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Sr Design Engineer Jobs in Arizona (NOW HIRING)

Senior Design Engineer, Wastewater

Scottsdale, AZ · Hybrid

$105K - $144K/yr

The Senior Water Engineer/Project Manager will lead the delivery of water, wastewater, and ... Lead engineering design of complex assignments, including facilities and pipeline condition ...

Senior Design Engineer, Wastewater

Scottsdale, AZ · On-site

$105K - $144K/yr

The Senior Water Engineer/Project Manager will lead the delivery of water, wastewater, and ... Lead engineering design of complex assignments, including facilities and pipeline condition ...

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Showing results 1-20

Sr Design Engineer information

See Arizona salary details

$65.7K

$125.4K

$181.7K

How much do sr design engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 21, 2026, the average yearly pay for sr design engineer in Arizona is $125,411.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $100,200.00 and $146,800.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a Sr Design Engineer?

Sr Design Engineers are experienced professionals responsible for leading the design and development of products, systems, or components within an engineering team. They oversee the design process, ensuring projects meet technical specifications, regulatory standards, and budget constraints. Sr Design Engineers often mentor junior engineers, collaborate with cross-functional teams, and use advanced software tools for modeling and analysis. Their expertise helps drive innovation and ensures the successful delivery of complex engineering projects.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Sr Design Engineer?

To thrive as a Sr Design Engineer, you need a strong background in mechanical or electrical engineering, advanced problem-solving skills, and a relevant engineering degree, often with several years of industry experience. Expertise in CAD software (such as SolidWorks or AutoCAD), simulation tools, and familiarity with manufacturing processes are typically required, along with certifications like PE or Six Sigma being advantageous. Leadership, collaboration, and effective communication are vital soft skills for guiding teams and managing complex projects. These competencies are crucial to ensure innovative, reliable designs that meet technical requirements and project goals.

What are some common challenges faced by Sr Design Engineers, and how can they be addressed?

Sr Design Engineers often encounter challenges such as balancing innovative design solutions with cost and manufacturability constraints, managing multiple projects simultaneously, and ensuring effective communication across multidisciplinary teams. To address these challenges, it's important to stay current with industry tools and best practices, regularly collaborate with manufacturing and quality departments, and prioritize clear documentation. Developing strong project management and interpersonal skills can also help streamline workflow and reduce project bottlenecks.

What is the difference between Sr Design Engineer vs Design Engineer?

AspectSr Design EngineerDesign Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's degree in engineering, 3+ years experience, possibly professional engineering licenseBachelor's degree in engineering or related field, entry to mid-level experience
Work EnvironmentDesign teams, R&D departments, manufacturing settingsDesign teams, project-based environments, product development
Employer & Industry UsageManufacturing, aerospace, automotive, electronicsSimilar industries, often as entry to mid-level roles

The main difference between a Sr Design Engineer and a Design Engineer lies in experience and responsibility. A Sr Design Engineer typically has more years of experience, takes on complex projects, and may mentor junior staff. In contrast, a Design Engineer is often in an earlier career stage, focusing on executing design tasks under supervision. Both roles are essential in product development, but the Sr Design Engineer plays a leadership role in design innovation and project management.

How much does a senior design engineer get paid?

A senior design engineer's average salary typically ranges from $80,000 to $130,000 annually, depending on experience, industry, and location. They often have advanced skills in CAD software and engineering principles, which can influence compensation levels.

What cities in Arizona are hiring for Sr Design Engineer jobs?

Cities in Arizona with the most Sr Design Engineer job openings:

Infographic showing various Sr Design Engineer job openings in Arizona as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 88% Full Time, 7% Part Time, 2% Temporary, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 82% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 13% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $125,411 per year, or $60.3 per hour.

Senior Design Engineer - Mechanical

Southland Industries

Tempe, AZ • On-site

$86K - $118K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted yesterday


Southland Industries rating

8.6

Company rating: 8.6 out of 10

Based on 28 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz


Job description


Position Summary
The Senior Design Engineer provides conceptual design for specific projects. In addition, this role supervises or directs the workflow of less-experienced engineers in performing HVAC or other system design and documents production of small and large projects.
Position Details
  • Serves as design professional at project team design meetings
  • Prepares complex preliminary redline design layouts for estimating
  • Performs more complex calculations for a project, such as heating/cooling loads, equipment selection and sizing, friction loss calculations, etc.
  • Performs site inspections to determine compliance with construction documents and resolves design issues during construction phase
  • Supervises or directs the workflow of less-experienced engineers in performing HVAC or other system design and documents production of small and large projects

Qualifications
  • Four-year degree in Engineering or related field
  • 5+ years experience
  • PE License required
  • Excellent knowledge of applicable systems design, such as HVAC, plumbing, etc., as well as general understanding of system operations
  • Ability to read mechanical and plumbing plans
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills and ability to communication with all levels of employees, clients and general contractors.
  • Strong public speaking skills
  • Strong computer skills, including CADD and Microsoft Office Products, such as Excel

Benefits
As a 100% employee-owned company, we offer a comprehensive benefits package for you and your family:
  • 401(k) plan with 50% company match (no cap) and immediate 100% vesting
  • Medical, dental, and vision insurance (100% paid for employee)
  • Annual bonus program based upon performance, achievement, and company profitability
  • Term life, AD&D insurance, and voluntary life insurance
  • Disability income protection insurance
  • Pre-tax flexible spending plans (health and dependent care)
  • Paid parental leave
  • Paid holidays, vacation, and personal time
  • Training/professional development opportunities and company-paid memberships for professional associations and licenses
  • Wellness benefits

About Southland Industries
As one of the nation's largest MEP companies, Southland Industries is built on the foundation of great people. Since 1949, we have put our people first, enabling growth, professional achievement, and innovation. If you want to join a fast-paced environment where you're engaged, challenged, and valued, apply now to join our dynamic team.
To learn more about careers at Southland, explore our career opportunities, follow us on social media, and check out our website.
Southland Industries and all its subsidiaries are an Equal Opportunity Employerand prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind. We are committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all employees and to providing our employees with a safe work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions at Southland Industries are based on business needs, job requirements and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion or belief, gender, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, medical condition, marital status, family care or medical leave status, veteran status, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate. Southland Industries will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics.
Contingent Employment: All employment offers are contingent upon successful drug tests, background checks, and professional reference checks. Roles that include driving as an essential job duty will be required to have a successful Motor Vehicle Record check (MVR). We are not able to offer sponsorship of employment at this time.
External Agency Announcement: Its Southland Industries' policy not to accept candidate submissions from recruiting agencies without an active and authorized work order. Candidate ownership can only be established after a bona fide work order is issued by a member of the Southland Industries Talent Acquisition team and the candidate is appropriately submitted through our Applicant Tracking System (ATS).

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