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The differences between drive test engineers and senior controls engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a drive test engineer and a senior controls engineer. Additionally, a senior controls engineer has an average salary of $107,298, which is higher than the $76,872 average annual salary of a drive test engineer.
The top three skills for a drive test engineer include data collection, GPS and pre. The most important skills for a senior controls engineer are control systems, HMI, and C++.
| Drive Test Engineer | Senior Controls Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $76,872 | $107,298 |
| Hourly rate | $36.96 | $51.59 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 36,537 | 39,440 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
For cars and other automobiles' best performance, drive test engineers can be asked for suggestions. From their expertise, one can ensure that the chosen car is equipped with the necessary accessories such as GPS, Bluetooth hubs, an air conditioner, locks, and USB ports. They train and teach people how to drive safely, following road laws and protocols. They monitor for enhancements and provide reports to stakeholders and managers for its application. They can troubleshoot minor software problems in automobiles.
A senior controls engineer specializes in designing and developing control systems in various industries. Their responsibilities typically include identifying and understanding the company's needs, producing prototypes and test structures, gathering and analyzing data to identify areas needing improvement, implementing solutions in vulnerable areas, and providing technical support when necessary. Furthermore, as a senior controls engineer, it is essential to lead and serve as a mentor to junior engineers, all while enforcing the company's policies and regulations.
Drive test engineers and senior controls engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Drive Test Engineer | Senior Controls Engineer | |
| Average salary | $76,872 | $107,298 |
| Salary range | Between $57,000 And $103,000 | Between $82,000 And $138,000 |
| Highest paying City | Cupertino, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Apple | Sagent Pharmaceuticals |
| Best paying industry | Retail | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a drive test engineer and a senior controls engineer in terms of educational background:
| Drive Test Engineer | Senior Controls Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Northeastern University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between drive test engineers' and senior controls engineers' demographics:
| Drive Test Engineer | Senior Controls Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 92.4% Female, 7.6% | Male, 84.6% Female, 15.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.9% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.3% Asian, 15.9% White, 63.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 4.7% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 10.9% Asian, 14.5% White, 64.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |