What are the finest Engineering job titles for you and your team? I analyzed 265 Engineering titles searched by candidates (and organizations!) to discover the ideal titles for you to select from. This marks the most recent installment in Ongig’s series entitled Job Titles: The Definitive Guide.
In this article, you will discover:
- Categories of Engineering— 15 categories of engineering with examples of leading companies presently seeking these types of engineers.
- Engineering Hierarchy — The typical organizational chart for Engineering department roles with examples from each of the six principal Engineering tiers. I incorporate examples from leading employers and what they refer to their titles as.
- The Top 30 Most Searched-for Engineering Titles — A bar chart displaying the top 30 Engineering roles that candidates query on Google.
- 22 Engineering Job Titles and Descriptions — A compilation of the top 22 Engineering job titles and descriptions that employers seek.
- Humorous Engineering Job Titles – A selection of amusing job titles we discovered for engineers.
What are the categories of engineering?
There are numerous hundreds of job titles when looking to hire engineers. Here are 15 prominent engineering fields with examples of firms recruiting engineers for them:
- Aerospace Engineering (NASA)
- Biomedical Engineering (Kaiser Permanente)
- Chemical Engineering (Tesla)
- Civil Engineering (Department of Energy)
- Computer Engineering (AT&T)
- Data Engineering (Salesforce)
- Electrical Engineering (General Electric)
- Environmental Engineering (Chevron)
- Hardware Engineering (Apple)
- Network Engineering (Pinterest)
- Manufacturing Engineer (Amazon)
- Mechanical Engineering (Facebook)
- Quality Engineering (Honeywell)
- Robotics Engineering (Postmates)
- Software Engineering (Google)
Developer vs Engineer
A brief note on software engineering. Although the companies listed above recruit engineers, some also hire developers. We have found that these job titles can be utilized interchangeably. You can explore more about the developer vs engineer discussion in our top 50 software developer job titles blog.
For this blog, we opted to concentrate on job titles that include the term “engineer” or “engineering.” Now, let’s examine a standard org chart of engineering job titles.
Engineering Hierarchy
Below is an engineering hierarchy chart with senior positions listed at the top down to entry-level roles at the bottom:
- Chief Engineer – Chief Engineering Officer, Head of Engineering,
- VP Engineering – Vice President of Engineering, Engineering Executive, VP Software Engineering
- Director of Engineering – Principal Engineer, Lead Engineer, Director Engineering
- Engineering Manager – Software Engineering Manager, Engineering Program Manager, Manager of Engineering, Principal Software Engineering Manager, Senior Engineering Manager
- Individual Contributors – Software Engineer, Network Engineer, Mechanical Engineer, Quality Engineer, Electrical Engineer, Engineer, Data Engineer, Product Engineer, Manufacturing Engineer, Engineering Technician
- Entry Level – Engineering Intern, Apprentice Engineer, Engineering Aide, Engineering Clerk, Entry Level Engineer, New Grad Engineer, Junior Engineer.
Here’s a more extensive list of titles organized by each tier of the pyramid with additional details on each:
Job Titles for Engineering Leaders
Top engineering leaders do not always feature the word “engineer” in their titles. At Adobe, the Chief Information Officer, Abhay Parasnis, oversees the engineering department. The current Chief Technical Officer at Siemens, Ankur Rawat, leads the engineering squad and is an engineer himself.
Below are the top 5 titles I discovered candidates and organizations utilizing for Engineering leaders.
- Chief Engineer (Lockheed Martin)
- Head of Engineering (Airbnb)
- Chief Engineering Officer (Salesforce)
- Chief Information Officer (CIO)
- Chief Technical Officer (CTO)
VP of Engineering Titles
Here are the leading titles I found candidates and employers using for Engineering Vice President roles:
- VP Engineering (FitBit)
- Vice President of Engineering (Zazzle, Inc.)
- VP of Engineering (HPE)
- Engineering Executive
- Vice President Engineering (Yelp)
- VP Software Engineering
- Vice President Software Engineering
- Executive Vice President of Engineering (Zendesk)
Director of Engineering Titles
Here are the most commonly used Engineering director titles:
- Director of Engineering (Glassdoor)
- Principal Engineer (Automattic)
- Lead Engineer (Magic Leap)
- Director Engineering (Instacart)
- Director of Software Engineering (Salesforce)
- Systems Engineering Director
- Director of Mechanical Engineering (Samsung)
- Director of Manufacturing Engineering (JUUL Labs)
- Civil Engineering Director
Engineering Manager Titles
There are several alternative titles for Engineering Managers. Here are the top job titles I found candidates and employers using:
- Engineering Manager (Redfin)
- Software Engineering Manager (Zillow)
- Mechanical Engineering Manager (Lyft)
- Industrial Engineering Manager (Ulta Beauty)
- Sales Engineering Manager (Google)
- Manufacturing Engineering Manager (Tesla)
- Electrical Engineering Manager (Northrop Grumman)
- Senior Engineering Manager (HPE)
- Civil Engineering Manager (Shell)
- Engineering Program Manager (Apple)
- Design Engineering Manager (DoorDash)
- Project Engineering Manager (Duke Energy)
- Automation Engineering Manager (Facebook)
- Manager of Engineering (Splunk)
Individual Contributor Engineering Titles
When you reach the individual contributor tier in Engineering roles, there is more specificity. Here are the top 25 titles I discovered candidates and employers using:
- Software Engineer (Elastic.co)
- Network Engineer (Pinterest)
- Mechanical Engineer (JUMP Bikes)
- Quality Engineer (Honeywell)
- Electrical Engineer (Samsara)
- Engineer (Google)
- Data Engineer (Salesforce)
- Product Engineer (Y Combinator)
- Manufacturing Engineer (Amazon)
- Engineering Technician (Tesla)
- Machine Learning Engineer (Facebook)
- Chemical Engineer (Duke Energy)
- Civil Engineer (Kimley-Horn)
- DevOps Engineer (Glassdoor)
- Design Engineer (Uber)
- Systems Engineer (Cloudflare)
- Computer Engineer (AT&T)
- System Engineer (TripActions)
- Automation Engineer (Apple)
- Field Engineer (Microsoft)
- Industrial Engineer (Home Depot)
- Security Engineer (Zendesk)
- Computer Hardware Engineer (Cisco)
- QA Engineer (Lyft)
- Environmental Engineer (Chevron)
Entry-Level Engineering Job Titles
Here are the top 20 entry-level Engineering titles I found candidates and employers using:
- Entry Level Software Engineer (Reynolds and Reynolds)
- New Grad Software Engineer…
- Engineer (L3Harris)
- Junior Software Developer (Google)
- Entry-Level Network Engineer
- Junior Network Developer (Booz Allen Hamilton)
- Engineering Trainee (Red Hat)
- Entry-Level Data Developer
- Software Development Intern (Capital One)
- Apprentice Engineer (LinkedIn)
- Junior Data Developer
- Engineering Assistant (Lockheed Martin)
- Civil Engineering Trainee
- Mechanical Engineering Intern (Facebook)
- Entry-Level Embedded Software Developer
- Electrical Engineering Trainee (Apple)
- Engineering Clerk (Kohler)
- Process Engineering Intern (Tiffany & Co.)
- Chemical Engineering Intern (Tesla)
- Manufacturing Engineering Intern
- Design Engineering Intern
Leading Engineering Job Titles (Candidates)
The following is a list of the 30 most sought-after Engineering job titles based on Google searches we discovered on ahrefs.
Software Developer ranks as the most queried job by candidates and is likewise the most requested engineering job description by employers (refer to the Top 22 list below).
Top 22 Engineering Job Titles and Descriptions (Employers)
The following are the top 22 Engineering Job Description titles employers seek on Google, as outlined by ahrefs.
I have provided a brief overview for each position along with the number of job title searches per month by employers.
Software Developer
A Software Developer creates computer software. A Software Developer is also accountable for:
- Software Generation
- Software Systems Upkeep
- Software Assessment
- Software Inspection
# of job title searches per month: 4,100
Electrical Developer
An Electrical Developer designs and constructs electrical systems and apparatus. An Electrical Developer evaluates and oversees the production of electrical devices such as smartphones, motors, and power tools. An Electrical Developer may also innovate new procedures or standards for producing electrical products.
# of job title searches per month: 1,200
Systems Developer
A Systems Developer formulates and executes computer network systems for a business. A Systems Developer is also accountable for:
- Evaluating Software and Servers
- Enhancing Systems Operations
- Upgrading Hardware
- Overseeing Server Workstations and Network Computers
# of job title searches per month: 1,200; Systems Developer: 1,000; Network Developer: 1,000
Data Developer
A Data Developer collaborates with the data science group to create data solutions for a corporation. A Data Developer formulates information processes for data management, acquisition, migration, and mining. Utilizing various programming languages, a Data Developer establishes a company’s data infrastructure.
# of job title searches per month: 1,100
Project Developer
A Project Developer oversees substantial engineering projects. A Project Developer is responsible for:
- Coordinating Engineering Project Teams
- Scheduling Project Milestones
- Evaluating Risks
- Acquiring Project Resources
- Overseeing Project Supervision Off-site
# of job title searches per month: 1,100; Field Developer: 300, Field Service Developer: 250
Mechanical Developer
A Mechanical Developer participates in the design, testing, and creation of diverse mechanical products for a business. A Mechanical Developer fabricates prototypes for assessment, manages the manufacturing process, and investigates machinery failures. A Mechanical Developer operates across various sectors and creates products like medical tools, electric generators, batteries, and elevators.
# of job title searches per month: 800
Quality Developer
A Quality Developer supervises the quality of an organization’s processes and rectifies any challenges that occur. A Quality Developer is responsible for:
- Formulating Quality Standards
- Evaluating Product & Process Quality
- Collaborating with the Engineering Team to Enhance Quality
# of job title searches per month: 800; QA Developer: 300
Civil Developer
A Civil Developer oversees and conceptualizes the construction of significant public works initiatives. A Civil Developer monitors the construction of bridges, dams, airports, and thoroughfares while also serving as a liaison with government officials. A Civil Developer also produces documentation for project updates and technical reports.
# of job title searches per month: 800
Manufacturing Developer
A Manufacturing Developer innovates and enhances the manufacturing process for a corporation by analyzing manufacturing and product methods. A Manufacturing Developer is accountable for:
- Creating research programs to assess the manufacturing process
- Boosting manufacturing efficiency by analyzing workflow and resource management
- Evaluating products post-manufacturing
- Ensuring manufacturing regulatory compliance
# of job title searches per month: 700; Product Developer: 350
Engineer
An Engineer is a general term for a professional who designs, constructs, or maintains machines. An Engineer applies scientific and mathematical principles to resolve real-world issues and design products to fulfill consumer demands. An Engineer also assesses prototypes, supervises production, estimates project costs, and evaluates efficiency. The role of an Engineer can differ by industry, yet it includes several commonalities.
# of job title searches per month: 700; Engineering Technician: 200
DevOps Developer
A DevOps Developer collaborates with software developers and IT team members to streamline code releases. A DevOps Developer is responsible for:
- Enhancing IT Infrastructure
- Streamlining Release Cycles
- Automating Software
# of job title searches per month: 500; Automation Developer: 200
Security Developer
A Security Developer constructs security systems and firewalls to safeguard organizations against cyber threats. A Security Developer conducts security evaluations, performs tests, and generates reports for senior management. A Security Developer also assesses new security solutions and provides recommendations.
# of job title searches per month: 350
Computer Hardware Developer
A Computer Hardware Developer designs and develops the tangible components that comprise a computer. A Computer Hardware Developer is responsible for:
- Investigating new types of hardware
- Creating hardware
- Examining hardware
- Troubleshooting hardware problems
# of job title searches per month: 300
Chemical Engineer
A Chemical Engineer formulates systems and machinery utilized in chemical engineering operations. A Chemical Engineer synthesizes a range of chemicals utilized for production and manufacturing, including fuels, fertilizers, and pharmaceuticals.
# of job title searches per month: 250
Design Engineer
A Design Engineer develops products and systems across diverse engineering domains. A Design Engineer concentrates on the principles of how items are produced and collaborates with construction firms, research organizations, product makers, and governmental agencies.
# of job title searches per month: 250
Nuclear Engineer
A Nuclear Engineer investigates and creates processes associated with nuclear energy and radiation. A Nuclear Engineer is accountable for crafting secure systems for utilizing electricity and radioactive substances in the healthcare sector, energy companies, and industrial manufacturing.
# of job title searches per month: 250
UX Engineer
A UX Engineer, recognized as a User Experience Engineer, formulates and designs a user flow experience for clients. A UX Engineer assesses existing applications and suggests enhancements for user satisfaction. Additionally, a UX Engineer conducts preliminary research with potential users to enrich customer experience.
# of job title searches per month: 250
Environmental Engineer
An Environmental Engineer seeks remedies to manage ecological waste and contamination. An Environmental Engineer employs physical, chemical, and biological concepts to avert and address environmental challenges. An Environmental Engineer examines microorganisms and their impact on communities.
# of job title searches per month: 200
Chief Engineer
A Chief Engineer presides over an engineering division. A Chief Engineer guides a team of engineers to accomplish various projects concerning software, hardware, civil, and other engineering specialties. A Chief Engineer sanctions budgets, project outlines, and design plans.
# of job title searches per month: 200
Applications Engineer
An Applications Engineer enhances the performance of various types of software. An Applications Engineer also possesses knowledge of hardware and other IT solutions. An Applications Engineer collaborates directly with clients to determine software needs and specifications.
# of job title searches per month: 200
Database Engineer
A Database Engineer constructs and oversees databases for an organization. Database Engineers bear responsibility for:
- Creating new databases
- Altering existing databases
- Updating database specifications
# of job title searches per month: 200
Machine Learning Engineer
A Machine Learning Engineer concentrates on data science models and algorithms that generate operational machines. A Machine Learning Engineer is tasked with:
- Conducting machine learning model evaluations
- Executing machine learning algorithms
- Carrying out statistical analyses
- Refining algorithms
- Verifying data integrity through data cleansing
# of job title searches per month: 100
Amusing Engineering Job Titles
Here are some amusing/creative engineering titles we’ve encountered.
- Director of Spam Reception (Spam Data Engineer)
- Happiness Engineer (Support Engineer) (used by Automattic)
- Miracle Worker (Engineer)
- Random Engineer (Developer)…Albert Sheu, Quora Software Developer
- Software Ninjaneer (Software Engineer)
Looking for more humorous tech-related job titles? Check out our 100+ Creative & Funny Job Titles (which includes 20+ amusing IT titles, 13 software engineering titles, and many more for sales/marketing/finance/operations, etc.).
Are you a job aspirant wishing to enhance your skills? Here’s some information regarding engineering degrees:
Selecting An Engineering Degree
With a median annual income of $91,420 and nearly 188,000 new job opportunities each year, the
engineering sector is anticipated to experience above-average employment growth from 2022 to
2032, making it quite a rewarding industry.
Unquestionably, numerous gifted students aspire to attend esteemed universities, but how can you
ensure you choose the right engineering discipline? Let’s delve into this.
10 Primary Types Of Engineering Degrees
Here’s a concise overview of the 12 key disciplines for those keen on pursuing an engineering degree. Various engineering degrees online are available in these fields for those already employed or unable to join an on-campus program. If you intend to embark on an engineering career in any of the above job profiles, you must specialize in one of the following engineering degrees:
Civil Engineering
Civil engineering incorporates secondary disciplines including construction, mining, geotechnical, structural, and transportation engineering. The curriculum includes planning designs, conducting research, and generating reports on infrastructure initiatives from inception to completion.
Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical engineering entails designing, constructing, and maintaining mechanical devices and systems. Depending on the specific technologies or devices the engineer develops, this discipline intersects with others like manufacturing, robotics, healthcare, transportation, and construction.
Electrical Engineering
Electrical engineering includes the examination of energy and its technological advancements. Beyond electrical power, it educates about natural energy sources like hydropower or wind and solar power. You will also gain insights into the design, construction, and maintenance of electrical systems, particularly large-scale ones.
Computer Engineering
A computer engineering degree entails designing, testing, and enhancing computer hardware or software. It merges computer science with electrical engineering; other specializations may include computer architecture, security, and network engineering.
Manufacturing Engineering
The exploration of applying engineering principles to enhance manufacturing machinery, systems, or procedures falls under manufacturing engineering. It also instructs on how to evaluate and utilize new technologies to boost efficiency.
Environmental Engineering
The curriculum for this discipline focuses on enhancing the environment using engineering concepts alongside subjects like geology, environmental science, biology, and chemistry. This degree trains you to analyze and apply knowledge to devise solutions for ecological issues related to water, land, or air.
Chemical Engineering
Chemical engineering instructs students to comprehend the chemical processes involved in developing products, materials, or substances. This also encompasses creating secure systems and machinery for refining raw materials across various sectors, such as manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, petrochemicals, and food production.
Biomedical Engineering
Biomedical engineering seeks to propel the healthcare field forward by amalgamating biology, medical science, and engineering. The aim is to design medical equipment, devices, or software to diagnose
or attend to patients.
Engineering Administration
With a degree in engineering administration, you acquire the skills to implement engineering concepts within the business realm to chase managerial or advanced engineering positions. The aim is to merge engineering expertise with business methodologies that facilitate the management of engineering projects, teams, operations, and other activities more efficiently.
How to Decide on the Ideal Engineering Degree for You?
Given the multitude of choices, feeling uncertain about choosing a particular field is typical. The following steps can assist you in identifying which degree is the most suitable for you:
1. Reflect on Your Interests: Understanding your inclinations and passions will guide you in discovering the best degree, both professionally and personally. Collect insights from your current employment and pinpoint the areas that highlight strengths and limitations.
2. Define Your Objectives: Your career aspirations and needs play a vital role in shaping your professional journey. This includes your income expectations, career principles, and your envisioned position in a given field.
3. Conduct Thorough Research: As you narrow down your selections, delve into their curricula, program formats, career paths, and more, to assess whether they match your aspirations and prerequisites. Additionally, consider admission qualifications, applicant criteria, course content, and fees to ensure you’re at ease with what is offered.
4. Consult a Mentor or Expert: If you have acquaintances in a specific sector or even educators and advisors from your collegiate days, reach out to them and ask for their realistic perspective on your desired degree. Look for individuals who can enrich your understanding through their knowledge.
Additional Resources on Engineering Occupations
Along with the references mentioned above, special appreciation goes to these specialists on engineering positions:
- Alex Holderness’s piece on What’s The Difference Between a Developer and an Engineer?
- Emily Rose Prats’s article about What Do Software Engineers Do?
- Danielle Gagnon’s discussion on What Does an Electrical Engineer Do?
- Pedro Martinez’s blog post on What Makes a Good IT Systems Engineer?
- Vik Paruchuri’s piece on What is a Data Engineer?
- Donal Tobin’s article regarding Data Engineering: What Does a Data Engineer Do? How Do I Become One?
- Learn.org’s write-up about What Is a Project Engineer?
- Bureau of Labor Statistics article on Mechanical Engineers
- Jayne Thompson’s article on What Does a Quality Engineer Do?
- Michael Roberts’s post on What Does a Civil Engineer Do?
- Monster.com’s Manufacturing Engineer Job Description
- CareerBright’s article covering What Does the Job of an Engineer Involve?
- Studentscholarships.org’s article on Engineers – What They Do
- Tivix’s blog discussing What Does a DevOps Engineer Actually Do?
- Cyber Degree’s article on How To Become a Security Engineer
- Learn.org’s post on What Is a Computer Hardware Engineer?
- UNSW’s article on About chemical engineering
- Mary Kearl’s write-up on How (And Why) to Become a Design Engineer
- Indeed.com’s article titled A Definitive Guide: What Do Nuclear Engineers Do?
- Alex Ewerlöf’s discussion on Who is a “UX Engineer”?
- Daniel A. Vallero’s article on Environmental Engineer
- Betterteam’s Chief Engineer Job Description
- Stephen Watt’s blog on Application Engineer Roles and Responsibilities
- TheCeresGroup’s article on Employers are Looking for These 4 Database Engineer Skills
- Cogito Tech’s post regarding What Does A Machine Learning Engineer Do: Role & Duties
Why I composed this?
My team and I present this analysis on engineering job titles to assist you in enhancing your own titles. This aligns with our objective to revolutionize job descriptions. Visit Ongig.com to discover how our software innovatively transforms your job titles and descriptions.