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Design Engineer Jobs in Frederick, MD (NOW HIRING)

Fire Protection Design Engineer

Rockville, MD · On-site

$84K - $114K/yr

Create and maintain CAD-generated engineering models for fire protection systems including detection, suppression, and passive fire barriers. * Perform computations and analyses for fire protection ...

Fire Protection Design Engineer

Rockville, MD · On-site +1

$84K - $114K/yr

Create and maintain CAD-generated engineering models for fire protection systems including detection, suppression, and passive fire barriers. * Perform computations and analyses for fire protection ...

Showing results 21-40

Design Engineer information

See Frederick, MD salary details

$40.3K

$87.6K

$157.6K

How much do design engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 8, 2026, the average yearly pay for design engineer in Frederick, MD is $87,644.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $67,600.00 and $97,900.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a design engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Design Engineer, you need a solid background in engineering principles, CAD software proficiency, and a relevant engineering degree. Familiarity with tools like SolidWorks, AutoCAD, and simulation software, along with certifications such as Professional Engineer (PE), are commonly required. Creativity, problem-solving, and effective communication are standout soft skills for collaborating with teams and translating ideas into workable designs. These abilities ensure innovative, efficient, and manufacturable solutions that meet both technical and client requirements.

What is the difference between Design Engineer vs Mechanical Engineer?

AspectDesign EngineerMechanical Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's in Engineering, Design certifications often preferredBachelor's in Mechanical Engineering, Professional Engineer (PE) license optional
Work EnvironmentDesign offices, CAD software, project planningManufacturing plants, labs, fieldwork, CAD and testing
Employer & Industry UsageProduct design firms, automotive, aerospace, consumer goodsManufacturing, automotive, aerospace, energy sectors

Design Engineers focus on creating and developing product designs using CAD tools, while Mechanical Engineers often work on the broader application, testing, and manufacturing of mechanical systems. Both roles require engineering degrees, but Design Engineers typically emphasize design skills and software proficiency, whereas Mechanical Engineers may engage more in analysis and system integration.

What does a design engineer do?

A Design Engineer is responsible for creating and developing new products, systems, or structures by combining engineering principles with creative design. They use computer-aided design (CAD) software to produce detailed drawings and specifications, working closely with other engineers and teams to ensure functionality, safety, and cost-effectiveness. Design Engineers are involved in every stage of product development, from initial concept through prototyping, testing, and final production. Their work often requires problem-solving skills, technical knowledge, and the ability to communicate ideas clearly.

How does a design engineer typically collaborate with other departments during a project?

Design Engineers regularly work alongside teams such as manufacturing, quality assurance, and product management to ensure that designs are both innovative and feasible for production. Collaboration often involves participating in cross-functional meetings, reviewing prototypes, and incorporating feedback from various stakeholders. This teamwork is essential to address technical and practical challenges early in the design process, which ultimately helps in delivering a successful product to market. Strong communication and adaptability are key skills for thriving in this collaborative environment.

What is a design engineer?

Design engineers develop ideas for new products and determine ways to improve existing products. As a design engineer, you put a creative perspective on your technical engineering knowledge to perform your job duties, which include creating sketches of design ideas and using Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software to generate plans for prototypes. To ensure the product is viable, you also evaluate other aspects of the product design, such as safety, cost, sustainability, aesthetics, and user experience. You collaborate with a team of technicians and other engineers to run tests, troubleshoot problems, and ultimately produce a newly designed product.

What cities near Frederick, MD are hiring for Design Engineer jobs? Cities near Frederick, MD with the most Design Engineer job openings:
Infographic showing various Design Engineer job openings in Frederick, MD as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 84% Full Time, 13% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 83% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 13% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $87,644 per year, or $42.1 per hour.

Wireless Communications Senior Design Engineer

Maxtena Inc

Germantown, MD

Full-time

Re-posted 8 days ago


Job description

As a Wireless Communications Senior Design Engineer, you will be responsible for design, development, and optimization of advanced signal processing algorithms. Your work will include designing waveforms and signal detection/demodulation methods for RF communications systems and developing firmware for field-programmable gate array (FPGA) of wireless modem products based on Software Defined Radio (SDR) technologies.

The position is based in Germantown, MD.

YOUR WORK AT MAXTENA WILL INCLUDE:


  • Working with teams of software and hardware engineers to design custom RF communications systems for a Software Defined Radio

  • Designing and implementing waveform, signal detection, and feature extraction algorithms in firmware/software

  • Working at the physical layer to design waveforms and signal detection/demodulation methods that can be used in custom RF communications systems

  • Further Development of proven prototypes to a deployment standard

  • Building system solutions from algorithms by transitioning them from simulations to instantiations on FPGA platforms

  • Proposing verification methodologies and support the validation and testing of the implemented capabilities

  • Documenting the design, implementation, and test processes, and present the technical results to product teams and senior leadership

  • Development of Software/Firmware prototypes in an agile environment

  • Testing of solutions, including lab and field testing

  • Support demonstration of solutions

IDEAL CANDIDATE:


  • Must be a U.S. Citizen with an ability to obtain a Secret clearance

  • 5+ years of experience with wireless system modem implmentations

  • Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or equivalent, Master's degrees prefered.

  • Lab integration / test / debug with Logic Analyzers, Spectrum Analyzers, Oscilloscopes

  • Knowledge of existing cellular, satellite or WiFI standards.

  • Excellent oral and written communication skills including concise presentation skills

DESIRED EXPERIECE:


  • Demonstrated ability to design waveforms and use signal processing techniques for RF communication systems in real-world environments

  • Demonstrated experience with developing algorithms using scripting languages such as MATLAB

  • Demonstrated experience with FPGA implementation and testbench design with VHDL, Verilog, and SystemVerilog

  • Experience with baseband firmware and hardware component selection

  • Familiarity with Xilinx design process flow and tools (Vivado, Xilink SDK)

  • Experience with C, C++ and developing for embedded targets

  • Experience with software defined radio architectures and experience prototyping and testing communications systems using open source SDR tools such as GNU Rad

Maxtena is an Equal Opportunity Employer.