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Entry Level Cae Fea Engineer Jobs in Austin, TX (NOW HIRING)

Entry Level Cae Fea Engineer information

See Austin, TX salary details

$17

$32

$54

How much do entry level cae fea engineer jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 2, 2026, the average hourly pay for entry level cae fea engineer in Austin, TX is $32.91, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $26.68 and $37.16 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is an entry level CAE FEA engineer?

Entry Level CAE (Computer-Aided Engineering) FEA (Finite Element Analysis) Engineers are professionals who use specialized software to simulate and analyze how products or structures will react to real-world forces such as heat, vibration, and stress. They typically work in industries like automotive, aerospace, or manufacturing, helping to improve product designs and ensure safety and durability. As entry-level engineers, they assist senior analysts, set up simulations, interpret results, and help optimize designs under the guidance of more experienced engineers. Their role is crucial in reducing the need for costly physical prototypes and speeding up the product development process.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an entry level CAE FEA engineer?

To thrive as an Entry Level CAE FEA Engineer, you need a solid understanding of engineering fundamentals, finite element analysis (FEA) concepts, and a relevant engineering degree. Familiarity with CAE software such as ANSYS, Abaqus, or HyperMesh, and possibly certification in these tools, is typically required. Strong problem-solving abilities, attention to detail, and effective communication skills help you interpret results and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams. These competencies are essential to ensure accurate simulations, efficient workflow, and valuable contributions to product design and validation processes.

What are some common challenges faced by entry level CAE FEA engineers when transitioning from academic projects to industry applications?

Entry-level CAE/FEA Engineers often find that real-world engineering problems are more complex and less defined than academic assignments. In the workplace, you'll frequently need to interpret ambiguous requirements, work with incomplete data, and ensure your simulations align closely with physical testing and customer needs. Collaborating with senior engineers and cross-functional teams is crucial to learn best practices, validate your results, and iterate quickly. Developing strong communication skills and a willingness to ask questions will help you overcome these initial hurdles and grow in the role.

What is the difference between Entry Level Cae Fea Engineer vs Entry Level Mechanical Engineer?

AspectEntry Level Cae Fea EngineerEntry Level Mechanical Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's in Mechanical, Aerospace, or related field; basic knowledge of CAE/FEA toolsBachelor's in Mechanical Engineering; foundational engineering principles
Work EnvironmentDesign firms, automotive, aerospace, manufacturing industriesManufacturing plants, design departments, R&D labs
Common UsageFocuses on finite element analysis, simulation, and stress testingDesign, analysis, and testing of mechanical systems

Entry Level Cae Fea Engineers primarily specialize in simulation and finite element analysis to evaluate product durability, while Entry Level Mechanical Engineers work broadly on designing and testing mechanical systems. Both roles require a bachelor's degree but differ in technical focus and daily tasks.

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What job categories do people searching Entry Level Cae Fea Engineer jobs in Austin, TX look for?

The top searched job categories for Entry Level Cae Fea Engineer jobs in Austin, TX are:

Infographic showing various Entry Level Cae Fea Engineer job openings in Austin, TX as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 91% Full Time, 5% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 88% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $68,448 per year, or $32.9 per hour.

Structures Engineer (Launch Vehicles)

Firefly Aerospace

Cedar Park, TX • On-site

Full-time

Posted 15 days ago


Firefly Aerospace rating

6.9

Company rating: 6.9 out of 10

Based on 11 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

64th of 72 rated aerospace companies


Job description

ABOUT FIREFLY AEROSPACE
Firefly Aerospace is a space and defense technology company on a mission to reliably and repeatedly launch, land, and operate space systems from Earth to the Moon and beyond. As the partner of choice for critical space missions, Firefly is the first commercial company to launch a satellite to orbit with 24-hour notice and the first company to achieve a successful Moon landing. Headquartered in north Austin, Texas, Firefly is looking for passionate, hardworking innovators to join our team and help fuel our successful trajectory into space.
SUMMARY
Firefly is looking for talented Mechanical or Aerospace Engineers to join our Primary Structures Team. As an entry-level Structures Responsible Engineer for Primary Structures, you will develop our state-of-the-art pressurized structures throughout the product life cycle for Launch Vehicles. You will be part of a highly skilled, dynamic team that will involve you in all aspects of analysis, design, fabrication, and testing. Excellent collaboration and communication skills, along with a can-do attitude are critical.
RESPONSIBILITIES
  • Formulate the comprehensive cradle to grave Road Map for your hardware - owning conceptual design, structural layout, sizing analysis, hardware production, and structural testing
  • Design and development of very large composite pressurized structures
  • Mass optimization of existing designs and requalifying designs
  • Supporting products from conceptual creation, design release, analysis, prototype, qual and production
  • Support configuration development and trade studies
  • Maintain requirements, activity schedule, budget, and status
  • Create CAD, manufacturing drawings, specifications, and other documentation
  • Perform first order strength and sizing calculations for your structure

QUALIFICATIONS
Required
  • B.S. degree in aerospace or mechanical engineering
  • Internship(s) in a structural system design-related role
  • Strong design and integration skills using 3-D CAD software (Siemens NX / FiberSim preferable).
  • Ability to effectively work in a multi-discipline team and provide technical guidance and insight.
  • Experience with industry FEA/FEM tools like Nastran, ANSYS, FEMAP, Simcenter, etc.
  • A passion for the structures!

Desired
  • Experience taking hardware from analysis, through test, and back through analysis validation
  • Familiarity with aerospace standard structural analysis methods (Bruhn, Niu, Roark, etc)
  • Working knowledge of composite manufacturing methods, material selection, testing, and characterization
  • Demonstrated experience with composite structures and manufacturing techniques

Bonus Points
  • Experience with Pressurant or Propellant tanks
  • Experience with filament wound and/or AFP structures
  • Passion for very big Pressurized Structures.

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