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Weapons engineer vs tool engineer

The differences between weapons engineers and tool 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 weapons engineer and a tool engineer. Additionally, a tool engineer has an average salary of $101,135, which is higher than the $99,077 average annual salary of a weapons engineer.

The top three skills for a weapons engineer include engineering support, electrical systems and ammunition. The most important skills for a tool engineer are python, java, and CAD.

Weapons engineer vs tool engineer overview

Weapons EngineerTool Engineer
Yearly salary$99,077$101,135
Hourly rate$47.63$48.62
Growth rate2%2%
Number of jobs85,35298,936
Job satisfaction4-
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 73%Bachelor's Degree, 59%
Average age4141
Years of experience66

What does a weapons engineer do?

A weapons engineer is responsible for developing, testing, and managing weapons systems on behalf of a government organization. They may work as an electrical engineer, mechanical engineer, nuclear engineer, chemical engineer, or aerospace engineer. They specialize in developing weapon technologies and national security technologies. A university degree is required to work as a weapons engineer in any defense organization.

What does a tool engineer do?

A tooling engineer is responsible for creating and adjusting tools or parts for cars, heavy equipment, and other products that need customized or personalized components. Your duties and responsibilities will include creating design blueprints, using computer-aided (CAD) software to develop two- and three-dimensional prints, and validating and evaluating products. As a tooling engineer, it is your responsibility to ensure compliance with operational standards such as the ISO 9000. You also have to provide technical assistance to manufacturing personnel and quality assurance.

Weapons engineer vs tool engineer salary

Weapons engineers and tool engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Weapons EngineerTool Engineer
Average salary$99,077$101,135
Salary rangeBetween $65,000 And $150,000Between $75,000 And $135,000
Highest paying City-Novato, CA
Highest paying state-California
Best paying company-Meta
Best paying industry-Technology

Differences between weapons engineer and tool engineer education

There are a few differences between a weapons engineer and a tool engineer in terms of educational background:

Weapons EngineerTool Engineer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 73%Bachelor's Degree, 59%
Most common majorMechanical EngineeringMechanical Engineering
Most common collegeGeorgia Institute of TechnologyMichigan Technological University

Weapons engineer vs tool engineer demographics

Here are the differences between weapons engineers' and tool engineers' demographics:

Weapons EngineerTool Engineer
Average age4141
Gender ratioMale, 84.6% Female, 15.4%Male, 95.3% Female, 4.7%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 2.8% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 6.5% Asian, 11.1% White, 75.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%Black or African American, 3.4% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.5% Asian, 10.3% White, 72.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%
LGBT Percentage5%5%

Differences between weapons engineer and tool engineer duties and responsibilities

Weapons engineer example responsibilities.

  • Manage Jenkins security by providing specific access to authorize developers/testers using project base matrix authorization strategy.
  • Establish specifications for cryogenic valves, vacuum jacket hoses / couplings and other machine interfaces require for LN2 retrofit.
  • Identify cost, capability, risk, and supplier issues during EMD for ensuring successful introduction into manufacturing.
  • Conduct geotechnical and environmental subsurface investigations.
  • Develop design specifications, implement RTL, generate simulation models, test benches, design software and documentation.

Tool engineer example responsibilities.

  • Manage mold vendors in the refurbishment of existing tooling and new mold construction.
  • Lead cross-functional teams that develop several emerging technology laser and CCD barcode scanner products.
  • Lead several independent, cross-functional projects and improve manufacturing quality, reduce cost, ensure environment are supported and FDA compliant.
  • Create Perl scripts and SQL store procedures for nightly batch job streams, data loads and corporate reporting.
  • Perform product design functions using AutoCad.
  • Create custom SQL's in db2 and oracle for the reports.
  • Show more

Weapons engineer vs tool engineer skills

Common weapons engineer skills
  • Engineering Support, 47%
  • Electrical Systems, 43%
  • Ammunition, 9%
Common tool engineer skills
  • Python, 16%
  • Java, 8%
  • CAD, 6%
  • Linux, 6%
  • Jenkins, 5%
  • Ruby, 4%

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