities whenever you can.
What will help Senior Product Development Engineers increase their earning potential?
Michael Denn: The answers to this question are largely the same as the answer to question 1. However, here are some additional points: 1. Excel in your job. Become the person everyone goes to for whatever type of work you do. 2. Develop and maintain a career plan. Make sure your assignments and tasks align with your plan. When you have the opportunity to change positions, keep you plan in mind.
What will help Senior Product Development Engineers increase their earning potential?
Dr. Elizabeth Adams PhD, PE: My personal recommendation for maximizing your salary potential is to play the long game. Focus on learning and becoming an expert in your field – find the area you enjoy working in and get really good at it. Maybe it’s bridge construction, maybe it’s electrical infrastructure, maybe it’s project management. Internships and co-op experiences during your college years are invaluable as they are excellent resume boosters and networking opportunities, and they can help you differentiate between areas you are more and less interested in.
What will help Senior Product Development Engineers increase their earning potential?
Dr. Kelvin Erickson: a. Artificial Intelligence - The use of artificial intelligence as a tool in engineering has been around for awhile, but there have not been many successes. There is a lot more interest now, which I expect will eventually find some uses. Programming - The programming may not be in the “traditional” language sense. But, one will be faced with an occasional programming task like writing an Excel macro, or a JavaScript or Python script.
What general advice would you give to a Senior Product Development Engineer?
Dr. Jimmie Lenz D.B.A.: A primary reason is the value placed on the quantitative nature of an engineering degree and the fact that this is primarily applied learning and skills, as opposed to the theoretical nature of some other areas of quantitative study. Being able to start working as soon as they start is very attractive to employers, as well as the broad knowledge of software, artificial intelligence, and data science that most engineers leave school with.
What general advice would you give to a Senior Product Development Engineer?
Daniel Armentrout: The excessive number of baby boomer engineers are retiring at high rates and you as a new engineering graduate are desperately needed to make up for their loss in the workforce. You will face challenges in your career we could not anticipate or prepare you for in your education. You will have to adapt and continue to learn new fields of study which did not exist when you graduated. We have given you tools to learn and you will have to use those tools to remain relevant throughout your career. Find your place as an engineer when you can be effective, help humanity, and have fun. Plot a career path where you can utilize your strengths and challenge your mind to do new things. Contribute to making a better world and you will be able to enjoy immense satisfaction and a sense of accomplishment.
What Senior Product Development Engineer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Daniel Armentrout: Expanded use of swarms of cheap sensors that communicate on multiple platforms for better understanding and control of complicated systems. Integrated use of artificial intelligence to increase our effectiveness in all aspects of our jobs.
What general advice would you give to a Senior Product Development Engineer?
Mohammed Daqaq: This is a difficult question to answer and is very much dependent on how satisfied an individual is about their job. I can comment on what I hear from students with regards to their ME education. Most engineers choose ME because of its breadth and that it allows them more freedom to maneuver the job market once they graduate. They can clearly see that, despite being one of the most traditional engineering disciplines, it is still very trendy with employers. They also like the hands-on nature of the discipline where they get to design, optimize, and build physical components that work and move together to achieve a desired task. As for the dislikes, some students complain about the fact that ME requires an in-depth understanding of many mathematical concepts which many students find to be challenging.
Dr. Yousef Sardahi
Associate Professor of Mechanical EngineeringMarshall University
Engineering
What Senior Product Development Engineer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Yousef Sardahi: In the next 3-5 years, several skills are expected to become increasingly important in the mechanical engineering field:
Advanced Computational Skills: Proficiency in simulation and modeling software (like ANSYS, SolidWorks, or MATLAB) will be crucial as these tools become more integral in designing and testing complex systems.
Robotics and Automation: With industries moving towards automation, skills in robotics, automated systems, and knowledge of AI integration will be highly sought after.
Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing: Expertise in 3D printing and additive manufacturing techniques will be valuable as these technologies revolutionize product development and manufacturing processes.
Renewable Energy Technologies: As the world shifts towards sustainable energy sources, mechanical engineers with knowledge in solar, wind, and other renewable energy technologies will be in high demand.
Data Analysis and IoT: Skills in data analytics and understanding the Internet of Things (IoT) will be important as more mechanical systems are connected and produce large amounts of data.
Materials Science: Knowledge in advanced materials, such as composites or smart materials, will be crucial for developing more efficient and sustainable products and systems.
Systems Engineering and Integration: The ability to understand and integrate various subsystems within a larger system will be key, especially in complex projects.
Project Management and Leadership: As projects become more complex, skills in project management and leadership will be essential for overseeing projects and leading teams effectively.
Interdisciplinary Collaboration: The ability to work effectively across disciplines, understanding aspects of electrical engineering, computer science, and even business, will be increasingly important.
Communication and Soft Skills: Strong communication skills, both for technical and non-technical audiences, along with teamwork and problem-solving skills, will always be invaluable in the engineering field.
Uises Gonzalez-Valle
Assistant ProfessorUniversity of Wisconsin - Green Bay
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians
What will help Senior Product Development Engineers increase their earning potential?
Uises Gonzalez-Valle: The beginning of professional life is not simple independent of the career path that you follow and ME and MET can have their own complications. However, some good advice would be to develop independence and adaptability which are key traits of an engineer, and always keep yourself updated with the most recent technological developments. If you are independent and adaptable, you have all the skills to learn and further your professional development. In addition, I would say it is essential to start building a network, including peers and mentors. Having a strong network of peers and mentors helps you significantly to progress in your professional line. From day-to-day to daily changing decisions, having a strong network to support would significantly help in building your professional path. Lastly, I would say that having a good Work-life balance is vital too, since our personal life is as important as our professional life. Remember, we should work to live instead of live to work.
Stephen Kuchnicki Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Chair, Department of Civil and Mechanical EngineeringYork College of Pennsylvania
Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering
What skills stand out on Senior Product Development Engineer resumes?
Stephen Kuchnicki Ph.D.: The skills that stand out are, oddly enough, not necessarily the skills one associates with a mechanical engineering degree. That's because those skills are assumed - sure, you have mechanical design experience in your toolbox, but who doesn't with an ME degree? What stands out are skills beyond the norm. Some knowledge of electronics is good because mechanical engineers work with electrical engineers all the time. Team skills - especially leadership - always stand out. Practical knowledge of machining - not as a machinist, but to understand that parts need to get made and how to design something that is more readily made by a professional machinist - is always a plus as well. Many of these skills come from having to build projects and get your hands dirty, so to speak. Just making something on paper doesn't do the trick because that troubleshooting is lost - as well as the very important engineering step of validating your design. That is, you designed your device to do A, B, and C. How well does your device do those things?
What hard/technical skills are most important for Senior Product Development Engineers?
Stephen Kuchnicki Ph.D.: Problem-solving with a foundation of sound engineering principles. Engineers are always trying to solve some problem or another. A lot of our classes are really about how you approach an unfamiliar problem logically and solve it. Sure, we have analysis and math involved in these problems in a class setting, but in the end, we are trying to get students to think logically from what they know to what they don't. That skill is transportable anywhere - I am thinking of students we've had working as co-op employees in a large vehicle manufacturing facility. There was a part that was getting dented somewhere in the process. These students had to figure out how they were getting dented and how to prevent it in the future. That's not something you see in a class - but the logical approach we keep stressing to them helps immensely.