what is a development engineer?
A development engineer designs new products or improves existing ones to increase revenue for a company. That means they need to know the phases of the product development cycle to design, develop and create new product ideas for businesses.
As a development engineer, you can work in any industry that manufactures consumer products, from pharmaceutical industries that produce medical equipment to toy manufacturers. It is crucial to understand mechanical engineering principles to succeed in your role, especially those involved in designing or developing equipment and gadgets. Some development engineers also develop the systems or components that facilitate the use of products.
what does a development engineer do?
Before you design a product, you conduct market research to identify gaps in the market. You use your research to decide on the features that will make your production stand out or to develop a new concept that meets the needs of consumers. After creating a prototype and design, you collaborate with engineers and other specialists in the field to ensure the product meets the quality standards. You also work with marketing teams to build a marketable product with promising returns on investment.
view jobsaverage salary of a development engineer
The median remuneration of a development engineer in Australia is $98,000 per year. Entry-level graduates in the role with minimal experience earn an average salary of $90,000 annually, while experienced development engineers take home $105,000 yearly. Employees also enjoy paid annual leave and sick days.
what factors affect the salary of a development engineer?
The main determinant of your remuneration package is work experience. When you are new in the role, you cannot perform complex duties without supervision. Experienced development engineers can negotiate higher salaries due to the value they add to the team. Your educational qualifications also influence your remuneration package. For instance, when you have a postgraduate qualification, you will earn more than development engineers with a bachelor's degree.
The industry you work in influences your earnings depending on the complexity of the role. If you work in a manufacturing company, your remuneration package depends on the products you develop. For instance, if your job is to design toys, your earnings are lower than a development engineer designing electronics and home appliances. Working in the pharmaceutical and automobile industries provides higher earnings than other business sectors.
Want to know what you will earn as a development engineer? Check out what you are worth with our salary checker.
types of development engineers
As a development engineer, you use your expertise to create products, from conceptualisation to the final production stage. In some cases, you specialise in the following areas:
- product design engineer: your job is to plan and build a functional product for your employer from the idea provided. You research various ways to implement the concept and prepare the technical drawings and prototypes. You also improve on existing products.
- product development engineer: your role is to supervise the entire product life cycle from idea conceptualisation to releasing the product to the market.
- test development engineer: your job is to run quality assurance tests and ensure a product meets industry standards. You also analyse the efficiency and functionality of the product.
- technical development engineer: as a development engineer in charge of the technical aspects, you create blueprints and drawings and check the artist renderings for practicability.
working as a development engineer
Working as a development engineer allows you to be part of the design team that creates useful products by actualising design ideas and market research analysis. Let's explore the duties and responsibilities of a development engineer.
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duties and responsibilities
As a development engineer, your daily tasks and responsibilities include:
- researching the viability of new product ideas: your job is to conceive new product ideas for the company. When you have an idea, you perform market research to determine its viability based on the target audience and any features that could improve the functionality of the product.
- designing products: you are in charge of converting the research findings into design plans and creating prototypes using computer-assisted engineering (CAE) or computer-aided design (CAD). You consult various stakeholders, analyse prototype testing data to generate the final designs used in production, and may work alongside industrial designers.
- determining the manufacturing specifications: when upper management approves your product design, you work on the manufacturing specifics. For instance, you determine the materials, manufacturing procedures and techniques to produce a quality product.
- testing: you test your idea at every stage, from its prototype to the sample released to the market. Beta testing helps gauge market reception, while quality assurance testing ensures the product meets industry standards.
- designing upgrades and improvement: as a product's market grows, it is important to find ways to improve its functionality and efficiency to ensure it serves a broad audience. Hence, you can follow the first product with a series that suits various market niches or improve the existing product with additional features.
- writing reports: your job also involves documenting every stage of the product development process. You present reports to upper management to assist in decision-making and measuring the product's viability.
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work environment
As a development engineer, you work in various industries, from manufacturing to consumer goods production firms. The work environment often varies depending on the industry and your roles. During the design stage, you work in an office environment to analyse field data and draw blueprints using computer-aided design software. You also meet with various stakeholders to discuss the project requirements. You supervise the production stages at the factory during the manufacturing phase. In some industries, you work in a laboratory environment to test products before they are produced for consumers.
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who are your colleagues?
Depending on your employer and the industry you work in, your colleagues might include process engineers, structural engineers, project engineers, mechanical engineers, electrical engineers, industrial designers and mechanical engineers. You might also be working in close proximity to project engineers and product managers, as well as other specialists that could include, but not be limited to, design engineers, factory managers, and production engineers.
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work schedule
Working as a development engineer is a full-time job of 40 hours a week. Since the development stages have deadlines, you may work overtime on weekdays and weekends to deal with issues that are behind schedule. Part-time opportunities are rare since it is a demanding job. However, you can work on a contract basis or freelance. The job also involves travelling to pitch product designs to investors or attend conferences.
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job outlook
As a development engineer, your job prospects improve as you gain experience and additional qualifications. For instance, achieving chartered status in engineering opens the door to management opportunities and senior roles. Development engineers often progress into supervisory roles like project managers or product managers. You can also use your expertise to join a consultancy or become a lecturer. Some development engineers specialise in specific roles like testing or product design.
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advantages of finding a development engineer job through randstad
Finding your development engineer job through Randstad provides important advantages such as:
- a wide variety of training and development opportunities
- an experienced contact person to provide help if needed
- a range of opportunities in your area
- get paid weekly or monthly, depending on the job
- temporary and permanent contracts
Want a permanent contract? A temporary job as a development engineer is often a stepping stone to an attractive permanent job. Every year, thousands of people earn a permanent contract with great employers thanks to a temporary job found through Randstad. What's more, many companies recruit their permanent employees through Randstad too.
education and skills
A development engineer requires the following educational qualifications:
- bachelor's degree: to become a development engineer, learn various design concepts and develop blueprints and prototypes. Since development engineering is a branch of mechanical engineering, consider pursuing a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering. Other areas of study for the role are computer science, software engineering and computer graphics.
- work experience: when you complete your bachelor's degree, complete an internship to improve your work experience. Also, consider working in entry-level positions and shadowing senior engineers to learn the ropes.
skills and competencies
The skills you need as a development engineer include:
- communication: good communication skills help you communicate clearly with clients, team members and company stakeholders when explaining the product design or development process.
- research skills: market research is important in determining the consumer needs and features to include in a product. Research skills help you understand the target market and competition before designing a product.
- attention to detail: you draw blueprints and prepare technical drawings for various products. If you aren't detail-oriented, you are likely to miss important aspects of the design specifications.
- computer skills: you need computer skills since you will use computer-aided applications to create your designs. Experience in using CAD applications also helps you draw exceptional designs.
- interpersonal skills: as a development engineer, you work alongside various professionals. You need interpersonal skills to collaborate with them and avoid conflicts.
FAQs about working as a development engineer
Here are the most asked questions about working as a development engineer:
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what is the role of a development engineer?
As a development engineer, you conduct market research and develop new product design ideas. You develop features for the product and create prototypes to be used in production or manufacturing. You conduct product testing and adjust the features based on customer feedback. Development engineers also design product upgrades and improvements based on market research.
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what is the salary of a development engineer in australia?
A development engineer in Australia takes home a lucrative remuneration package of $98,000 per year. The salary fluctuates based on your skills and experience. Entry-level workers with minimal experience earn an average salary of $90,000 annually. As you improve your skills and become an expert in the field, your remuneration package increases to $105,000 per year.
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what bachelor's degree do you require to become a development engineer?
Development engineering is a technical field that requires extensive knowledge of product design and engineering techniques. Hence, landing a job as a development engineer requires a bachelor's degree in a relevant subject like computer science or software engineering. You can also become a development engineer if you have a bachelor's in engineering in any area of specialisation like civil or mechanical. While a postgraduate degree isn't compulsory, it improves your job prospects.
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where does a development engineer work?
As a development engineer, you conceptualise and actualise product ideas by creating prototypes and blueprints used in production. You can work in any industry that develops and manufactures products. For instance, in the pharmaceutical industry, you design machines and equipment used in medical treatment. You also create blueprints for automobiles, electronics and home appliances. Hence, you are likely to land a job in any manufacturing industry.
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what skills does a development engineer have?
As a development engineer, you rely on your research skills to develop product features suitable for the target marker. You also require computer proficiency to use computer-aided design applications to develop blueprints. Attentiveness to detail helps you meet the client's specifications and create functional products.
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how do I apply for a development engineer vacancy?
Applying for a development engineer job is easy: create a Randstad profile and search our development engineer job offers. Then simply send us your CV and cover letter. Need help with your application? Check out all our job search tips here.
