Aeronautical Engineer

Also known as:

Aeroplane Engineer
Aircraft Engineer
Engineer, Aeronautical

Introduction

Aeronautical engineers apply their engineering skills in work with highly complex products such as aircraft, missiles and space satellites. They usually specialise in research, design, manufacture or maintenance.

Back to Top

Work Activities

Aeronautical engineers apply the principles of science and their knowledge of aerodynamics, avionics and mechanical engineering to research, design, construct and maintain all types of aircraft, missiles, radar and space satellites.

An aircraft is the product of a whole team effort that brings together each individual engineer's skills and expertise. Some aeronautical engineers are office based; they specialise in developing new designs or improving existing ones. This work is largely mathematical and involves testing ideas using computer simulations. Design modification may be aimed at improving safety, or reducing fuel consumption, air or noise pollution.

Other engineers are specialists in practical developments such as flight testing. They may suggest modifications based on their results, to improve safety or reduce fuel consumption and pollution. Aeronautical engineers must make sure that the aircraft they work on are safe, reliable and economical to build and operate.

Aeronautical engineers often have supervisory or management responsibility for teams including other engineers and technicians.

Back to Top

Personal Qualities and Skills

You must be interested in aviation, defence and satellite technology. You must be able to combine an analytical, logical approach with creativity and imagination to solve problems.

Engineers must be able to work as part of a team. The ability to encourage other people's ideas is important, and you must also be flexible and able to compromise. You will need strong communication skills to write reports and to explain complex engineering information to people from non-technical backgrounds.

You will need organisational skills to plan your own time and to co-ordinate resources. Willingness to take on responsibility and to lead and motivate other is essential.

Engineers must have good information technology skills including a knowledge of relevant specialist software.

You should be willing to keep up-to-date with advances in technology in this fast-changing field.

Back to Top

Pay and Opportunities

Salaries for aeronautical engineers vary, depending on employer, role and responsibilities.

The pay rates given below are approximate.

Aeronautical engineers earn in the range of £23,000 - £28,500 a year, rising to £36,500 - £45,000. Higher earners can make around £55,000 a year.

Most aeronautical engineers work 35-40 hours, Monday to Friday. However, you may need to start early, finish late or do some weekend work, especially as deadlines approach.

Employers are aircraft manufacturers, airlines, the armed forces and the Ministry of Defence.

Some aeronautical engineers apply their knowledge of aerodynamics in other areas, for example, in companies that make vehicles such as cars, trains and hovercraft.

You can also work in the communications industry, dealing with satellites, or in construction, dealing with high, wind blown structures.

Some aeronautical engineers work as freelance consultants.

Back to Top

Adult Opportunities

It is illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits.

If you don't have the qualifications needed to enter your chosen degree or HND course, a college or university Access course (eg, Access to Engineering) could be the way in.

These courses are designed for people who have not followed the usual routes into higher education. No formal qualifications are usually needed, but you should check this with individual colleges.

Sponsorship for higher education study in aeronautical engineering is available from the larger engineering and manufacturing companies.

Funding for postgraduate study is available through universities from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council. The Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS) also runs a scholarship programme.

There are other pathways through which adults can register as Chartered or Incorporated Engineers, including career progression from other levels of registration and routes based on the achievement of occupational standards.

• 12% of people in occupations such as aeronautical engineer are self-employed.
• 7% work part-time.
• 12% have flexible hours.
• 4% of employees work on a temporary basis.

Back to Top