A digital engineer is a professional who specializes in designing, creating and managing digital /computer systems. Digitalization has radically transformed the way we live and work, making it easier for us to connect with others and access information.
What is Digitalization?
Digitalization, in simple terms, is the integration of digital technologies and computer systems into every aspect of our society – from the products and services we use every day to the machines and devices that surround us. Businesses rely on these advanced technologies to manage large amounts of data and deliver real-time, personalized services to their customers. Today’s digital engineers are responsible for designing and developing these systems and managing their maintenance to ensure they operate effectively at all times.
What is Digital Engineering?
Digital engineering can be defined as the application of the principles and methods of engineering to design and create technological artifacts that are entirely or partially based on computers or microprocessors. It includes all aspects of computer technology, from hardware to software and includes disciplines such as software engineering, computer science, information technology, telecommunications and networking as well as electrical and electronic engineering
Who is a Digital Engineer?
Usually starts out as an application developer or a web designer who later becomes a web developer or software engineer. In a lot of cases, their role involves understanding the business needs of the clients and how they can benefit from them using technology.
They then design and develop the solutions for these needs using web technologies or other programming languages such as Python, Ruby etc. In the later stages of their career they may become a project manager with responsibility for leading a team working on a specific project.
What Skills Do Digital Engineers Need?
- To be successful as a digital engineer you need to be able to understand the business requirements and communicate this clearly to the team.
- You will also need to be able to translate these into technical requirements and ensure that they are correctly implemented.
- You will need to be creative and think outside the box in order to come up with solutions that will make the best use of the technology available.
- You will also need to be good at problem solving and able to communicate clearly both verbally and in writing.
- Digital Engineers most of the time work with big data, Cybersecurity and the likes especially in really massive companies. Big data is data so large, a collection of data and complex that processing becomes difficult using on-hand database management tools or traditional data process developing applications. These data sources tell the Data engineer which aspect of the company urgently requires digitalization.
Here you will find a few insights on Data Analytics and Data Analysis.
Roles of a Digital Engineer
Digital engineers are most times also referred to as Digital systems engineers. In the course of this article, both terms would be used interchangeably. Now lets look at the roles of a digital /digital systems engineer.
- First and foremost, as we have previously outlined, a digital engineer/digital system engineer has to take on leadership responsibilities. This is because a digital engineer / digital systems engineer would mostly have to be in a position to lead a group of persons.
- The digital engineer / digital system engineer is responsible for engaging with graphic researchers and silicon designers for the purpose of IP development and implementation.
- Provide leadership on test chip development and research IP simulation.
- Give reviews that increases the effectiveness and efficiency of research.
- Drafts out designs for best quality digital systems, easy operability, maintainability and manufacturability.
- Perform development tasks assigned by the software manager or firmware manager.
- Responsible for designing and developing quality ASIC/FPGA/ASIC systems for products designed by digital designers as well as FPGA core developments as specified by the VP of R&D
- Responsible for integrating IP blocks with design projects to achieve optimal performance.
- Responsible for developing documentation such as manuals, white papers and presentations that describes the capabilities and performance of the developed IP Blocks.
- Write and revise project plans according to changing priorities as well as any unforeseen circumstances that may arise during the course of a project Assists other departments in their work when needed to maintain continuity of operations.
Digital Engineer Salary
Different regions pay different salaries for digital engineer, the digital system engineer in the united states of America earn an average annual salary of $95,338 while the average salary for other regions of the world is around $55,180 per year. The digital engineer’s salary as well increases with experience. Those with some years of experience under their belt can earn up to $150,000 a year while those just starting out can expect to earn around $40,000.
What qualifications does Digital Engineering require?
The educational requirements of digital engineering are similar to what is required for a traditional electrical engineering job with a few additions. Students interested in pursuing a career as digital engineers should complete a degree in computer science or information technology as well as courses in computer engineering and electrical engineering. There are also certifications that can be earned through various organizations that enhance the career prospects of the graduates of these academic programs.
Also, a digital engineer is expected to know programming languages such as C++ and Java so that they can write codes for the hardware and software that they design. They should be able to script and debug code and use software testing tools to assess the quality of the finished product.
Are Digital Engineers in demand?
Given the rapid advancements in digital technologies and digital hardware over the past decade or so, the demand for skilled individuals skilled in the use of these technologies has been steadily on the rise. The number of job openings in the United States is expected to increase by 13% before 2024, compared to a 7% growth rate for all occupations in the country during that period.
The growing demand for highly skilled digital engineers can be attributed to the increased adoption of automation systems in a variety of industries, particularly manufacturing, logistics, transportation and utilities.