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The differences between system design engineers and lead 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 system design engineer, becoming a lead design engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a lead design engineer has an average salary of $108,490, which is higher than the $107,704 average annual salary of a system design engineer.
The top three skills for a system design engineer include system design, architecture and MATLAB. The most important skills for a lead design engineer are CAD, project management, and lead design.
| System Design Engineer | Lead Design Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $107,704 | $108,490 |
| Hourly rate | $51.78 | $52.16 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 113,582 | 118,073 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 6 |
A system design engineer is an individual who participates in system design engineering and resolves manufacturing and service problems. System design engineers are required to collaborate with the system design team to research emerging technologies and develop new capabilities. They create design layouts by utilizing the use of CAD software such as AutoCad as well as supervise a group of CAD technicians. System design engineers must also provide customer service in the field and deliver individualized problem solving and system design support
A Lead Design Engineer produces design solutions that can be purchased, installed, and commissioned effectively. They are also responsible for the cost-effectiviness and safety of new designs.
System design engineers and lead design engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| System Design Engineer | Lead Design Engineer | |
| Average salary | $107,704 | $108,490 |
| Salary range | Between $77,000 And $149,000 | Between $82,000 And $143,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Meta | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Agriculture |
There are a few differences between a system design engineer and a lead design engineer in terms of educational background:
| System Design Engineer | Lead Design Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Michigan Technological University | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between system design engineers' and lead design engineers' demographics:
| System Design Engineer | Lead Design Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 91.2% Female, 8.8% | Male, 90.9% Female, 9.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.9% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.4% Asian, 15.4% White, 63.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 3.3% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 8.9% Asian, 15.5% White, 67.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 5% |