| Aspect | Sustaining Electrical Engineer | Electrical Design Engineer |
|---|
| Primary Focus | Maintaining and improving existing electrical products and systems | Designing new electrical systems and products from scratch |
| Work Environment | Often in manufacturing, production support, or product maintenance | Primarily in R&D, product development, or engineering design teams |
| Required Credentials | Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering; experience with product lifecycle management | Bachelor's or higher in Electrical Engineering; strong design and CAD skills |
While both roles require electrical engineering knowledge, the Sustaining Electrical Engineer focuses on supporting and improving existing products, whereas the Electrical Design Engineer is involved in creating new electrical systems. The roles differ mainly in their scope—maintenance versus development—though they share similar educational backgrounds and industry environments.