Aerospace Engineer Job Description: Key Skills & Duties

For those considering a career in aerospace engineering, understanding the core responsibilities and skills required is crucial to setting the right expectations and preparing adequately for the journey ahead. In this exploration, we will delve into the key duties and essential skills that define the role of an aerospace engineer, offering insights into what it takes to thrive in this fascinating field.

What Is an Aerospace Engineer?

An aerospace engineer designs, develops, and tests aircraft and spacecraft systems, using physics, mathematics, and material science for efficiency, safety, and sustainability. They may specialize in areas like aerodynamics or propulsion, working on both civilian and military projects, and utilize research, experimentation, and modeling to innovate aeronautics and astronautics technology. They also keep up-to-date with new technologies and regulations in this fast-evolving industry.

Where to Find Them?

• University & Technical Institute Programs: Graduates from aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, or related fields. Internship programs, capstone projects, and thesis work are good sources.
• Professional Societies & Industry Groups: Organizations like AIAA (American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics), SAE, etc. Conferences, workshops, and webinars will have talent and networking.
• Online Job Boards & Tech Sites: Specialized engineering/aerospace job boards; LinkedIn; platforms that allow skill-filtering for CAD, CFD, propulsion, and systems engineering.
• Recruitment/Staffing Agencies with Aerospace/Defense Focus: These retain a network of engineers, even passive candidates.
• Referrals & Internal Talent Pools: Existing engineers might refer peers, alumni networks, and cross-departmental engineers wanting to move into aerospace.

Aerospace Engineer job description

We are seeking a detail-focused, knowledgeable, and professional aerospace engineer to join our team! The ideal fit for the role will have a strong background in aerospace engineering and a passion for all things space. The key focus of the position is to ensure suitable engineering methods and techniques are applied to ensure the best possible result for the product being produced.

Aerospace Engineer Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and test aircraft, spacecraft, satellites, or propulsion systems.
• Create technical specifications and blueprints using CAD and other design tools.
• Conduct simulations and analyses (e.g., aerodynamics, structural, and thermal) to validate designs.
• Develop and run prototypes, and perform tests (wind tunnel, environmental, stress, vibration, etc.).
• Ensure compliance with safety, regulatory, and environmental standards (FAA, EASA, or relevant local bodies).
• Troubleshoot design issues; iterate improvements.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams: mechanical, electrical, and software engineering, and materials science.
• Oversee manufacturing or production processes; ensure that manufacturing retains design intent and quality.
• Document design decisions and test results, and prepare technical reports.
• (For senior roles) mentor junior engineers, lead parts of projects, and interface with clients or regulatory bodies.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, or a closely related engineering discipline.
• For advanced or R&D roles, a master’s or PhD might be preferred.
• Experience with aerospace design tools: CAD (CATIA, SolidWorks, Siemens NX, etc.), simulation tools (CFD, FEA), etc.
• Prior experience in testing, prototyping, or real-world aerospace product development.
• Familiarity with regulatory standards (aviation safety, environmental impact, materials certification).
• Depending on the employer, security clearance or the ability to obtain one is required, especially for defense or governmental contracts.
• Good mathematics and physics fundamentals.

Required Skills

• Strong problem-solving and analytical thinking.
• Excellence in technical tools and software: CAD, FEA, CFD, simulation, and possibly programming languages (Python, MATLAB, etc.).
• Creativity and innovation: the ability to propose new solutions or improve designs.
• Good communication (verbal and written) to explain technical issues and to collaborate with non-technical stakeholders.
• Adaptability: willingness to learn new tools and keep up with emerging technologies.
• Teamwork and interdisciplinary collaboration: in aerospace, many disciplines overlap.

Challenges in Hiring an Aerospace Engineer

• The aerospace and defense sector is experiencing increasing demand, but there is a growing gap between open roles and talent available
• Many senior engineers are near retirement. For example, in the Aerospace & Defense industry, a large share of the workforce is 55+, leading to projected losses via attrition or retirement.
• Skills such as experience with advanced simulation (CFD, FEA), propulsion systems, system integration, or digital transformation (AI/ML, new materials) are scarce. Candidates often must combine domain knowledge with digital/systems skills.
• Because of the above, hiring cycles are long. Firms must compete not just among aerospace companies but with defense, space startups, and even technology companies for talent.
• Turnover rates in aerospace/defense have been rising.

How Much Does It Cost to Hire?

• For a U.S. aerospace engineer: median ~$134,830/year (2024) for full-time. Junior/entry-level ones are less; senior/higher ones are much more.
• Recruitment Agency/Recruiter Fee: ~15-35% of first-year salary, with ~23% being closer to average.
• Onboarding & Training Costs: Varies; could be several thousand to tens of thousands, depending on tools, safety training, regulatory compliance, and clearance costs.
• Benefits, Overhead, Equipment: Health insurance, retirement, workspace, software/tools, licensing, travel (if needed), etc.

Conclusion

For recruiters, crafting a strong aerospace engineer job description is crucial to attracting the right candidates. Must clearly outline responsibilities, qualifications, and skills, both technical and soft. Because demand is rising and the talent pool is constrained, competitive compensation, a fast and efficient hiring process, good employer branding, and offering growth opportunities are key differentiators.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What level of education is essential vs preferred for aerospace engineer roles?

A: A bachelor’s degree is usually essential. Advanced degrees (master’s, PhD) are preferred for R&D, leadership, or specialized roles. Certifications/licensing may also be required in some cases.

Q: Which technical tools are most important right now?

A: CAD (SolidWorks, CATIA, Siemens NX), simulation & analysis tools (CFD, FEA), programming/scripting (e.g., MATLAB, Python), systems modeling, and possibly software tools for control systems.

Q: What soft skills are high priority for aerospace engineers?

A: Problem-solving, communication (especially with cross-disciplinary teams), attention to detail, adaptability, and creativity/innovation.

Q: How long does it typically take to hire an aerospace engineer?

A: It can take several weeks to months, depending on how specialized the role is, how stringent regulatory/clearance requirements are, and how active or passive candidate sourcing is.

Q: Do recruiters frequently use contract or temporary aerospace engineers?

‍A: Yes, especially for short-term projects or when firms want to scale quickly without long-term commitment. Contract or temp work allows flexibility, though it likely comes with higher hourly costs and markups.