To become a mechanical design engineer, you must have a formal education in design, science, mathematics, and mechanical engineering, and an interest in developing new products. Most mechanical design engineer positions require a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. Additional experience in design, drafting, or product development may be necessary for some jobs and by some employers. The Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) offers certifications, as do other organizations, for mechanical engineering programs. Many employers will favor candidates with these accreditations.

If you are interested in a job related to Mechanical Design Engineer, here are some popular related job searches with the most open positions on ZipRecruiter.

Top Types Of Mechanical Design Engineer Jobs

List of the top 10 highest paying Mechanical Design Engineer positions in 2026, with salary ranges, according to ZipRecruiter.

Mechanical Engineer Firearms Design
Salary range: $76,000 - $103,000
Mechanical Engineer Firearms Design is a more unusual job search query but still may give you interesting job results. Most salaries for Mechanical Engineer Firearms Design jobs pay between $76,000 (25th percentile) and $103,000 (75th percentile) annually. Take a look at the variety of open positions nationwide for Mechanical Engineer Firearms Design job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter.
Nascar Design Engineer
Salary range: $85,000 - $119,000
Nascar Design Engineer is a more unusual job search query but still may give you interesting job results. Most salaries for Nascar Design Engineer jobs pay between $85,000 (25th percentile) and $119,000 (75th percentile) annually. Take a look at the variety of open positions nationwide for Nascar Design Engineer job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter.
Work From Home Mechanical Design
Salary range: $76,000 - $103,000
Work From Home Mechanical Design is a more unusual job search query but still may give you interesting job results. Most salaries for Work From Home Mechanical Design jobs pay between $76,000 (25th percentile) and $103,000 (75th percentile) annually. You’ll find many open positions nationwide for Work From Home Mechanical Design job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter.
Freelance Mechanical Design Engineer
Salary range: $76,000 - $103,000
As a freelance mechanical design engineer, you perform your duties on a contract basis for clients. Your responsibilities include working with a project manager to understand the scope of the design project and designing a working prototype for tools, hardware, or components for robotic or sensing equipment. You work closely with QA testers and other manufacturing specialists to assess the quality of the project before a company prepares to implement large-scale production. As a freelance design engineer, you need to seek out new work on a regular basis.
Contract Mechanical Design Engineer
Salary range: $76,000 - $103,000
Contract Mechanical Design Engineer is a more unusual job search query but still may give you interesting job results. Most salaries for Contract Mechanical Design Engineer jobs pay between $76,000 (25th percentile) and $103,000 (75th percentile) annually. Currently, there are not many open positions nationwide for Contract Mechanical Design Engineer job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter. You can take a look at what is available and find similar job searches in this list.
Mechanical Engineer No Experience
Salary range: $81,500 - $126,500
Mechanical Engineer No Experience is a common job search query. Most salaries for Mechanical Engineer No Experience jobs pay between $81,500 (25th percentile) and $126,500 (75th percentile) annually. Take a look at the variety of open positions nationwide for Mechanical Engineer No Experience job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter.
Design Engineer
Salary range: $68,000 - $98,500
Design engineers develop ideas for new products and determine ways to improve existing products. As a design engineer, you put a creative perspective on your technical engineering knowledge to perform your job duties, which include creating sketches of design ideas and using Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software to generate plans for prototypes. To ensure the product is viable, you also evaluate other aspects of the product design, such as safety, cost, sustainability, aesthetics, and user experience. You collaborate with a team of technicians and other engineers to run tests, troubleshoot problems, and ultimately produce a newly designed product.
Ptc Creo Pro Engineer
Salary range: $83,000 - $123,000
Ptc Creo Pro Engineer is a more unusual job search query but still may give you interesting job results. Most salaries for Ptc Creo Pro Engineer jobs pay between $83,000 (25th percentile) and $123,000 (75th percentile) annually. Currently, there are not many open positions nationwide for Ptc Creo Pro Engineer job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter. You can take a look at what is available and find similar job searches in this list.
Switchgear Design Engineer
Salary range: $84,000 - $135,000
Switchgear Design Engineer is a more unusual job search query but still may give you interesting job results. Most salaries for Switchgear Design Engineer jobs pay between $84,000 (25th percentile) and $135,000 (75th percentile) annually. Currently, there are not many open positions nationwide for Switchgear Design Engineer job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter. You can take a look at what is available and find similar job searches in this list.
Internship Electric Motor Design Engineer
Salary range: $43,000 - $60,000
Internship Electric Motor Design Engineer is a more unusual job search query but still may give you interesting job results. Most salaries for Internship Electric Motor Design Engineer jobs pay between $43,000 (25th percentile) and $60,000 (75th percentile) annually. Currently, there are not many open positions nationwide for Internship Electric Motor Design Engineer job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter. You can take a look at what is available and find similar job searches in this list.

All Jobs Mechanical Design Engineer Jobs 10 of the Most Popular Types of Mechanical Design Engineer Jobs in 2026