Aerospace Engineer Job Description: Top Duties and Qualifications

An Aerospace Engineer, or Aeronautical Engineer, is responsible for designing, troubleshooting and enhancing aircraft and spacecraft for commercial and military organizations. Their duties include applying mathematical and scientific knowledge to design and repair air and spacecraft components, testing aircrafts to determine and fix any current or potential issues and coordinating projects to meet safety standards and follow government regulations.

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Aerospace Engineer Duties and Responsibilities

Aerospace Engineers are responsible for directing the manufacturing and testing of the prototypes they design. It is up to them to determine if proposed projects are technically possible and safe, ensuring the quality of all projects. They are involved from start to finish in their projects, performing a number of duties:

  • Decide if a project’s operations are safe
  • Evaluate the designs to ensure they meet customer satisfaction, engineering principles and environment regulations
  • Create the foundation for manufacture methods, quality standards and date of delivery
  • Inspect malfunctioning products to determine the source and solution of the problem
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Aerospace Engineer Job Description Examples

 

Example 1

a.i. solutions is looking to expand our Meridian team by bringing on an Aerospace Engineer who is highly motivated and has a passion for aerospace. The selected engineer will work to meet the requirements and needs of multiple missions across various orbit regimes. The engineer will develop scripts to meet those needs, answering questions from a variety of customers both domestic and international. The selected candidate will be tasked with mastering the FreeFlyer and Meridian products, translating customer requirements into working solutions, and will be called upon to expertly address challenges posed by customers. Additionally, they will need excellent customer-facing communication skills. The Meridian development team offers a dynamics experience with significant growth potential that may be the ideal fit for a diversely skilled engineer to contribute to the future of space. The successful candidate will demonstrate the ability to embrace the a.i. solutions mission and work to continually exceed the expectations of our customers.
Location: Remote
Essential Roles & Responsibilities:

  • Solve complex trajectory and mission-related problems, performing trade-off analyses of feasible options
  • Provide flight dynamics ground system development for Meridian
  • Assist in verification and validation of external analyses and software tools
  • Provide technical support to Meridian users over various communication methods (email, phone, web meeting, etc.)
  • Document and communicate work to peers, leadership, and customers
  • Manage effective communications between customer, team, peers, and management
  • Be vocal about possible technical and process improvements for Meridian
  • Develop relationships with the customer and Meridian team members to ensure delivery on our corporate promise and overall successful mission support
  • Promote corporate culture and foster an environment of collaboration an innovation within the team

    Minimum Qualifications:

  • U.S. Citizenship
  • Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Physics, Mathematics, Computer Science, or related discipline
  • 2+ years of experience with space mission analysis and design, operations, trajectory design, and/or orbit determination

    Desired Background:

  • Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Physics, Mathematics, Computer Science, or related discipline
  • Proactivity in identifying and addressing challenges to include innovations that result in positive organizational impact
  • Experience with FreeFlyer, Java, Python, and [website]
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills
  • Demonstrated leadership accomplishments academically and personally

    EEO/AA including Vets and Type: Full-time
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    Example 2

    a.i. solutions is looking to expand our Meridian team by bringing on an Aerospace Engineer who is highly motivated and has a passion for aerospace. The selected engineer will work to meet the requirements and needs of multiple missions across various orbit regimes. The engineer will develop scripts to meet those needs, answering questions from a variety of customers both domestic and international. The selected candidate will be tasked with mastering the FreeFlyer and Meridian products, translating customer requirements into working solutions, and will be called upon to expertly address challenges posed by customers. Additionally, they will need excellent customer-facing communication skills. The Meridian development team offers a dynamics experience with significant growth potential that may be the ideal fit for a diversely skilled engineer to contribute to the future of space. The successful candidate will demonstrate the ability to embrace the a.i. solutions mission and work to continually exceed the expectations of our customers.
    Location: Remote
    Essential Roles & Responsibilities:

  • Solve complex trajectory and mission-related problems, performing trade-off analyses of feasible options
  • Provide flight dynamics ground system development for Meridian
  • Assist in verification and validation of external analyses and software tools
  • Provide technical support to Meridian users over various communication methods (email, phone, web meeting, etc.)
  • Document and communicate work to peers, leadership, and customers
  • Manage effective communications between customer, team, peers, and management
  • Be vocal about possible technical and process improvements for Meridian
  • Develop relationships with the customer and Meridian team members to ensure delivery on our corporate promise and overall successful mission support
  • Promote corporate culture and foster an environment of collaboration an innovation within the team

    Minimum Qualifications:

  • U.S. Citizenship
  • Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Physics, Mathematics, Computer Science, or related discipline
  • 2+ years of experience with space mission analysis and design, operations, trajectory design, and/or orbit determination

    Desired Background:

  • Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Physics, Mathematics, Computer Science, or related discipline
  • Proactivity in identifying and addressing challenges to include innovations that result in positive organizational impact
  • Experience with FreeFlyer, Java, Python, and [website]
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills
  • Demonstrated leadership accomplishments academically and personally

    EEO/AA including Vets and Disabled

    Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
    The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR Type: Full-time
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    Example 3

    Quest Global is an organization at the forefront of innovation and one of the world’s fastest growing engineering services firms with deep domain knowledge and recognized expertise in the top OEMs across seven industries. We are a twenty-five-year-old company on a journey to becoming a centenary one, driven by aspiration, hunger and humility.

    We are looking for humble geniuses, who believe that engineering has the potential to make the impossible, possible; innovators, who are not only inspired by technology and innovation, but also perpetually driven to design, develop, and test as a trusted partner for Fortune 500 customers.

    As a team of remarkably diverse engineers, we recognize that what we are really engineering is a brighter future for us all. If you want to contribute to meaningful work and be part of an organization that truly believes when you win, we all win, and when you fail, we all learn, then we’re eager to hear from you.

    The achievers and courageous challenge-crushers we seek, have the following characteristics and skills:

    Roles & Responsibilities:
  • Interface with Program Management and Customers
  • Perform First Article Inspection (FAI) oversight and documentation activities
  • Verification of Build (VoB) related activities including proper tool assignments, proper documentation of current routings, detailed operation descriptions, etc
  • Review, create, and update quality improvement plans for related manufacturing processes
  • Drive improvements in all related manufacturing processes, including those related to products, equipment, and product quality for customers
  • Perform quality inspection audits and generate reports detailing any found discrepancies
  • Update inspection-related instructions to adhere to current processes
  • Achieve ISC Program Milestones, maintain required IPDS metrics and provide status presentations

    Required Skills (Technical Competency):
  • Bachelor’s degree in engineering
  • 0-3 years minimum of relevant experience
  • Exhibits successful ability with indirect leadership of diverse teams deploying complex processes
  • Shows very strong written and oral communication skills to all stakeholders
  • Established ability to manage multiple complex projects at once
  • Demonstrated capacity to meet aggressive deadlines while achieving excellent business results
  • Displays strong analytical skills including data query writing and development
  • Must be a US Citizen due to contractual requirements

    Desired Skills:
  • Background in metal fabrication (machining, castings, heat treating, coatings, etc.) preferred
  • Quality Engineering/Manufacturing experience a plus
  • Teamcenter and SAP experience valued
  • Product knowledge in APUs / Gas Turbines valued
  • Proficient with GD&T concepts valued
  • Experience with Aerospace products or related products valued
  • Experience working in multicultural environments and with others of diverse backgrounds preferred.

    Physical Requirements & Work Environment:
  • Mostly Shop Floor Environments with more than half the day spent standing/walking. Occasional office involvement
  • Substantial amounts of telephone and computer work
  • Heavily Regulated Industries with strict adherence to procedures
  • Flexibility to meet business deadlines by staying late or arriving early
  • Typical 8 hour days plus lunch / 40 hour weeks / core (required) hours are 8 AM to 3 PM
  • Ability to use personal transportation to visit customer locations.
  • Due to the nature of the work, all candidates must be a U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident.

    The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

    Travel: 10 to 20% travel possible
    Location: Greer, SC

    Job Type: Full-time

    Pay: $25.00 - $30.00 per hour

    Benefits:
  • 401(k)
  • 401(k) matching
  • Dental insurance
  • Employee discount
  • Flexible spending account
  • Health insurance
  • Health savings account
  • Life insurance
  • Paid time off
  • Professional development assistance
  • Referral program
  • Relocation assistance
  • Retirement plan
  • Tuition reimbursement
  • Vision insurance
    Schedule:
  • 8 hour shift
  • Monday to Friday
    Supplemental Pay:
  • Bonus pay

    Ability to commute/relocate:
  • Greer, SC 29650: Reliably commute or planning to relocate before starting work Location: One location
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    Example 4

    MTC Corporation has an immediate direct hire opening for a Aerospace Engineer Manager to join our team! Metalcrafters Transparencies and Composites is a full-service manufacturer of composite and metallic components for Aerospace & Defense as well as Automotive and General Industrial applications. In addition, we are a leader in the production of tempered and laminated glass for aircraft windshields and short run automotive manufacturing needs.

    Primary Responsibilities
  • Responsible to lead, manage, and provide technical direction to engineering team. Leads the technical effort, defines long-term engineering plans, and ensures program objectives and contractual requirements or customer expectations are met, including required scope, cost and schedule constraints.
  • Responsible for interaction with major customers and leadership to review technical capabilities and project status.

  • Align engineering objectives and project plans with overall business unit or Division strategy. Develop plans for multiple project teams and determine resource allocation by reviewing technical proposals, internal and subcontract capabilities, and conferring with management. Manage the deployment of resources among teams and for engineers assigned to various programs (e.g. matrix to a business team).
  • Maintain frequent formal and informal program management and customer interface to present status and/or refine project plans. Maintains consistent engineering practices, standards, and documentation procedures and reporting capabilities. Takes appropriate steps to protect and safeguard MTCcorp. intellectual property.
  • Accountable for full budget planning and non‐recurring/recurring cost management with significant impact on department engineering costs. With leadership, develops long-range plans to meet both current and anticipated growth and resource challenges (e.g. workforce planning; new technical systems investments).
  • Partners with customers or program management to identify opportunities for product innovation or systems solutions and leads innovation that results in breakthrough solutions. Interfaces with division staff and serves as a primary liaison on technical capabilities. Provides input to the technology roadmap and division business plans.
  • Communicate and implement actions to ensure MTCcorp. values and company policies are well understood and maintained (e.g. business ethics; integrity; inclusion).
  • Identify and create technical training and development plans. Mentor or serve as a resource to share specialized knowledge with others. Maintain leadership and technical capabilities through continued education or training.
  • Maintains overall responsibility for ensuring that in-service products and systems meet technical performance requirements, reliability guarantees and/or customer expectations.
  • Directs team to ensure effective and timely fielded product and system in-service performance monitoring, trend identification, root cause determination and issue resolution. Determine emerging issues with fielded product to avoid customer service interruptions and financial impacts.
  • Ensures department meets AS9100 requirements and maintains certification.
  • Working knowledge of MS Office applications including: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook

    Qualifications
  • Bachelor degree (BS) (or Professional Engineer (PE) certificate) in engineering or a science technical discipline.
  • Demonstrated ability to perform the essential functions of the job typically acquired through a minimum of 12 years of related experience. Has prior leadership responsibility for 4 or more years including management of multiple projects.
  • In-depth technical knowledge of aircraft systems and/or components required.
  • Experience troubleshooting aircraft issues and performing RCCA investigations on aircraft components highly desired.
  • Strong customer support and relationship skills required.
  • Strong ability to build, lead and motivate teams. Demonstrated success with diverse cross-functional teams desired.
  • Strong communication skills essential. Must be effective presenting to and persuading effectively at all levels within the organization and at the customer.
  • Demonstrated experience in guiding teams on use of structured problem-solving tools.
  • Ability to apply and integrate knowledge of other related engineering areas or experts to create differentiated competitive advantage. Proficient with project management, engineering documentation, and engineering analysis tools.
  • Commensurate with experience, certifications and skill set.

    Equal Employment Opportunity

    MTCcorp. is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer. MTCcorp. is committed to ensuring equal employment opportunities for all job applicants and employees. Employment decisions are based upon job related reasons regardless of race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, gender identity, genetic information, veteran status, or any other status protected by law. If you would like more information about Equal Employment Opportunity as an applicant under the law, please go to: [website]selfprint[website] and [website]gina[website]

    Job Type: Full-time

    Benefits:
  • 401(k)
  • 401(k) matching
  • Dental insurance
  • Health insurance
  • Life insurance
    Schedule:
  • 8 hour Location: One location
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    Example 5

    Exciting Aerospace Sr. Project Manager

    1. Successfully manage large-scale New Product Development programs, either internally or externally funded, with little management oversight.

    2. Create and maintain complex project schedules for mechanical engineering driven efforts utilizing Microsoft Project software.

    3. Ensure all project related tasks are identified, tracked, and executed within budgetary and schedule commitments.

    4. Coordinate project status review meetings for ongoing projects taking detailed action items and ensure they are properly addressed and closed with minimal management oversight.

    5. Maintain financial status projections for mechanical engineering driven projects.

    6. Support project schedule and budgetary goals by facilitating internal and external project meetings (Kickoff, PDR, CDR, etc.) and be responsible for subsequent action item management.

    7. Assist in proposal development working with mechanical engineers by generating and reviewing project management, technical and cost proposal volumes with little management oversight.

    8. Act as focal point for project specific purchase requisitions and verify whether expenditures are compliant to budgetary expectations and costs allocated correctly.

    9. Provide project status updates, either internal or external, when required for our aerospace/space/defense clients.

    10. Maintain risk management checklists for assigned aerospace engineering efforts.

    11. Review customer requests ensuring that they comply with engineering project contractual agreements and don’t evolve into scope creep.

    Knowledge AND Skills:

    1. Must be able to pass drug screen, background check and prove US citizenship due to government regulations required by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) for all employees of Chemring Energetic Devices.
  • Bachelor's degree in Engineering or business related field and 10+ years of related Aerospace/Military industry experience.

    3. Previous project management experience working either internally or externally funded efforts is necessary.

    4. A wide degree of creativity and latitude is expected.

    5. Ability to work with peers and cross-functional teams.

    6. Good communication skills and a willingness to overcome obstacles.

    7. Ability to multi-task in support of end-result/goal.

    8. Proficient with MS Office Suite (e.g., Word, Excel, Power Point, Project, etc.).

    9. Proficient in the application of systems engineering and program/project engineering management principles.

    10. Advanced degree or certificate in a related discipline a plus. MSME, MBA, PMP, etc.

    11. A high degree of business acumen and ability to work independently expected in this role.

    Aerospace Engineer Project Management Design Develop Mechanical Engineer Programs Space Military

    Job Type: Full-time

    Pay: From $110,000.00 per year

    Benefits:
  • 401(k) matching
  • Dental insurance
  • Employee assistance program
  • Flexible schedule
  • Flexible spending account
  • Health insurance
  • Health savings account
  • Life insurance
  • Paid time off
  • Parental leave
  • Professional development assistance
  • Referral program
  • Relocation assistance
  • Retirement plan
  • Tuition reimbursement
  • Vision insurance
    Schedule:
  • 8 hour Location: One location
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    What Does An Aerospace Engineer Do?

    Aerospace Engineers work for manufacturing companies or government entities building, testing and fixing parts of space and aircrafts like computer systems, control panels and guiding systems. They ensure air and spacecraft vehicles are safe for passenger or cargo transportation. Aerospace Engineers often work closely with departments like testing, production and research to ensure their designs and improvements meet the necessary safety and efficiency standards. They’re typically in charge of creating budgets, safety standards and timelines to ensure every project meets certain guidelines and deadlines.

    Aerospace Engineer Skills and Qualifications

    Aerospace Engineers are skilled in many fields, including analysis, problem-solving and design. A successful Aerospace Engineer candidate will display a specific skill set that ensures a project will be completed thoroughly and safely. Such qualifications are as follows:

    • Business skills and commercial law knowledge for reaching federal government standards and regulations
    • Math skills since trigonometry and calculus are often used in analytical designs
    • Writing skills in order to explain their designs clearly in writing
    • Critical-thinking skills to conclude why a design may not be working and how to fix it

    Aerospace Engineer Salary Expectations

    For Eeronautical Engineers—Aerospace Engineer that specialize in work with aircrafts—the average salary is $78,477. This information is based on 1,013 salaries submitted to Indeed in the past 36 months from employees, users and past and present job advertisements. The average amount of time candidates tend to stay within a company is 1-3 years.

    Aerospace Engineer Education and Training Requirements

    Candidates for Aerospace Engineering should have a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering and should have field studies in general engineering, mechanics, propulsion, aerodynamics, structures, stability and control. Though not required, it is recommended for an Aerospace Engineer candidate to be trained in software that they may have to frequently use, such as C++. Any candidate that wishes to advance to overseeing a project must pick up a Professional Engineering (PE) license. Issued from state to state, this license allows high levels of leadership and independence.

    Aerospace Engineer Experience Requirements

    Entry-level candidates should be an EIT (engineer-in-training) before starting a new job. Upon receiving their bachelor’s degree, entry level Aerospace Engineer candidates can take an exam called the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam in order to officially become an EIT. Once they complete the work experience requirements set by your company, they can then take the second exam called the Principles and Practice of Engineering. After passing the FE and PE exams, completing at least fours of work experience, and receive a degree from an ABET-accredited program, a candidate can receive their state licensure.

    Job Description Samples for Similar Positions

    If an aerospace engineer is not quite what you are looking for, here are some similar job descriptions that may be a better suit for your company.

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    Frequently asked questions about Aerospace Engineers

     

    What are the different types of Aerospace Engineers?

    Most Aerospace Engineers closely study certain fields, like thermodynamics, flight mechanics, aerodynamics or celestial mechanics. This allows them to either specialize in aeronautical or astronautical engineering. An Astronautical Engineer works specifically on spacecraft carriers and researches ways for them to more efficiently travel to and from the Earth. To help with this, many of these Engineers work with large and small satellites. 

    Aeronautical Engineers work primarily on designing and improving aircraft systems. They conduct extensive research on how to improve the aerodynamic performance of aircrafts. Aeronautical Engineers apply this research to designing, testing and improving different sections and systems of aircrafts. 

     

    What makes a good Aerospace Engineer?

    A strong Aerospace Engineer must have advanced knowledge and passion in technical subjects like science, math, computers and mechanics to regularly test and brainstorm innovative designs. Since their ideas should be unique and efficient, an ability to use both creativity and critical thinking during each project is often ideal for effective candidates. Aerospace Engineers are regularly expected to conduct extensive research on ways to design or enhance specialized production facilities or processes, so a good Aerospace Engineer should be willing and able to focus and study for several hours at a time.

     

    Which industries do Aerospace Engineers typically work in?

    Many Aerospace Engineers work in product manufacturing corporations building national defense carriers, like missiles, or parts for aircraft and spacecraft vehicles. Some Aerospace Engineers work directly for the federal government identifying needs and goals for aircraft carriers and building designs to support these preferences. 

    Some Aerospace Engineers focus specifically on designing different air and spacecraft machines, so they’ll work in an office environment where they’re given advanced software tools and computer equipment to craft and present detailed designs. 

     

    What's the difference between an Aerospace Engineer and a Mechanical Engineer?

    Both Aerospace Engineers and Mechanical Engineers hold similar responsibilities and tasks but often work in different industries and on different projects. Mechanical Engineers design and build a wide range of machines lik generators, automobiles and robotics. Many Mechanical Engineers need to receive additional educational knowledge or skills to work on space and aircraft carries. 

    Aerospace Engineers work primarily on air and spacecraft carriers and rarely build designs or construct other machines, like Mechanical Engineers. Aerospace Engineers can work for the government or military, while most Mechanical Engineers serve in an office setting.

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