Aerospace Engineer

Aerospace engineers research, design and manufacture aircraft, satellites, missiles and space vehicles. They may be specialist mechanical, electrical or electronics engineers who apply their knowledge to sophisticated products, and may specialise in airframes, hydraulics, piston, gas turbine or rocket engines, fuel, avionics or materials and structures. Aerospace engineers can be involved in research, design, manufacturing, experimenting with new materials, undertaking flight test programmes or maintaining and improving fleets of aircraft throughout the world.

Aerospace engineers normally work 37 to 40 hours a week. Those involved in research and design usually work in clean, quiet laboratories and research centres, but engineers also visit production areas which may be noisy. They may also have to visit aircraft at airfields to inspect or test aircraft functions.

Salaries range from £20,000 per annum to £50,000 or more.

Aerospace engineers should:

• have a logical approach to problem solving
• be able to produce, read and interpret diagrams and drawings
• have good maths ability
• be able to communicate ideas, verbally and in writing
• be keen to keep up to date with new developments and technology
• have normal colour vision for certain roles.

Aerospace engineers work with aerospace manufacturers and airline operators. Other employers include the armed forces, government departments and agencies, and regulatory authorities, such as the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and airports. There are clusters of aerospace companies around the UK, notably in the Midlands, western and north-western England, Northern Ireland and eastern England. Their skills are also in demand by manufacturers of other vehicles such as hovercraft, cars and trains.

An aeronautical engineering degree is the most likely route into the career and there are many UK universities offering aeronautical engineering-based courses. Applicants without the usual academic qualifications may be accepted on to an engineering degree or HNC/HND course on the basis of experience, qualifications gained at other levels or having completed an Access course. The Diploma in engineering may be relevant for this area of work.

Apprenticeships are available and it is possible to begin training for craft or technician-level jobs straight from school with good GCSE grades in English, maths and science (preferably physics). Some Apprenticeship schemes may require candidates to have A level grades or equivalent in a science or engineering-related subject.

Aerospace engineers can go on to register with the Engineering Council (ECUK) as a professional engineer - either Incorporated Engineer (IEng) or Chartered Engineer (CEng).

Further details