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Flight controls engineer vs airframe design engineer

The differences between flight controls engineers and airframe design engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a flight controls engineer and an airframe design engineer. Additionally, a flight controls engineer has an average salary of $99,619, which is higher than the $77,583 average annual salary of an airframe design engineer.

The top three skills for a flight controls engineer include C++, FAA and flight control systems. The most important skills for an airframe design engineer are CAD, GD, and structural design.

Flight controls engineer vs airframe design engineer overview

Flight Controls EngineerAirframe Design Engineer
Yearly salary$99,619$77,583
Hourly rate$47.89$37.30
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs46,80740,330
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 71%Bachelor's Degree, 82%
Average age4444
Years of experience44

Flight controls engineer vs airframe design engineer salary

Flight controls engineers and airframe design engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Flight Controls EngineerAirframe Design Engineer
Average salary$99,619$77,583
Salary rangeBetween $75,000 And $130,000Between $55,000 And $108,000
Highest paying City--
Highest paying state--
Best paying company--
Best paying industry--

Differences between flight controls engineer and airframe design engineer education

There are a few differences between a flight controls engineer and an airframe design engineer in terms of educational background:

Flight Controls EngineerAirframe Design Engineer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 71%Bachelor's Degree, 82%
Most common majorAerospace EngineeringAerospace Engineering
Most common collegeGeorgia Institute of TechnologyGeorgia Institute of Technology

Flight controls engineer vs airframe design engineer demographics

Here are the differences between flight controls engineers' and airframe design engineers' demographics:

Flight Controls EngineerAirframe Design Engineer
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 90.7% Female, 9.3%Male, 94.8% Female, 5.2%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 4.1% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 10.8% Asian, 13.0% White, 67.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%Black or African American, 4.1% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 10.8% Asian, 12.1% White, 68.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage8%8%

Differences between flight controls engineer and airframe design engineer duties and responsibilities

Flight controls engineer example responsibilities.

  • Lead redesign review for cyclic stick, composite to metal, (CATIA).
  • Analyze and simulate suspension characteristics on MATLAB & CarSim for better ride performance.
  • Generate FORTRAN code to determine hinge moments of the primary and secondary control surface actuators.
  • Conduct thermal CAE analyses using RADTHERM and vehicle testing in support of design and development.
  • Provide field support for evaluating vehicle performances and NVH issues that enable quick customer resolution.
  • Provide critical support in planning, execution, and analysis for USAF targeting pod assets under development.
  • Show more

Airframe design engineer example responsibilities.

  • Manage automation projects including purchasing, scheduling fabrication and assembly, debugging, and delivery to customer.
  • Design new S76D lightning strike protection to meet FAA certification requirements.
  • Develop layouts for fuselage doors and skin reinforcements around the doors, door seals, and door mechanism structures using CATIA.
  • Design fuselage composite core details utilizing FIBERSIM.
  • Evaluate existing documents and execute engineering computations for rehabilitation projects.
  • Perform structural calculations, evaluations and retrofit alternatives for assign projects.
  • Show more

Flight controls engineer vs airframe design engineer skills

Common flight controls engineer skills
  • C++, 31%
  • FAA, 10%
  • Flight Control Systems, 8%
  • Data Analysis, 7%
  • Aircraft Flight, 5%
  • Design Reviews, 5%
Common airframe design engineer skills
  • CAD, 16%
  • GD, 14%
  • Structural Design, 12%
  • Enovia, 10%
  • Catia V5, 9%
  • New Design, 8%

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