Microsystems Engineers

17-2199.06 Zone 5 — Extensive Preparation Needed

Research, design, develop, or test microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) devices.

Also known as: Applications Engineer, Arrhythmia Engineer, Control Systems Engineer, Design Engineer, Device Engineer, Engineer, GaN Device Engineer (Gallium Nitride Device Engineer), Medical Device Engineer, ...

Annual Salary

$117,750

Median annual wage (May 2024)

$85,750 25th – 75th percentile $152,670
10th percentile $62,840
90th percentile $183,510
U.S. Employment: 150,750

Job Outlook

+2.1%

Projected growth, 2024–2034 (About average)

Annual Job Openings 9,300 per year (avg. 2024–2034)
Typical education: Bachelor's degree

What You'd Do

  • Plan or schedule engineering research or development projects involving microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) technology.
  • Communicate operating characteristics or performance experience to other engineers or designers for training or new product development purposes.
  • Create or maintain formal engineering documents, such as schematics, bills of materials, components or materials specifications, or packaging requirements.
  • Propose product designs involving microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) technology, considering market data or customer requirements.
  • Investigate characteristics such as cost, performance, or process capability of potential microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) device designs, using simulation or modeling software.
  • Develop formal documentation for microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) devices, including quality assurance guidance, quality control protocols, process control checklists, data collection, or reporting.
  • Create schematics and physical layouts of integrated microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) components or packaged assemblies consistent with process, functional, or package constraints.
  • Conduct analyses addressing issues such as failure, reliability, or yield improvement.
  • Consider environmental issues when proposing product designs involving microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) technology.
  • Design or develop energy products using nanomaterials or nanoprocesses, such as micro-nano machining.

Top Skills

Reading Comprehension 4.0
Active Listening 4.0
Critical Thinking 4.0
Complex Problem Solving 3.9
Writing 3.8
Systems Analysis 3.8
Speaking 3.6
Science 3.6

Importance scale: 1 (low) – 5 (high)

Knowledge Areas

Computers and Electronics 4.6
Engineering and Technology 4.6
Mathematics 4.1
Physics 4.0
Design 3.9
English Language 3.5
Production and Processing 3.3
Mechanical 3.2

Importance scale: 1 (low) – 5 (high)

Education Level Distribution

Percentage of workers in this occupation by education level

Master's
34.2%
Bachelor's
30.6%
Doctoral
21.8%
Post-Bacc Cert
13.1%

Technology & Tools

Software and tools commonly used in this role

In-Demand Technologies

Adobe Photoshop Apple macOS Autodesk AutoCAD Bash C C# C++ Dassault Systemes SolidWorks Facebook Git JavaScript Linux Microsoft Access Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software Microsoft Outlook Microsoft PowerPoint Microsoft Project Microsoft Visual Basic Microsoft Windows Microsoft Windows Server Microsoft Word Oracle Java Perl Python SAP software SAS Shell script The MathWorks MATLAB UNIX

Work Styles

Personality traits and work styles important for this career

3.0
Attention to Detail
2.5
Innovation
2.4
Dependability
2.4
Intellectual Curiosity
2.3
Cautiousness
2.1
Achievement Orientation
1.9
Integrity

Key Abilities

Cognitive, physical, and sensory abilities important for this role

Oral Comprehension 4.1
Written Comprehension 4.1
Oral Expression 3.9
Deductive Reasoning 3.9
Inductive Reasoning 3.9
Written Expression 3.8
Problem Sensitivity 3.8
Fluency of Ideas 3.6

Importance scale: 1 (low) – 5 (high)

Work Activities

General types of job behaviors occurring on this job

Making Decisions and Solving Problems 4.4
Working with Computers 4.4
Getting Information 4.4
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships 4.1
Analyzing Data or Information 4.0
Thinking Creatively 4.0
Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment 4.0
Processing Information 4.0

Importance scale: 1 (low) – 5 (high)

Work Environment

Physical and social factors that influence the nature of work

E-Mail
4.8
Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
4.7
Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
4.7
Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
4.5
Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
4.4
Freedom to Make Decisions
4.4
Telephone Conversations
4.4
Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
4.2
Coordinate or Lead Others in Accomplishing Work Activities
4.2
Contact With Others
3.9
Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results
3.8
Spend Time Sitting
3.7

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Salary data: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024. Outlook data: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034.

This page includes information from the O*NET 30.2 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license.