Career Overview
Design, develop, or supervise the production of materials, devices, or systems of unique molecular or macromolecular composition, applying principles of nanoscale physics and electrical, chemical, or biological engineering.
Also Known As
- Process Development Engineer
- Research Engineer
Alternate Job Titles
- Durability Engineer
- Nanoelectronics Engineer
- Nanofabrication Engineer
- Nanofabrication Research Engineer
- Nanoindentation Applications Engineer
- Nanomaterials Research Scientist
- Nanomaterials Synthesis Research Scientist
- Nanosystems Engineer
- Nanotechnology Engineer
- Nanotechnology Materials Scientist
- Nanotechnology Specialist
- Process Development Engineer
- Quantum Materials Research Engineer
- Research Engineer
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- Provide scientific or technical guidance or expertise to scientists, engineers, technologists, technicians, or others, using knowledge of chemical, analytical, or biological processes as applied to micro and nanoscale systems.
- Supervise technologists or technicians engaged in nanotechnology research or production.
- Conduct research related to a range of nanotechnology topics, such as packaging, heat transfer, fluorescence detection, nanoparticle dispersion, hybrid systems, liquid systems, nanocomposites, nanofabrication, optoelectronics, or nanolithography.
- Synthesize, process, or characterize nanomaterials, using advanced tools or techniques.
- Prepare reports, deliver presentations, or participate in program review activities to communicate engineering results or recommendations.
- Design or conduct tests of new nanotechnology products, processes, or systems.
- Create designs or prototypes for nanosystem applications, such as biomedical delivery systems or atomic force microscopes.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- Engineering and Technology
- Physics
- Chemistry
- Mathematics
- Computers and Electronics
- English Language
Essential Skills
Success in this career requires strong skills in:
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
- Science
- Critical Thinking
- Active Listening
- Writing
- Mathematics
- Active Learning
- Complex Problem Solving
- Judgment and Decision Making
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Oral Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Near Vision
- Deductive Reasoning
- Inductive Reasoning
- Written Comprehension
- Written Expression
- Information Ordering
- Category Flexibility
- Flexibility of Closure
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Intellectual Curiosity
- Attention to Detail
- Innovation
- Dependability
- Cautiousness
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Achievement
- Working Conditions
- Recognition
- Independence
- Support
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: Doctoral Degree
Related Work Experience Needed: Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years
On-the-Job Training: Over 3 months, up to and including 6 months
Education Details: Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Experience Required: Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- Apache Hadoop
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- Dassault Systemes SolidWorks
- Linux
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Project
- Microsoft Visio
- Microsoft Windows
Tools & Equipment
- Ashing systems
- Atmospheric furnaces
- Atomic absorption spectrometers
- Atomic force microscopes AFM
- Atomic layer deposition ALD systems
- Capacitance meters
- Capacitance-voltage C-V plotters
- Chemical mechanical polishing CMP systems
- Computer servers
- Confocal Raman microscopes
- Contact mask aligners
- Critical point dryers
- Cryocut microtomes
- Cryostats
- Desktop computers
Work Environment
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
- Freedom to Make Decisions
Salary & Job Market
Wages reported for the broader Engineers, All Other occupational group (BLS 2024), which includes Nanosystems Engineers.
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $62,840 |
| Median | $117,750 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | $183,510 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 150,750
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Nanotechnology Engineering Technologists and Technicians
Education: Doctoral Degree
Median Salary: $64,790
Materials Scientists
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $104,160
Microsystems Engineers
Education: Master's Degree
Median Salary: $117,750
Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $106,950
Chemical Engineers
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $121,860
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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.