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Career Exploration

Microsystems Engineers

Also called: Process Engineer, Product Design Engineer, Project Engineer, Radio Frequency Design Engineer (RF Design Engineer)

What they do:

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

On the job, you would:
  • Create schematics and physical layouts of integrated microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) components or packaged assemblies consistent with process, functional, or package constraints.
  • Investigate characteristics such as cost, performance, or process capability of potential microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) device designs, using simulation or modeling software.
  • Create or maintain formal engineering documents, such as schematics, bills of materials, components or materials specifications, or packaging requirements.
On the job, you'll need:

Engineering and Technology

  • computers and electronics
  • product and service development

Math and Science

  • arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics
  • physics

Arts and Humanities

  • English language

Manufactured or Agricultural Goods

  • manufacture and distribution of products

Basic Skills

  • listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
  • reading work related information

Problem Solving

  • noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it

People and Technology Systems

  • figuring out how a system should work and how changes in the future will affect it
  • thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one

Verbal

  • listen and understand what people say
  • read and understand what is written

Ideas and Logic

  • make general rules or come up with answers from lots of detailed information
  • use rules to solve problems

Math

  • choose the right type of math to solve a problem
  • add, subtract, multiply, or divide

Attention

  • pay attention to something without being distracted

Investigative

People interested in this work like activities that include ideas, thinking, and figuring things out.

  • Analytical Thinking
  • Attention to Detail
  • Innovation
  • Integrity
  • Initiative
  • Dependability

Analytical or scientific software

  • SAS
  • The MathWorks MATLAB

Presentation software

  • Microsoft PowerPoint

Operating system software

  • Bash
  • Microsoft Windows Server

Video courtesy of CareerOneStop.

Job Outlook

The job outlook for this position is Average.

New job opportunities are likely in the future.

Median Annual Salary: $104,600

Education

Master's degree or bachelor's degree is usually needed.