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Senior Design Engineer Jobs in Madison, WI (NOW HIRING)

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Senior Design Engineer information

See Madison, WI salary details

$63.5K

$122.4K

$193K

How much do senior design engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 30, 2026, the average yearly pay for senior design engineer in Madison, WI is $122,410.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $95,700.00 and $139,600.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

How does a Senior Design Engineer typically collaborate with cross-functional teams during a product development cycle?

Senior Design Engineers frequently work alongside professionals from manufacturing, quality assurance, project management, and marketing to ensure the successful development and launch of products. They lead design reviews, gather input from other departments, and address technical challenges collaboratively. This role requires strong communication skills and the ability to balance design intent with practical constraints such as cost, manufacturability, and regulatory requirements. Regular meetings and iterative feedback loops are a standard part of the process, making teamwork and adaptability essential for success.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Senior Design Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Senior Design Engineer, you need a strong background in engineering principles, advanced problem-solving abilities, and a relevant bachelor's or master's degree in engineering. Proficiency with CAD software, simulation tools, and familiarity with industry standards or certifications such as PE (Professional Engineer) are typically required. Leadership, effective communication, and project management skills set top performers apart in this role. These competencies ensure the delivery of innovative, reliable designs while leading teams and projects to successful outcomes.

What is the difference between Senior Design Engineer vs Mechanical Design Engineer?

AspectSenior Design EngineerMechanical Design Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's degree in engineering, experience in design, possibly professional engineering licenseBachelor's degree in mechanical engineering or related field, design experience
Work EnvironmentDesign teams, project management, cross-disciplinary collaborationDesign and development of mechanical components, CAD work, prototype testing
Employer & Industry UsageEngineering firms, manufacturing, aerospace, automotiveManufacturing, product design, machinery development

The main difference is that a Senior Design Engineer typically has more experience, leadership responsibilities, and may oversee projects, while a Mechanical Design Engineer focuses on creating and testing mechanical components. Both roles require similar technical skills and work in related environments, but the senior position involves more oversight and strategic input.

What does a Senior Design Engineer do?

A Senior Design Engineer is responsible for leading the design and development of products, systems, or components, often within engineering or manufacturing industries. They create detailed technical drawings and specifications, oversee project timelines, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure designs meet safety, quality, and efficiency standards. Additionally, they mentor junior engineers, troubleshoot design challenges, and may interact with clients or stakeholders to clarify requirements and present solutions. Their role combines technical expertise, project management, and leadership skills.
What are the most commonly searched types of Design Engineer jobs in Madison, WI? The most popular types of Design Engineer jobs in Madison, WI are:
What are popular job titles related to Senior Design Engineer jobs in Madison, WI? For Senior Design Engineer jobs in Madison, WI, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Senior Design Engineer jobs in Madison, WI look for? The top searched job categories for Senior Design Engineer jobs in Madison, WI are:
What cities near Madison, WI are hiring for Senior Design Engineer jobs? Cities near Madison, WI with the most Senior Design Engineer job openings:
Infographic showing various Senior Design Engineer job openings in Madison, WI as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 67% Full Time, and 33% Contract. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $122,410 per year, or $58.9 per hour.

Senior Design Engineer - Innovation & Enabling

Sub-Zero Group, Inc.

Madison, WI • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement

Re-posted yesterday


Job description

Sub-Zero, Wolf, and Cove, the leading manufacturer of luxury kitchen appliances, is a longstanding, family-owned company in the Madison area. Icons of design and paragons of performance and quality, Sub-Zero, Wolf, and Cove are the refrigeration, cooking, and dishwashing specialists found in world's most luxurious homes. We are looking for team members who are driven by innovation and excellence, striving to serve our customers by doing what is right-with integrity, teamwork, and accountability.
The Innovation and Enabling team is dedicated to accelerating Sub-Zero Group's ability to identify, mature, and enable breakthrough technologies that will define the next generation of luxury appliances. We are seeking a motivated individual to support the design, test, and development of new products, features and capabilities. The most important impacts this position has on the organization relate to driving purposeful innovation to our products, the features they deliver, and the speed at which they are brought to market. This position will be a key member of cross-functional teams that develop breakthrough front-end innovations.
In addition, continual growth and development are important aspects of this position. If you aspire to build upon and apply thermal and mechanical engineering principles, this position will set you up for future success.
Primary Responsibilities
As a Senior Design Engineer within the Innovation and Enabling team, you will be expected to bring deep curiosity, technical rigor, and creative problem-solving to create new and interesting solutions that disrupt and de-risk the most challenging features. You will work to uncover unmet solutions, ideate creative ways to solve technical problems, and be the technical expert in the creation and execution into concepts that deliver best-in-class luxury appliances for our customers.
Innovation Efforts
  • Own the technical direction of early-stage concepts that shape future products
  • Apply science, simulation and technology to enhance innovative concepts
  • Serve as a technical catalyst by challenging assumptions, constraints, and unlocking paths where traditional approaches fall short
  • Critically evaluate product designs considering user needs, durability, materials and manufacturing processes
  • Bring imagination to every phase of development to shape future design visions
  • Confidently evaluate and manage external providers of emerging technology
  • Pitch future focused concepts that influence product roadmaps to guide leadership decision-making

Enabling Efforts
  • Utilize design-thinking methods, processes, tools & creativity
  • Develop specifications and requirements
  • Conduct and participate in ideation events
  • Design and build physical prototypes for evaluation
  • Develop and execute verification and validation test plans
  • Conduct feasibility analysis, risk assessments and test results to generate data driven recommendations
  • Report out developments, learnings, and key findings to transition into new product development programs
  • Self-starter who can manage goals and timelines
  • Provide technical guidance and mentorship to engineers during early-stage concepts

We value our employees by providing:
  • Competitive compensation based on skills
  • Industry leading health, dental, and vision plans
  • Generous 401 (K) savings and profit sharing
  • On-site UW Health clinic, fitness center, and walking paths
  • Education assistance and internal training programs
  • Electric vehicle charging
  • Maternity & paternity leave
  • Interested in learning more on our robust benefits package we offer? Click here!

This position requires a pre-employment drug/alcohol test and background check, which will be administered after a conditional job offer is extended. A negative drug/alcohol test result is required for employment. Refusal to take the test or a positive result may disqualify a candidate from further consideration. All drug testing will be conducted in accordance with federal and state laws.
Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.
For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.