Product development engineer
Development engineering – studies, responsibilities, salary
Development engineers design or optimise products and processes © gorodenkoff / iStock.com
Product development engineers solve problems: They develop new technologies or optimise existing products and processes. Here, you can learn more about the specific responsibilities that await development engineers.
Updated: 2024-12-10
What does a product development engineer do?
Development engineers either design completely new products or further develop existing products or processes to improve them. These can be individual components, tools and accessories or entire machines and systems.
Development engineers must possess a high level of technical expertise along with plenty of creativity, while also keeping track of costs. They must continually monitor scientific innovations and determine whether these developments are interesting and relevant for their employer. A development engineer’s focus is quite different than that of sales engineers, production engineers – who primarily monitor production processes – , or engineers working in product or project management.
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Tasks and areas of work
The work performed by development engineers is very application oriented. According to the Association of German Engineers (VDI), they work either in research and development or in design and planning. Like all other engineers, development engineers can be found in a wide range of industries. The most popular include:
- Vehicle construction
- Automotive industry
- Supply industry
- Mechanical engineering
- Electrical engineering
- Aerospace engineering
- Energy generation
- Safety and medical technology
The job profile of product development engineers is broadly diverse both in research and in industry. In vehicle construction, for example, development engineers may be involved in the design and production of prototypes, while in mechanical engineering and plant construction, they may be involved in the calculation, further development, and optimisation of manufacturing facilities as well as prototype construction.
Development engineers may also be responsible for checking the functionality of newly developed or optimised products. If there are errors or weaknesses, they must be rectified before the product can go into production. The creation of evaluation protocols and experimental programmes, including the use of various IT tools, can also count among the development engineer’s responsibilities.
Becoming a development engineer: The requirements
Like all engineers, development engineers must have completed a relevant degree at a university or university of applied sciences (HAW). Relevant fields of study include:
- Mechanical engineering
- Electrical engineering
- Computer science
- Process engineering
Although a bachelor's degree is sufficient to qualify for the profession, it is advisable to obtain at least a master's degree or even a doctorate, especially in the field of research and development, due to the specialist expertise required.
It is recommended to establish a specialisation during studies – through internships or in the research or design departments of companies, for example. Professional experience in other related areas is only required in exceptional cases – development engineers can usually launch their careers directly with their specialisation of choice and will acquire further expertise within the company where they are hired. Some companies also offer trainee programmes.
In addition to purely technical knowledge, other highly valued skills include creativity, motivation, a sense of responsibility, the ability to work in a team, and communication skills. Like other engineers, development engineers increasingly work internationally, so fluent English is mandatory in most cases.
The prospects for development engineers
Engineers remain in demand despite uncertain economic developments – especially in Germany, a hub of innovation. Indeed, with many employers undergoing transformation processes, development engineers find themselves in an advantageous position. Digitalisation is being pushed forward in all industries, while in the automotive industry specifically, the switch from combustion engines to e-mobility requires numerous new processes.
The VDI also sees enormous future potential for engineers in general and development engineers in particular, especially in the fields of computer science and renewable energies. The industry association notes that companies large enough to have their own research and development departments are especially in need of development engineers. Smaller companies may hire design engineers, who are then responsible for improving products or processes.
Development engineers are also sought after as professors at universities, non-university research institutions and HAWs. Candidates for an HAW professorship must have a doctorate in addition to several years of professional experience outside the university and teaching experience. Detailed information on the topic of HAW professorships can be found here.
What development engineers earn
According to the salary atlas of the Federal Employment Agency, the median monthly gross salary of development engineers is €6,745. Salaries are particularly high in Baden-Württemberg (€7,218) and Bavaria (€7,099). In Germany’s eastern states, development engineers earn a maximum of €5,200 gross per month.
The article "How much do engineers earn?” provides a good overview of the salaries paid in all engineering fields. Development engineers are at the upper end of the salary scale.
Salary in academia
Development engineers in academia, like all employees, are paid according to negotiated tariffs. Doctoral candidates are usually paid according to TV-L E13, and postdocs can also be classified in the E14 category. Professors – whether at universities or HAWs – are remunerated according to the W salary scale. Depending on the salary group (W1, W2, W3), basic salaries of up to six figures are possible.
