Architecture & Engineering
Microsystems Engineers
Also called: Control Systems Engineer, MEMS Integration Engineer (Microelectrical Mechanical Integration Engineer), Microsystems Engineer, Process Engineer
US median pay
$122,930
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
+3.7%
about average or slower
Openings a year (US)
8,800
166,700 employed
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree
Preparation 5/5 · Extensive preparation
What this job is
Research, design, develop, or test microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) devices.
What they do day to day
- 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.
- Evaluate materials, fabrication methods, joining methods, surface treatments, or packaging to ensure acceptable processing, performance, cost, sustainability, or availability.
- Refine final microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) design to optimize design for target dimensions, physical tolerances, or processing constraints.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Complex Problem Solving3.9/5
- Systems Analysis3.8/5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.6/5
- Time Management3.5/5
- Systems Evaluation3.5/5
- Operations Monitoring3.2/5
- Quality Control Analysis3.1/5
- Instructing3.1/5
Knowledge
- Computers and Electronics4.6/5
- Engineering and Technology4.6/5
- Mathematics4.1/5
- Physics4.0/5
- Design3.9/5
- English Language3.5/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 5 of 5 — Extensive preparation. Usually a graduate degree (master's, PhD, MD, JD) and extensive experience.
Typical entry education (BLS): Bachelor's degree.
Highest education of people in this job:
- Master's degree34%
- Bachelor's degree31%
- Doctoral degree22%
Who this job suits
Mostly Investigative
Ideas, research and solving problems
Realistic
Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals
Conventional
Organising data, details and procedures
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.