Development Engineer

UCI Series Concepts -- UCI SIZE-NEUTRAL SUPPLEMENTAL GUIDELINES

Class Specifications - E.20
Principal Development Engineer (MSP 0729) SIZE-NEUTRAL
Senior Development Engineer (7181) SIZE-NEUTRAL
Associate Development Engineer (7182) SIZE-NEUTRAL
Assistant Development Engineer (7183) SIZE-NEUTRAL
Junior Development Engineer (7184) SIZE-NEUTRAL

May, 1972 -- SIZE-NEUTRAL MARCH 1995

SERIES CONCEPT

The Development Engineer performs and may oversee the performance of design 
engineering for laboratory and experimental facilities, equipment, and 
instrument systems; may oversee and/or coordinate the construction, assembly, 
and testing of laboratory and experimental facilities, equipment, and 
instrument systems; and performs other related duties as required.

Positions in this series are characterized by the application of theoretical 
and/or mathematical approaches in determining the feasibility of engineering 
designs with consideration of such factors as system effectiveness, 
reliability, configuration, and cost.

Incumbents typically are assigned responsibility for the coordination of the 
engineering aspects of research projects involving the design, construction, 
assembly, and test of experimental equipment and instrument systems; provide 
professional engineering information and advice to principal investigators 
and/or other faculty and research personnel with administrative responsibility 
for the research program or teaching facility; act as engineering liaison 
officer in relationships with investigators, shop personnel, vendors, and 
extramural funding agencies; design or oversee the design of electrical, 
mechanical, electronic, and/or optical instruments and of  computer-associated 
systems and equipment; may oversee or perform the recording and reduction of 
test data for instrument design and evaluation purposes; and assemble and 
evaluate information and prepare reports with respect to feasibility, 
engineering design criteria, and performance of instrument systems.

The development engineering series includes electrical, electronic, mechanical, 
and industrial engineering specialities. The fields of application include the 
physical sciences, engineering, oceanography, biological sciences and medicine, 
and newly emerging interdisciplinary teaching and research efforts. Other 
branches of engineering and fields of application may be included, when 
equivalent technical knowledges and skills are required or are recognized as 
distinct occupations.

CLASS CONCEPTS

Principal Development Engineer

Under general direction, incumbents assist a principal investigator or research 
facility administrator in planning, organizing, and overseeing the work of 
professional engineering and support staffs engaged in design, construction, 
and test of laboratory facilities, equipment and Instrument systems; represent 
the officer or researcher to whom they are responsible at meetings and 
conferences involving campus, University, and extramural funding agency levels 
of authority in matters related to engineering design considerations and 
financial requirements dependent on engineering design considerations; and 
carry major responsibility for accomplishment of research objectives in 
relationships with investigators, manufacturers, contractors, and University 
staff members, as a principal assistant to the faculty investigator or 
research administrator in charge. 

Principal level assignments typically carry engineering management responsibility 
covering all engineering specialties engaged, which necessitates the effective 
integration of all sub-systems and engineering fields, such as mechanical, 
electrical, and electronic.
  
Senior Development Engineer

Under direction, incumbents may assist a campus or research facility 
administrator, principal investigator, or Principal Development Engineer, in 
planning, organizing, overseeing, and/or performing the work of a professional 
engineering staff engaged In a specialized engineering phase of a teaching 
and/or research program; represent the officer to whom they are responsible at 
meetings and conferences, involving campus, University, and extramural funding 
agency levels of authority in matters related to engineering design 
considerations and financial requirements dependent on engineering design 
considerations; and-carry major responsibility for accomplishment of research 
objectives in relationships with investigators, manufacturers, contractors and 
University staff members, as a senior assistant to the Principal Development 
Engineer or faculty investigator in charge.

Example of assignment allocated to this level of difficulty and 
responsibility:

	Specialist, advisor, and consultant on engineering design 
	problems in a highly specialized field of application, 
	with responsibility for planning and designing large 
	and/or novel engineering systems, instrumentation systems 
	or computer-related systems.

Senior level assignments may carry responsibility for overseeing the work of 
other professional development engineers, as well as technical and shop 
personnel involved in the construction, assembly and test of equipment and 
instruments. Incumbents at the senior level are often specialists, who are 
widely recognized and consulted by University staff members for their expert 
knowledge of an engineering specialty field and/or field of application. The 
criterion for allocation of an assignment to the senior level may typically 
be met by one of the following:

Successful application of technical knowledges and skills in an engineering 
specialty field to a variety of research efforts, involving the integration 
of substantial scientific subject matter knowledge andengineering expertise.

Successful application of technical knowledges and skills in more than one 
engineering specialty field to a highly specialized field of application, 
involving the integration of substantial scientific subject matter knowledge 
and engineering expertise.

Associate Development Engineer

Under direction, incumbents perform all or many of the duties indicated for 
the series under the Series Concept.  This is the full professional level at 
which incumbents are expected to operate rather independently in a specialized 
engineering phase of a major teaching and/or research effort. 

Examples of assignments allocated to this level of difficulty and 
responsibility are:

	Design engineer (electrical, electronic, or mechanical) 
	for an instrumentation system required in support of a 
	major research effort with responsibility for engineering 
	liaison and coordination through construction, assembly, 
	and test.

	Design engineer (electrical, electronic, or mechanical)
	overseeing a teaching and/or research laboratory facility, 
	providing engineering services to faculty members and 
	investigators, with responsibility for the engineering 
	specialty engaged, activities of technical and shop 
	personnel, and successful technical achievements within 
	time and financial constraints.

Associate level assignments typically require concentration in a scientific 
field of application where scientific subject matter knowledge relevant to 
research objectives and methodology is of great value in understanding and 
establishing engineering design criteria.  This kind of knowledge of the 
field of application is usually attained through several years of experience 
as a Junior and/or Assistant Development Engineer in the specific field of 
application.

The examples cited above are typical for teaching and/or research laboratory 
facilities. Other kinds of professional engineering endeavor may be recognized 
at the Associate level, when they involve comparable technical skills and 
knowledges in such applications as engineering systems analysis, engineering 
feasibility analysis, and operations research.

Assistant Development Engineer

Under general supervision, incumbents design and prepare engineering plans 
and specifications for novel laboratory equipment and instruments; coordinate 
construction, assembly, and laboratory and field testing of equipment and 
instruments; and participate in the engineering and mathematical analysis of 
experimental data or in the mathematical solution of physical and engineering 
problems. Assignments at this level are expected to be of moderate difficulty 
and responsibility, with work subject to checking and review typically by a 
licensed engineer or other professional engineer of comparable qualifications.

Incumbents typically are expected to progress to the class of Associate 
Development Engineer.

Junior Development Engineer

Under supervision, incumbents perform entry level professional engineering work. 
Incumbents make design calculations and cost of material estimates; assemble and 
calibrate laboratory equipment and instruments; set up a variety of test samples 
and run routine tests; collect and reduce experimental data and analyze results 
of tests using engineering principles and mathematical techniques; participate 
in preparation of technical reports; and demonstrate engineering laboratory 
techniques and procedures to new technical staff members and/or graduate 
students.

This is the entry level class for graduates in engineering. Assignments are 
structured to provide training experience typically under supervision of a 
licensed engineer or other professional engineer of comparable qualifications.  
Incumbents typically are expected to progress to the class of Assistant 
Development Engineer.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Principal Development Engineer

Graduation from college with major work in engineering and six years of 
engineering experience in the planning, development, and construction of
engineering systems including three years of specialized design work; or 
an equivalent combination of additional education and experience.

Senior Development Engineer

Graduation from college with major work in engineering and five years, of 
engineering experience in the planning, development, and construction of 
engineering systems, including two years in specialized design work; or an 
equivalent combination of additional education and experience.

Associate Development Engineer

Graduation from college with major work in engineering and three years of 
engineering experience, including one year of responsible design work; or 
an equivalent combination of additional education and experience.

Assistant Development Engineer

Graduation from college with major work in engineering and two years of 
engineering experience; or an equivalent combination of additional 
education and experience.

Junior Development Engineer

Graduation from college with major work in engineering.

Note:  In all of the above qualification standards, a California professional 
engineering license may be substituted for the B.S. degree in engineering.  
A B.S. or higher degree in physics may be substituted for the B.S. degree in 
engineering.