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The differences between vehicle controls engineers and staff 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 vehicle controls engineer and a staff engineer. Additionally, a staff engineer has an average salary of $107,530, which is higher than the $98,897 average annual salary of a vehicle controls engineer.
The top three skills for a vehicle controls engineer include canalyzer, vehicle dynamics and control systems. The most important skills for a staff engineer are java, python, and architecture.
| Vehicle Controls Engineer | Staff Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $98,897 | $107,530 |
| Hourly rate | $47.55 | $51.70 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 78,830 | 277,011 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
A vehicle controls engineer specializes in designing and developing automotive systems and solutions. They usually work at automotive manufacturing facilities where they spearhead projects, conduct research and analyses, gather and analyze data, study client and market feedback, and identify the strengths and weaknesses of existing systems to develop strategies that will optimize operations. Moreover, a vehicle controls engineer develops prototypes and test structures, coordinates with fellow experts, troubleshoots problems, set safety and efficiency guidelines, and manages staff while implementing company policies and regulations.
Staff engineers are responsible for designing, developing, and inspecting various products, equipment, or structures. These professionals may perform varied duties depending on their specialization that includes overseeing the design and construction of buildings, bridges, sewer systems, and other infrastructure, estimating the financial costs of construction projects, and ensuring compliance with health and safety laws and regulations. Other duties include designing and developing machinery, tools, and engines, solving design problems, and building the manufacturing equipment needed to create their products.
Vehicle controls engineers and staff engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Vehicle Controls Engineer | Staff Engineer | |
| Average salary | $98,897 | $107,530 |
| Salary range | Between $68,000 And $142,000 | Between $69,000 And $167,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Mateo, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Zoox | Flexport |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Telecommunication |
There are a few differences between a vehicle controls engineer and a staff engineer in terms of educational background:
| Vehicle Controls Engineer | Staff Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between vehicle controls engineers' and staff engineers' demographics:
| Vehicle Controls Engineer | Staff Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 86.2% Female, 13.8% | Male, 87.9% Female, 12.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 16.9% White, 67.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | Black or African American, 3.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.8% Asian, 16.8% White, 67.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |