Occupation · SOC 17-2011
Aerospace Engineers
Perform engineering duties in designing, constructing, and testing aircraft, missiles, and spacecraft. May conduct basic and applied research to evaluate adaptability of materials and equipment to aircraft design and manufacture. May recommend improvements in testing equipment and techniques.
Median wage
$134,830
$85,350–$205,850
Projected growth
+6.0%
Average growth
Annual openings
440
per year
Employed (US)
68,440
Job Zone 4
Typical preparation
Considerable preparation
Stackable credential programs
672 mapped
Core skills
Critical ThinkingScienceReading ComprehensionActive ListeningComplex Problem SolvingOperations AnalysisWritingSpeaking
Knowledge areas
Engineering and TechnologyMathematicsDesignPhysicsComputers and Electronics
Technology & tools
Computer aided manufacturing CAM softwareDevelopment environment softwareAnalytical or scientific softwareComputer aided design CAD softwareObject or component oriented development software
Representative tasks
Formulate mathematical models or other methods of computer analysis to develop, evaluate, or modify design, according to customer engineering requirements.Plan or conduct experimental, environmental, operational, or stress tests on models or prototypes of aircraft or aerospace systems or equipment.Formulate conceptual design of aeronautical or aerospace products or systems to meet customer requirements or conform to environmental regulations.Plan or coordinate investigation and resolution of customers' reports of technical problems with aircraft or aerospace vehicles.Write technical reports or other documentation, such as handbooks or bulletins, for use by engineering staff, management, or customers.Direct or coordinate activities of engineering or technical personnel involved in designing, fabricating, modifying, or testing of aircraft or aerospace products.Evaluate product data or design from inspections or reports for conformance to engineering principles, customer requirements, environmental regulations, or quality standards.Develop design criteria for aeronautical or aerospace products or systems, including testing methods, production costs, quality standards, environmental standards, or completion dates.Analyze project requests, proposals, or engineering data to determine feasibility, productibility, cost, or production time of aerospace or aeronautical products.Maintain records of performance reports for future reference.Diagnose performance problems by reviewing reports or documentation from customers or field engineers or by inspecting malfunctioning or damaged products.Direct aerospace research and development programs.Evaluate and approve selection of vendors by studying past performance or new advertisements.Design new or modify existing aerospace systems to reduce polluting emissions, such as nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide, or smoke emissions.Design or engineer filtration systems that reduce harmful emissions.Evaluate biofuel performance specifications to determine feasibility for aerospace applications.
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Mathematical models for basic aerodynamic analysis — construct and validate under direct supervision using analytical or scientific software in a structured engineering environment.Technical reports and engineering documentation — draft with guidance from senior engineers for use by internal project teams on assigned aerospace programs.Design criteria and customer requirements — review and interpret under supervision to verify alignment with established aerospace engineering standards.CAD software tools — apply to produce preliminary design drawings of aerospace components under direction from a lead engineer.Environmental and stress test procedures — assist in planning and executing on scaled models or prototypes in a controlled laboratory setting.Engineering principles and quality standards — apply to inspect product data or design outputs under close oversight on entry-level design tasks.Customer-reported technical problems — document and categorize initial findings to support senior engineers investigating aerospace vehicle anomalies.Systems analysis concepts — apply to identify basic interdependencies within aerospace subsystems while working within a defined engineering team.Engineering mathematics including calculus and differential equations — use to support design calculations under supervision on assigned aerospace components.Industry regulations and environmental standards — research and summarize to inform design criteria reviews conducted by senior engineering staff.
developing
Mathematical models and computer analysis methods — develop and refine with reduced oversight to evaluate design alternatives for aerospace systems against customer specifications.Experimental and operational test plans — formulate and coordinate for aircraft models or prototypes, adapting procedures based on observed results in a testing environment.Conceptual design proposals for aeronautical products — prepare independently by synthesizing customer requirements and applicable environmental regulations.Technical problem investigations — lead resolution efforts for customer-reported issues on aerospace vehicles, coordinating findings with cross-functional engineering teams.Engineering handbooks, bulletins, and technical specifications — author clearly and accurately for use by engineering staff and program management.CAD and analytical software suites — use proficiently to model, simulate, and assess aerospace component performance under varying operational conditions.Design conformance reviews — conduct against engineering principles, quality standards, and regulatory requirements, producing documented evaluation reports.Production cost and schedule criteria — incorporate into design development activities to balance performance objectives with program constraints on mid-scale aerospace projects.Systems evaluation methods — apply to assess overall aerospace system performance against defined operational and environmental benchmarks.Configuration management software — use to track design changes and maintain version control across iterative aerospace product development cycles.
proficient
Complex mathematical models and multi-physics simulation frameworks — independently formulate and validate to drive design decisions on advanced aerospace systems under demanding customer requirements.Full-scope experimental, environmental, and stress test campaigns — plan, oversee, and interpret results for aircraft or aerospace systems, resolving non-routine anomalies encountered during testing.Conceptual and preliminary design of complete aeronautical systems — lead across all phases, ensuring compliance with customer requirements, safety standards, and environmental regulations.Root-cause investigations for critical technical problems — direct end-to-end resolution processes for customer-reported failures on operational aerospace vehicles, communicating findings to stakeholders.Comprehensive technical documentation packages including specifications, reports, and regulatory submissions — produce to the standard required for certification and program approval.Design criteria encompassing testing methodology, quality standards, environmental compliance, and production cost targets — develop authoritatively for new aerospace product lines.Multidisciplinary design reviews — evaluate engineering data, inspection results, and analysis outputs to render independent conformance judgments across the full product lifecycle.Requirements analysis and system architecture software — apply to decompose complex customer needs into traceable, verifiable aerospace system specifications.Emerging analytical technologies and learning strategies — assess and integrate selectively into engineering workflows to improve design fidelity and development efficiency.Systems analysis across interconnected aerospace subsystems — perform autonomously to identify performance drivers, failure modes, and design trade-space boundaries on novel vehicle architectures.
advanced
Organizational engineering methodology and modeling standards — establish and govern to ensure analytical rigor and consistency across all aerospace programs within the enterprise.Strategic test and evaluation frameworks — define at the program and portfolio level, setting policies that govern experimental design and acceptance criteria for new aerospace vehicles.Conceptual design vision for next-generation aeronautical platforms — set direction by integrating customer strategy, regulatory foresight, and emerging technology roadmaps into system-level requirements.Enterprise-wide technical problem resolution capability — lead by instituting structured investigation processes and cross-program knowledge sharing to address systemic aerospace engineering challenges.Technical communication standards and documentation governance — champion organization-wide to elevate the quality and consistency of engineering publications delivered to customers and regulatory bodies.Engineering and technical workforce teams — direct and develop across design, fabrication, and test functions, mentoring talent and building organizational competency in aerospace product development.Product design criteria and quality policy at the enterprise level — author and steward to align engineering standards, environmental compliance requirements, and cost objectives with long-range business strategy.Senior customer and regulatory authority relationships — manage by representing the organization's engineering position on complex conformance and certification matters for major aerospace programs.Technology adoption and innovation strategy — lead by evaluating advanced CAD, simulation, and systems engineering tools for enterprise investment and integration into the development environment.Systems engineering governance and cross-disciplinary integration — orchestrate at the executive level to ensure coherent design convergence across propulsion, structures, avionics, and operations for large-scale aerospace programs.
Also known as
257 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Space Operations, ABM (Air Force 13S1N)Experimental Test Remotely Piloted Aircraft Pilot, Reconnaissance (Air Force 18E3B)Developmental Engineer, Project (Air Force 62EXG)Fuel-Efficient Aircraft DesignerSpace Operations, Airlift (Air Force 13S1T)Aeronautical Design EngineerFlight AnalystSpace EngineerGuided Missile Type Project Officer (General) (Navy 6280)Developmental Engineer, Systems/Industrial/Human Factors (Air Force 62E3I)Experimental Test Combat Systems Officer (Air Force 12EX)Space Operations, Bomber (Air Force 13S4R)Developmental Engineer, RPA (Air Force 62E3M)Space Systems Operations (Air Force 1C6X1)Experimental Test Combat Systems Officer, EWO, General (Air Force 12E1W)Space Operations (Air Force 13S1)Electronic Inspection and Survey Officer (Navy 5960)Developmental Engineer, Tanker (Air Force 62E4S)Experimental Test Combat Systems Officer, Other (Air Force 12E1Z)Automation EngineerDevelopmental Engineer, RPA (Air Force 62E4M)Space Operations, Tanker (Air Force 13S3S)Experimental Test Combat Systems Officer, Fighter (Air Force 12E1B)Aerospace Systems EngineerDevelopmental Engineer, ABM (Air Force 62E1N)Space Operations, Helicopter or EWO (Air Force 13S1V)Space Operations, General (Air Force 13S3W)Developmental Engineer, Helicopter or EWO (Air Force 62E3V)Aviation Tactical Readiness Officer (Navy 8950)Aerospace Design EngineerStructural Analysis EngineerHelicopter EngineerDevelopmental Engineer, ABM (Air Force 62E4N)Military Aircraft DesignerAirplane EngineerDevelopmental Engineer, General (Air Force 62E3W)Flight DynamicistDevelopmental Engineer, C2ISREW (Air Force 62E1Z)Space Operations, Fighter (Air Force 13S3P)Service Engineer