Quick Answer
A Ph.D. is not an absolute requirement to become a research engineer, but it can be highly advantageous. Many research engineering roles, especially in cutting-edge fields, prefer or require a Ph.D. However, it is possible to begin a research engineering career with a bachelor’s or master’s degree in engineering or computer science. Relevant research experience and strong technical skills are essential.
What is a Research Engineer?
A research engineer uses engineering principles to identify, analyze, and solve complex technical problems through experimentation and testing. They conduct research to advance technology and design innovative products and systems.
Research engineers typically specialize in a particular field such as computer engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, or materials science. They utilize scientific analysis, modeling, prototype development, and rigorous testing to push the boundaries of what is theoretically and technologically possible.
Core responsibilities of a research engineer may include:
- Designing and executing technical experiments and studies
- Analyzing data and identifying trends to draw conclusions
- Simulating and modeling systems to predict behavior
- Writing technical reports to document methodologies and findings
- Publishing research results in scientific journals and conference presentations
- Collaborating on interdisciplinary research teams
- Developing new theories and innovative potential solutions
- Providing engineering support for product development teams
- Mentoring junior engineers and technicians
Research engineers work in a wide variety of industries including aerospace, automotive, energy, electronics, telecommunications, software, biotech, and more. They are employed at universities, government research labs, nonprofit research organizations, and private companies.
Is a PhD Required for Research Engineering Roles?
A Ph.D. is not strictly required to work as a research engineer, but it can provide significant advantages and is frequently preferred or even required by employers.
Here is a breakdown of common education requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree – A B.S. in engineering or computer science is the minimum requirement for most research engineering positions. Relevant coursework and research experience is highly valued.
- Master’s degree – Many research engineering roles require or prefer a Master’s degree. An M.S. provides advanced technical expertise and research experience.
- PhD – A Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) opens doors to the most prestigious and cutting-edge research jobs, especially in highly-specialized engineering fields. It demonstrates deep research knowledge and skills.
While it’s possible to begin a research engineering career with a bachelor’s or master’s degree, a PhD offers significant advantages:
- Expertise in a niche technical area
- Hands-on research skills developed through a dissertation project
- Ability to lead complex projects and teams
- Eligibility for senior research positions
- Higher salary potential
- Opportunities to work on revolutionary technology
So in many cases, a PhD can fast-track your research engineering career. But real-world engineering experience and strong technical capabilities are also highly valued.
Key Skills for Research Engineers
While an advanced degree in engineering or computer science is important for research engineering roles, applied skills and knowledge are critical. Key skills and qualifications include:
- Technical expertise – Strong grasp of engineering principles, scientific analysis, and programming languages/tools for modeling and experimentation.
- Research skills – Ability to design rigorous experiments, collect and analyze data, identify trends, and draw insights.
- Critical thinking – Logically evaluate complex problems, develop hypotheses, and derive innovative solutions.
- Creativity – Design and implement new methodologies to push boundaries and discover new approaches.
- Communication – Convey complex technical concepts clearly in written reports, presentations, and publications.
- Collaboration – Work effectively cross-functionally with scientists, engineers, and business teams.
- Project management – Coordinate resources, budgets, timelines, and staff to execute projects.
Relevant research experience gained through internships, co-ops, academic labs, or prior jobs can showcase these skills as alternatives to an advanced degree. Ongoing learning and skill development are critical to stay current in rapidly evolving technical fields.
Becoming a Research Engineer with a Bachelor’s Degree
While a master’s or Ph.D. is preferred for many research engineering roles, it’s certainly possible to start your career with a bachelor’s degree. Here are tips to become a competitive candidate:
- Earn a B.S. in engineering or computer science with high academic performance in relevant coursework.
- Complete internships and co-ops doing hands-on engineering research.
- Look for research assistant or associate engineer roles that value hands-on experience.
- Consider contract or temporary research jobs to build your resume.
- Pursue leadership roles in student engineering projects to demonstrate initiative.
- Develop expertise with technical tools and programming languages used in industry.
- Show continued learning by earning certifications and taking online courses.
- Attend academic and industry conferences to build your network.
While compensation and seniority may be lower than candidates with advanced degrees, demonstrating strong technical capabilities and passion for research can make youcompetitive for junior-level research engineering roles.
Gaining a few years of experience will allow you to specialize and pursue more senior positions. Many employers offer tuition assistance programs to help cover master’s or PhD studies while working.
Research Engineer Salaries
Research engineers earn competitive salaries, especially at the experienced levels. Here are average salaries for research engineers in the United States according to PayScale:
| Degree | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | $77,824 per year |
| Master’s Degree | $92,779 per year |
| PhD | $117,616 per year |
Salaries can vary significantly based on:
- Years of experience
- Field and specialty
- Academic qualifications
- Company size and type
- Security clearance for government roles
- Location
The highest salaries are found in cutting-edge engineering fields such as biotech, robotics, advanced materials, renewable energy, aerospace, and quantum computing.
Sample Research Engineer Job Postings
Here are examples of real-world research engineer job postings and their requirements:
Robotics Research Engineer at Ford
- MS in Robotics, Computer Science, or Engineering required
- 5+ years of robotics software development experience
- Experience with 3D modeling and simulation tools
- Autonomous vehicle research experience desired
PhD Research Engineer – Optical Systems at Apple
- PhD in Optics, Physics, Electrical Engineering, or related field
- 3+ years of industry experience developing optics systems
- Strong theoretical optics and imaging system modeling skills
Research Engineer – Embedded Systems at NASA Jet Propulsion Lab
- MS or PhD in Electrical/Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or Physics
- 5+ years developing embedded systems for aerospace applications
- Experience with radiation-hardened processors and FPGAs
- Knowledge of miniaturized electronics for space systems
Research Engineering Career Path and Growth
Research engineering offers diverse career pathways with excellent growth potential. Here are some common career progressions:
- Research Engineer – Entry-level role focused on defined engineering research projects.
- Senior Research Engineer – Leads major research initiatives with a high degree of independence.
- Principal Research Engineer – Veteran expert leading an engineering research area with substantial team and budget oversight.
- Research Manager – Leads a team of research engineers on complex cross-functional projects.
- R&D Director – Defines the research vision and strategic direction for an engineering division or company.
With proven expertise and leadership skills, research engineers can progress into executive roles like Head of Research or VP of Engineering. Obtaining an MBA can also open doors to senior management careers while leveraging your technical background.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 4% growth in engineering research jobs through 2029, on par with average job growth across all occupations. However, research engineers working on leading-edge technologies like artificial intelligence, robotics, renewable energy, and biotechnology may see much stronger demand.
Ultimately, research engineering offers the opportunity to push innovation forward and create revolutionary technologies that can change the world. The combination of advanced technical skills and visionary thinking creates huge upside potential.
Conclusion
A PhD is not required to start your research engineering career, but it can provide significant benefits especially for cutting-edge roles and advancement to senior levels. For those without a PhD, a master’s degree coupled with strong hands-on skills and research experience can open doors to entry-level and mid-level research engineering positions. Ongoing learning and skill development in emerging technologies is key to build expertise. Research engineers are highly skilled professionals who play a pivotal role in technological innovation and shaping the future.