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Propulsion systems engineer vs flight test engineer

The differences between propulsion systems engineers and flight test 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 systems engineer and a flight test engineer. Additionally, a propulsion systems engineer has an average salary of $102,136, which is higher than the $90,538 average annual salary of a flight test engineer.

The top three skills for a propulsion systems engineer include MATLAB, engine performance and DOD. The most important skills for a flight test engineer are control room, data analysis, and test procedures.

Propulsion systems engineer vs flight test engineer overview

Propulsion Systems EngineerFlight Test Engineer
Yearly salary$102,136$90,538
Hourly rate$49.10$43.53
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs112,87426,384
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 75%Bachelor's Degree, 74%
Average age4444
Years of experience44

Propulsion systems engineer vs flight test engineer salary

Propulsion systems engineers and flight test engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Propulsion Systems EngineerFlight Test Engineer
Average salary$102,136$90,538
Salary rangeBetween $75,000 And $138,000Between $66,000 And $123,000
Highest paying CityEverett, WAPalo Alto, CA
Highest paying stateRhode IslandIllinois
Best paying companyCirrus AircraftAmazon
Best paying industry-Transportation

Differences between propulsion systems engineer and flight test engineer education

There are a few differences between a propulsion systems engineer and a flight test engineer in terms of educational background:

Propulsion Systems EngineerFlight Test Engineer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 75%Bachelor's Degree, 74%
Most common majorAerospace EngineeringAerospace Engineering
Most common collegeStanford UniversityGeorgia Institute of Technology

Propulsion systems engineer vs flight test engineer demographics

Here are the differences between propulsion systems engineers' and flight test engineers' demographics:

Propulsion Systems EngineerFlight Test Engineer
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 90.0% Female, 10.0%Male, 89.6% Female, 10.4%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 4.2% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 11.1% Asian, 11.0% White, 69.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%Black or African American, 4.2% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 11.4% Asian, 10.9% White, 68.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage8%8%

Differences between propulsion systems engineer and flight test engineer duties and responsibilities

Propulsion systems engineer example responsibilities.

  • Develop Perl scripts to automate object model and functional mapping into the application metadata and database.
  • Monitor OS optimization; test, evaluate product processing and accuracy performance within environment before operational implementation are performed with SCCM.
  • Introduce a new change process and documentation to improve speed and efficiency of problem identification during a rapid prototyping to manufacturing.

Flight test engineer example responsibilities.

  • Track and manage team budget, schedule, risks, change information, BOMs, labor and materials costs.
  • Manage Terraform and refactore from monolithic to application specific components.
  • Create complex flight test plans to meet DoD and FAA requirements.
  • Test facility engineer (TFE) responsible for design and development of test rigs, test stands, and fixtures.
  • Maintain a DOD secret security clearance.
  • Support both STC approval and design qualification.
  • Show more

Propulsion systems engineer vs flight test engineer skills

Common propulsion systems engineer skills
  • MATLAB, 33%
  • Engine Performance, 11%
  • DOD, 9%
  • Technical Support, 7%
  • NASA, 6%
  • FAA, 6%
Common flight test engineer skills
  • Control Room, 7%
  • Data Analysis, 6%
  • Test Procedures, 6%
  • Avionics, 6%
  • DOD, 5%
  • Test Execution, 4%

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