What does a loads engineer do?
A loads engineer is a person who oversees and supervises different loads. They are responsible for designing and analyzing a load and how certain structures resist a load. This career requires someone who is physically fit as they are responsible for some of the labor involved with designing a building or a structure. Loads engineers are the ones who determine the possible problems that may be encountered mainly on the gravitational support and force resistance of structures such as bridges, buildings, and other establishments.
Loads engineer responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real loads engineer resumes:
- Manage Jenkins security by providing specific access to authorize developers/testers using project base matrix authorization strategy.
- Write certification documents for the FAA in agreement with relevant CFRs.
- Support extended wind tunnel testing at AEDC, LM, NASA Langley and NASA Marshall facilities.
- Provide subsystem product concept evaluations and assembly design suggestions to support new product development for missile subsystems energy management.
- Develop synthesize-able decimation filter architecture.
- Work as an aerospace engineer in the field of GPS technology.
- Create a robotic platform used to test autopilot hardware by sending artificial GPS coordinates to autopilot software.
- Develop synthesize-able decimation filter architecture.
Loads engineer skills and personality traits
We calculated that 34% of Loads Engineers are proficient in MATLAB, Loads Analysis, and Dynamic Analysis. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Business skills, and Writing skills.
We break down the percentage of Loads Engineers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- MATLAB, 34%
Supported Flight Test with instrumentation and analysis of test data using Boeing and Matlab software.
- Loads Analysis, 9%
Supervised coupled loads analysis in the frequency and time domain using the FEM model in the NASTRAN Flight Loads environment.
- Dynamic Analysis, 8%
Utilize Linux-based software products such as Parasoft for static and dynamic analysis.
- FAA, 6%
Tested and validated the GUI using FAA Certified dynamic loads.
- Design Loads, 5%
Documented gust and maneuver design loads per FAA/JAA certification requirements.
- NASA, 5%
Helped prepare material for Critical Design Review of Taurus Launch Vehicle with NASA and other government agencies.
"matlab," "loads analysis," and "dynamic analysis" are among the most common skills that loads engineers use at work. You can find even more loads engineer responsibilities below, including:
Analytical skills. The most essential soft skill for a loads engineer to carry out their responsibilities is analytical skills. This skill is important for the role because "aerospace engineers must be able to evaluate project design elements and propose improvements, if necessary." Additionally, a loads engineer resume shows how their duties depend on analytical skills: "documented flight test results and analysis methods in accordance with civil certification requirements far/jar part 25 subpart j. "
Business skills. Many loads engineer duties rely on business skills. "meeting federal standards in aerospace engineering requires business knowledge, including commercial law," so a loads engineer will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways loads engineer responsibilities rely on business skills: "developed business proposal to bid on dod contract. "
Math skills. loads engineer responsibilities often require "math skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "aerospace engineers use calculus, trigonometry, and other math in their analysis, design, and troubleshooting work." This resume example shows what loads engineers do with math skills on a typical day: "used extensive experience and background in mathematical modelling to trace and resolve errors in fem model. "
Problem-solving skills. Another crucial skill for a loads engineer to carry out their responsibilities is "problem-solving skills." A big part of what loads engineers relies on this skill, since "aerospace engineers upgrade designs and troubleshoot problems to improve aircraft, such as for increased fuel efficiency or safety." How this skill relates to loads engineer duties can be seen in an example from a loads engineer resume snippet: "calculated continuous psd gust fatigue loads using msc nastran solution 146, msc patran and in-housegulfstream aerospace code. "
The three companies that hire the most loads engineers are:
- Boeing3 loads engineers jobs
- Vestas Blades America3 loads engineers jobs
- Joby Aviation3 loads engineers jobs
Compare different loads engineers
Loads engineer vs. Aviation consultant
A stress analyst is a type of aerospace engineer; they design, construct, and test aircraft. They may also work on missiles or spacecraft. They primarily study design requirements for the overall strength of a craft. They analyze the stress data of structural components and prepare mathematical models of issues.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a loads engineer are more likely to require skills like "matlab," "loads analysis," "dynamic analysis," and "faa." On the other hand, a job as an aviation consultant requires skills like "client relationships," "federal aviation administration," "icao," and "airspace." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Aviation consultants tend to make the most money working in the manufacturing industry, where they earn an average salary of $75,453. In contrast, loads engineers make the biggest average salary, $100,797, in the transportation industry.The education levels that aviation consultants earn slightly differ from loads engineers. In particular, aviation consultants are 5.4% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a loads engineer. Additionally, they're 3.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Loads engineer vs. Master lay out specialist
A senior structural designer designs structures such as bridges, dams, parks, or telecommunication structures. They create designs, document them, and analyze structural functionality. Frequently, they must attend meetings and seminars to distribute designs to junior structural designers. They also perform peer reviews and write reports.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that loads engineer responsibilities requires skills like "matlab," "loads analysis," "dynamic analysis," and "faa." But a master lay out specialist might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "customer service," "cloud," "crm," and "business development."
Master lay out specialists earn a higher average salary than loads engineers. But master lay out specialists earn the highest pay in the technology industry, with an average salary of $128,240. Additionally, loads engineers earn the highest salaries in the transportation with average pay of $100,797 annually.master lay out specialists earn higher levels of education than loads engineers in general. They're 6.4% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 3.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Loads engineer vs. Stress analyst
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a loads engineer is likely to be skilled in "loads analysis," "design loads," "catia," and "linux," while a typical stress analyst is skilled in "abaqus," "airframe," "structural integrity," and "ansys."
Stress analysts earn the highest salary when working in the manufacturing industry, where they receive an average salary of $87,231. Comparatively, loads engineers have the highest earning potential in the transportation industry, with an average salary of $100,797.Most stress analysts achieve a higher degree level compared to loads engineers. For example, they're 6.0% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 2.2% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Loads engineer vs. Senior structural designer
Types of loads engineer
Updated January 8, 2025
