Depending on the industry and even the engineering discipline within that industry, a staff engineer has a wide range of responsibilities. These engineers are used in a variety of fields, from off-shore oil rigs in the middle of the ocean to sterilized medical laboratories, to solve technical problems.
A staff engineer may be called upon to solve a variety of complex technical problems, but he must still apply basic mathematical and scientific principles. He must be able to understand phenomena such as how materials and systems will react under various conditions, including extreme temperatures and pressures, applying basic principles. If his assumptions do not match what is happening in reality, he revises his assumptions or employs a variety of tools to pinpoint the source of the discrepancy between expected and actual outcomes. The ultimate goal of this iterative process is to create or improve useful items.
On most projects, more than one staff engineer is required. A staff engineer who is also an electrical engineer may design the guidance system for a rocket in the aerospace industry. He might be able to formulate the fuel if he has a chemical engineering background. The rocket’s engines could be designed someone in this position with a mechanical engineering background. A staff engineer working in a test laboratory can verify that the systems are working properly.
Staff software engineers can also have a wide range of responsibilities. One person may write and debug code to create the actual program, while another may test it to ensure it runs smoothly and does not crash. A staff engineer may also be hired to keep the databases and networks where the software programs are stored up to date.
During a job search, a thorough examination of the job description is required to gain an accurate understanding of the scope of a specific staff engineering position. Because the job title is so vague, matching an applicant’s skill set to the requirements can take longer than it would for other jobs. A thorough job seeker, on the other hand, might come across a position that would otherwise go unnoticed in searches focused on specific job titles.
Many staff engineering positions require at least a bachelor’s degree from an accredited engineering program as training and education. The majority of engineering students will need to take advanced classes like calculus and calculus-based science. Jobs that require only an associate’s degree or equivalent experience, such as engineering aides and technicians, usually only require an associate’s degree or equivalent experience.