How To Become A Sustaining Engineer: What It Is and Career Path

What is a sustaining engineer and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted expert

Andrea Welker Ph.D.

A sustaining engineer is an individual that monitors and optimizes business operations. They help ensure that all processes of a business are efficient and cost-effective. And to do that, they spend most of their time analyzing business operations, conducting research, and coming up with optimization strategies to improve the company's efficiency and performance.

Furthermore, a sustaining engineer also evaluates the safety of operations, creates strategies to minimize workplace hazards, and recommends new software, tools, or equipment that can help the company achieve its business goals. When there are issues in operations, a sustaining engineer also participates in the resolution process efficiently and promptly.

Most sustaining engineers have degrees in electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, and electrical engineering technology. The majority also have work experience in similar roles prior to becoming sustaining engineers. To become successful in this role, you must also have exemplary communication, strategy, and people management skills, among others.

If you are on the fence about pursuing this career, perhaps the salary will motivate you. On average, a sustaining engineer makes around $45 an hour, which is $94,000 per year.

What general advice would you give to a sustaining engineer?

Andrea Welker Ph.D.

Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, College of Engineering Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Villanova University

Be open to new experiences. Find a good mentor. Become a valued employee. Always remember that you are designing something for someone.

ScoreSustaining EngineerUS Average

Salary

6.9

Avg. Salary $88,351

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

7.5

Growth rate 10%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

6.7

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.17%

Asian 15.14%

Black or African American 4.31%

Hispanic or Latino 10.57%

Unknown 3.89%

White 65.93%

Gender

female 12.48%

male 87.52%

Age - 41

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 41

Stress level

7.5

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

8.3

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

5.1

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a sustaining engineer

Explore sustaining engineer education requirements

Most common sustaining engineer degrees

Bachelor's

75.1 %

Associate

12.8 %

Master's

9.1 %

Start to develop specific sustaining engineer skills

Skills	Percentages
Troubleshoot	4.82%
Lean Six Sigma	4.34%
Lean Manufacturing	4.32%
Sigma	4.25%
Solidworks	3.92%

Complete relevant sustaining engineer training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New sustaining engineers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a sustaining engineer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real sustaining engineer resumes.

Research sustaining engineer duties and responsibilities

Manage the deployment and implementation of IPX/IGX/BPX switches worldwide.
Manage all design and manufacturing operations through strict FDA, MDD quality system requirements.
Manage donations tracking and CRM software including outreach emails, mailings, printing, and mailing list management.
Manage the manufacturing of defense and aerospace electro-mechanical print circuit boards from prototype to production level.

Prepare your sustaining engineer resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your sustaining engineer resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a sustaining engineer resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable sustaining engineer resume templates

Build a professional sustaining engineer resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your sustaining engineer resume.