Occupation · SOC 17-2199.09
Nanosystems Engineers
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.
Median wage
$117,750
$62,840–$183,510
Projected growth
+2.1%
Slower than average
Annual openings
330
per year
Employed (US)
150,750
Job Zone 5
Typical preparation
Extensive preparation
Stackable credential programs
921 mapped
Core skills
SpeakingScienceReading ComprehensionCritical ThinkingWritingMathematicsJudgment and Decision MakingComplex Problem SolvingActive ListeningActive LearningSystems AnalysisMonitoringSystems EvaluationOperations AnalysisTechnology DesignSocial PerceptivenessQuality Control AnalysisTime ManagementPersuasionOperations MonitoringNegotiationLearning StrategiesInstructingCoordinationService OrientationManagement of Personnel ResourcesEquipment SelectionOperation and ControlManagement of Material ResourcesTroubleshootingProgrammingManagement of Financial ResourcesRepairingEquipment MaintenanceInstallation
Knowledge areas
Engineering and TechnologyPhysicsChemistryMathematicsComputers and ElectronicsEnglish LanguageEducation and TrainingProduction and ProcessingDesignMechanicalAdministration and ManagementBiologyCustomer and Personal ServiceAdministrativePublic Safety and SecurityPersonnel and Human ResourcesCommunications and MediaEconomics and AccountingSales and MarketingMedicine and DentistryTelecommunicationsBuilding and ConstructionLaw and GovernmentPsychologyForeign LanguageTransportationSociology and AnthropologyPhilosophy and TheologyGeographyFood ProductionHistory and ArcheologyTherapy and CounselingFine Arts
Technology & tools
AWS Elastic MapReduce (EMR)Adobe FreeHand MXApache HadoopApache MXNetAutodesk AutoCADBreault Research ASAPCP2KCPMDCSC ElmerComputer aided design CAD softwareDL_POLYDassault Systemes AbaqusDassault Systemes CATIADassault Systemes SolidWorksData acquisition softwareESA MOSAICSEnterprise resource planning ERP softwareFinite difference time domain FDTD softwareGE Healthcare Centricity EMRGeneral Atomic and Molecular Electronic Structure System GAMESSIMSI Design DesignCADLAMMPS Molecular Dynamics SimulatorLinkCADLinuxMAYA NastranMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft ProjectMicrosoft VisioMicrosoft WindowsMicrosoft WordNWChemNational Instruments LabVIEWOptical Research Associates LightToolsOracle DatabaseOracle JavaOracle Manufacturing SchedulingPTC Creo ParametricPython
Representative tasks
Analyzing Data or InformationMaking Decisions and Solving ProblemsGetting InformationThinking CreativelyWorking with ComputersProcessing InformationCommunicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesUpdating and Using Relevant KnowledgeMonitoring Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsIdentifying Objects, Actions, and EventsInspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialsDocumenting/Recording InformationControlling Machines and ProcessesTraining and Teaching OthersEstimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or InformationProviding Consultation and Advice to OthersInterpreting the Meaning of Information for OthersDeveloping Objectives and StrategiesOrganizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkCommunicating with People Outside the OrganizationCoaching and Developing OthersDeveloping and Building TeamsJudging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or PeopleGuiding, Directing, and Motivating SubordinatesScheduling Work and ActivitiesEstablishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsDrafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and EquipmentEvaluating Information to Determine Compliance with StandardsCoordinating the Work and Activities of OthersRepairing and Maintaining Electronic EquipmentMonitoring and Controlling ResourcesPerforming Administrative ActivitiesSelling or Influencing OthersAssisting and Caring for OthersResolving Conflicts and Negotiating with OthersHandling and Moving ObjectsRepairing and Maintaining Mechanical EquipmentStaffing Organizational UnitsPerforming General Physical ActivitiesPerforming for or Working Directly with the Public
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Nanomaterial synthesis protocols — execute under direct supervision using established laboratory procedures in an academic or industrial research facility.Advanced characterization instruments such as AFM and SEM — operate following standard operating procedures to collect data on nanoparticle samples under researcher guidance.Scientific literature on nanotechnology topics including nanocomposites and nanolithography — read and summarize to support ongoing research projects in a graduate-level lab environment.Research findings and experimental data — document accurately in lab notebooks and draft sections of technical reports under senior engineer review.CAD software tools for nanosystem component design — apply under supervision to develop preliminary design concepts for biomedical or optoelectronic applications.Chemical, analytical, and biological process principles — apply foundational knowledge to interpret experimental results in a nanoscale systems research context.Laboratory safety protocols and hazardous material handling procedures — follow precisely during nanofabrication and characterization activities in a cleanroom environment.Spreadsheet and analytical software platforms — use to organize, process, and perform basic statistical analysis on nanoscale experimental datasets.Research progress and preliminary results — present clearly in internal team meetings and group seminars within a multidisciplinary nanotechnology program.Technician instructions and procedural guidance from senior engineers — receive and apply attentively during nanotechnology production or research support tasks.
developing
Nanotechnology research experiments across topics such as heat transfer, fluorescence detection, and nanoparticle dispersion — design and execute with limited oversight in an industrial or university research setting.Nanomaterial synthesis and processing workflows — adapt and optimize based on characterization feedback using advanced spectroscopic and microscopic tools in a production or R&D environment.Technical reports and engineering recommendations — prepare and present to project teams and program managers following established review processes at a nanotechnology firm or research institute.Prototype nanosystem applications including biomedical delivery mechanisms — construct and iteratively refine using CAD software and microfabrication facilities.New nanotechnology product tests and validation experiments — design and conduct, interpreting outcomes against defined performance specifications in a laboratory or pilot production context.Research technologists and technicians — coordinate and provide day-to-day technical direction during nanotechnology experiments or manufacturing runs.Analytical and scientific software platforms — employ routinely to model nanoscale phenomena and extract quantitative insights from complex experimental datasets.Scientific and technical guidance on chemical or biological processes applied to nanoscale systems — provide to junior colleagues and cross-functional team members in familiar project contexts.External funding proposals for nanotechnology research initiatives — contribute substantive technical content and literature reviews under the direction of a principal investigator.Systems-level performance trade-offs in nanosystem designs — analyze using structured engineering judgment to recommend design choices within established project constraints.
proficient
Full-scope nanotechnology research programs spanning nanofabrication, optoelectronics, liquid systems, and hybrid nanocomposites — lead independently, driving experimental strategy and interpreting complex, non-routine results.Nanomaterial characterization and synthesis using state-of-the-art tools including atomic force microscopes and electron beam lithography systems — perform autonomously and troubleshoot instrument anomalies in a high-precision research environment.Novel nanosystem prototypes such as targeted biomedical delivery platforms or nanoscale sensing devices — design from concept through proof-of-concept validation, integrating multidisciplinary engineering and science principles.Technical expertise in chemical, analytical, and biological processes at the micro and nanoscale — provide authoritatively to interdisciplinary science and engineering teams across complex, non-standard project challenges.Research and development results, engineering analyses, and strategic recommendations — communicate through peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations, and formal program reviews to internal and external stakeholders.Comprehensive test plans for nanotechnology products and manufacturing processes — develop and oversee, ensuring experimental rigor and regulatory or quality compliance in an industrial or government laboratory context.Competitive and government funding proposals for advanced nanotechnology research — write independently, articulating scientific merit, innovation, and commercialization potential to secure external partnerships or grants.Technologist and technician teams engaged in nanotechnology research and production — supervise and mentor, setting performance standards and resolving complex technical problems autonomously.Systems-level analysis of nanotechnology architectures including optoelectronics and nanoparticle-based formulations — conduct to evaluate scalability, manufacturability, and performance across the full engineering lifecycle.Emerging scientific literature, novel methodologies, and cross-disciplinary advances in nanotechnology — synthesize actively to redirect research approaches and incorporate innovation into ongoing programs.
advanced
Organizational nanotechnology research strategy and multi-year roadmaps — define and champion at the executive or principal level, aligning scientific direction with institutional mission and market opportunity.Cross-organizational partnerships, joint ventures, and technology licensing agreements in the nanotechnology sector — initiate and negotiate, leveraging deep domain expertise and professional network to advance strategic goals.Enterprise-scale nanotechnology research and development portfolios spanning nanofabrication, nanomedicine, and advanced materials — oversee resource allocation, risk management, and milestone governance across concurrent programs.Scientific and engineering talent pipelines for nanotechnology disciplines — cultivate through mentorship, academic collaboration, curriculum influence, and structured professional development programs at an organizational or field-wide level.Transformative funding strategies including large-scale government grants, industry consortia, and venture investment proposals — architect and lead, setting the technical vision and managing stakeholder relationships across the full proposal lifecycle.Field-defining standards, best practices, and ethical frameworks for nanosystem engineering and nanomaterial safety — develop and advocate within professional bodies, regulatory agencies, and standards organizations.Complex, unresolved nanotechnology challenges at the intersection of physics, chemistry, and biology — direct multidisciplinary expert teams toward breakthrough solutions, providing authoritative scientific judgment at the highest organizational level.Technology transfer pathways from advanced nanosystem research to commercial products or clinical applications — design and steward, bridging the gap between laboratory innovation and scalable manufacturing or regulatory approval.Organizational culture of scientific rigor, innovation, and interdisciplinary collaboration in nanotechnology research — shape through leadership behavior, policy design, and institutional communication across the enterprise.Discipline-wide advances in nanotechnology — represent and communicate through keynote presentations, advisory board leadership, and high-impact publications, influencing the trajectory of the field on a national or international scale.
Also known as
14 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Durability EngineerNanoelectronics EngineerNanofabrication EngineerNanofabrication Research EngineerNanoindentation Applications EngineerNanomaterials Research ScientistNanomaterials Synthesis Research ScientistNanosystems EngineerNanotechnology EngineerNanotechnology Materials ScientistNanotechnology SpecialistProcess Development EngineerQuantum Materials Research EngineerResearch Engineer