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Propulsion engineer vs airframe design engineer

The differences between propulsion 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 propulsion engineer and an airframe design engineer. Additionally, a propulsion engineer has an average salary of $98,475, which is higher than the $77,583 average annual salary of an airframe design engineer.

The top three skills for a propulsion engineer include propulsion system, CAD and MATLAB. The most important skills for an airframe design engineer are CAD, GD, and structural design.

Propulsion engineer vs airframe design engineer overview

Propulsion EngineerAirframe Design Engineer
Yearly salary$98,475$77,583
Hourly rate$47.34$37.30
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs45,62940,330
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 72%Bachelor's Degree, 82%
Average age4444
Years of experience44

Propulsion engineer vs airframe design engineer salary

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

Propulsion EngineerAirframe Design Engineer
Average salary$98,475$77,583
Salary rangeBetween $70,000 And $138,000Between $55,000 And $108,000
Highest paying City--
Highest paying state--
Best paying company--
Best paying industry--

Differences between propulsion engineer and airframe design engineer education

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

Propulsion EngineerAirframe Design Engineer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 72%Bachelor's Degree, 82%
Most common majorMechanical EngineeringAerospace Engineering
Most common collegeGeorgia Institute of TechnologyGeorgia Institute of Technology

Propulsion engineer vs airframe design engineer demographics

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

Propulsion EngineerAirframe Design Engineer
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 96.0% Female, 4.0%Male, 94.8% Female, 5.2%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 4.2% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 11.4% Asian, 10.9% White, 68.8% 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 propulsion engineer and airframe design engineer duties and responsibilities

Propulsion engineer example responsibilities.

  • Manage Jenkins security by providing specific access to authorize developers/testers using project base matrix authorization strategy.
  • Conduct FEA of design components.
  • Derive equations that are input to MATLAB for results.
  • Lead RF design/test engineer for structurally integrate AESA prototype.
  • Support customer usage duty cycle group with calculation of suspension loads.
  • Flight test and prepare paper works and document for aircraft engine flight certification with FAA.
  • 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.
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Propulsion engineer vs airframe design engineer skills

Common propulsion engineer skills
  • Propulsion System, 15%
  • CAD, 10%
  • MATLAB, 10%
  • Test Data, 6%
  • NASA, 5%
  • CFD, 4%
Common airframe design engineer skills
  • CAD, 16%
  • GD, 14%
  • Structural Design, 12%
  • Enovia, 10%
  • Catia V5, 9%
  • New Design, 8%

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