What is the difference between Sustaining Electrical Engineer vs Electrical Design Engineer?

Career: Sustaining Electrical Engineer

AspectSustaining Electrical EngineerElectrical Design Engineer
Primary FocusMaintaining and improving existing electrical products and systemsDesigning new electrical systems and products from scratch
Work EnvironmentOften in manufacturing, production support, or product maintenancePrimarily in R&D, product development, or engineering design teams
Required CredentialsBachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering; experience with product lifecycle managementBachelor'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.