What Is a Research and Development Engineer and How to Become One

By ZipRecruiter Marketplace Research Team

A research and development engineer is responsible for conducting experiments and analyzing processes to determine better approaches to solving problems or product building. You can have this career in industries such as petroleum, aerospace, and mechanics. Your job duties include analyzing processes to find areas of improvement, conducting experiments to determine better approaches, and documenting findings so they can be shared with others. You may be required to use sophisticated tools such as computer-aided design software to create simulations and advanced microscopes for observing chemical reactions.

The educational qualifications for this career begin with a bachelor’s degree in engineering, biosciences, or a related field. Next, you earn your master’s degree in one of these engineering related fields of study. During your educational experience, you should seek out internships that give you skills and experience working in a laboratory environment. Employers also give preference to candidates that have several years of experience working in their field. You can seek certification as a Licensed Professional Engineer to improve your chances of gaining employment.