what is a development engineer?
As a development engineer, you are responsible for improving existing products and creating new ones for your organisation. You work in an industry that produces physical products for consumers or businesses. You require an understanding of many aspects of the production process, from production cycles to development phases and expertise regarding the product's design.
In this role, you may be surprised at how much freedom you have regarding the products you create. There are limitations based on things like the company's brand and the organisation's long-term goals. However, within those limitations, you are free to create any product that has the potential to increase revenue.
A development engineer is competent in many disciplines, such as design, market research, and general IT and tech proficiency. You require good understanding of the industry you are part of to understand which products are likely to succeed. An aptitude for market research makes translating your experience in this role easier across different industries.
If you think a career as a development engineer might interest you, read on to learn more about the role, from the skills and qualifications needed to the typical salary and hours you can expect.
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average salary of a development engineer
The average salary of a development engineer in India is around ₹12,50,000 per year. The lowest earners in this career make around ₹6,23,438 per year, and the highest earners take home ₹26,42,188 anually. Bonuses also significantly affect how much a development engineer gets paid since they are tied to certain performance metrics.
factors that affect development engineer's pay
Beyond bonuses, one of the main factors that can affect how much you are paid in this role is your previous experience and qualifications. As you gain more experience, your qualifications become less important, but certain qualifications are necessary to break into the role in the first place.
Your location also affects your potential earnings, with some regions having higher wages overall, in line with average living costs and salaries for that area. There shouldn't be much difference in the job itself, unlike other roles such as finance or tech, which typically pay more in large cities than in smaller towns.
types of development engineer
As a development engineer, you use your expertise to create new products, from the initial concept to the final product. You use a range of different skills to achieve this. It is possible to specialise in specific areas, some of which are:
- product development engineer: in this role, you oversee the entire product life cycle, from the initial concept through production and, finally, release into the market.
- product design engineer: as a product design engineer, you are responsible for planning and building a functional product based on business requirements. You are in charge of performing research to implement the ideas into a working concept. You also provide technical drawings for the next stage of the product's development.
- technical development engineer: in this aspect of the job, you are responsible for the more technical aspects, such as creating technical drawings. You liaise with artists to put together accurate renderings of the final product at the conceptualisation stage.
- test development engineer: as the product moves through the development cycle, it is necessary to test it to ensure it meets industry standards. You oversee a range of tests, including quality assurance tests to ensure the product meets the organisation's internal standards.
working as a development engineer
As a development engineer, you use your expertise to create products that fit your organisation's brand and goals. You oversee their creation from the initial idea to the final product. Below are some typical roles and responsibilities of a development engineer.
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duties and responsibilities
The duties and responsibilities of a development engineer include:
- researching new product ideas: any new product undergoes extensive research to see how viable it is for the business and the current market. As a development engineer, this responsibility is part of your process when you have a new idea to present. You do the necessary research on any new product idea before presenting the product idea to your organisation.
- designing product: once the initial research is completed and a viable product established, you start the design process. You require knowledge of design technologies, such as computer-aided design (CAD) software. You also establish the manufacturing specifications.
- testing products: any new product will need rigorous testing at several stages in its development. You are responsible for this process, from testing the initial prototypes to overseeing beta testing programs and putting quality assurance measures in place for the final product.
- producing reports: you have a lot of responsibility and autonomy throughout the design process, but you report to your superiors periodically. One of your responsibilities is to produce reports and even give presentations to management.
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work environment
The work environments of development engineers are diverse. You are responsible for several product development steps, so you work in various locations. For example, the research and design portion of the process will mostly take place in an office-based environment, typically working at a computer most of the time. However, once you move on to the development cycle's production stages, you may spend more of your time in industrial settings, such as workshops and factory floors.
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who are your colleagues?
Given the nature of this role, you work with many different professionals. From reporting to management to working with marketing and manufacturing departments, you have plenty of opportunities to hone your interpersonal skills in this profession.
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work schedule
Being a development engineer is a full-time job, so around 40 hours per week is a minimum. However, the nature of the job means that overtime is not uncommon. You often work outside of normal office hours, particularly when dealing with the prototyping and manufacturing stages of product development.
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job outlook
A development engineer role can open many doors for you if you are prepared to do the necessary work. The experience gained from the job can lead to better pay. You can also use your experience to move into management and other senior roles if you gain additional qualifications.
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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 on a monthly basis
- 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
Some of the academic qualifications necessary to be hired as a development engineer include:
- bachelor's degree: while it is not impossible to be successful in this field without a bachelor's degree, it is far less likely. Fortunately, several subjects can lead to this career, including Marketing, Engineering, and more manufacturing-based degrees such as Industrial & Systems Engineering.
- master's degree: as with many careers that require a degree, a master's is not strictly necessary but will almost certainly increase your chances of success when applying for a role as a development engineer.
skills and competencies
Some of the skills that benefit a development engineer include:
- comptuer-aided design (CAD): being proficient in CAD will make the design process much easier for you, as this is the standard tool for designing everything from small products to large civil engineering projects. Gaining a certification in CAD gives you an advantage during the hiring process.
- research skills: the success of any products you design depends on the quality of the research behind them. Identifying consumer needs and understanding what the competition is doing to meet market demands are both important.
- interpersonal skills: you work with a wide variety of people in the course of your job, so good communication and general interpersonal skills will make this aspect of the job much smoother.
FAQs about working as a development engineer
FAQs about working as a development engineer:
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what does a development engineer do?
A development engineer designs new products and improves existing ones to increase their organisation's revenue.
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where does a development engineer work?
Development engineers can be found in just about any sector where a physical product is produced. Some of the most common industries include mechanical and plant engineering, automotive, and electronics.
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how do I become a dev engineer?
The most reliable way to become a development engineer in India is to have relevant qualifications to at least a bachelor's degree level, if not higher. Experience working in relevant roles such as marketing or manufacturing will also help.
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how much does a development engineer make?
The average salary for a development engineer in India is approximately ₹12,50,000 per year. The typical range of pay for this role is between ₹6,00,000 and ₹26,00,000.
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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 job offers for vacancies in your area. Then simply send us your CV and cover letter. Need help with your application? Check out all our job search tips here!
