How to become a Microsystems Engineer

Official title: Microsystems Engineers

Also called: Control Systems Engineer, MEMS Integration Engineer (Microelectrical Mechanical Integration Engineer), Microsystems Engineer, Process Engineer, Product Design Engineer, Project Design Engineer, Project Engineer, Radio Frequency Design Engineer (RF Design Engineer), System Engineer, Systems Engineer

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

Main tasks

• 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.
• Conduct analyses addressing issues such as failure, reliability, or yield improvement.
• Plan or schedule engineering research or development projects involving microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) technology.
• Propose product designs involving microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) technology, considering market data or customer requirements.
• Develop formal documentation for microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) devices, including quality assurance guidance, quality control protocols, process control checklists, data collection, or reporting.
• Communicate operating characteristics or performance experience to other engineers or designers for training or new product development purposes.

How to become one

Typical education to start: Bachelor's degree

Ways in

• College: Engineering degrees, Offered by 36 universities in the US
• Licence: A licence is required in 45 states.

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

• Median pay: $122,930 a year The middle half earn $90,970 to $158,090.
• About 166,700 people work in this job now, and about 173,000 are projected by 2035. (+3.7%)
• People already use generative AI for some of this work. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as medium.

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Questions people ask

How do I become a Microsystems Engineer?

Ways in include: Engineering degrees.

How much does a Microsystems Engineer earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $122,930 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $90,970 to $158,090.

Is a Microsystems Engineer a growing career in the US?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 4% by 2035, from about 166,700 to about 173,000 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become a Microsystems Engineer?

Usually. 84% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Will AI change the work of a Microsystems Engineer?

People already use generative AI for some of this work. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as medium.

Sources

• Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.