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Aerospace Engineer

Aerospace engineers design and test aircraft, spacecraft and propulsion systems. It's a rigorous, high-status field with world-class UK employers.

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Career fit

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Entry level
£27k – £32k (graduate)
Mid-career (typical)
£27k – £68k
Senior / lead
£55k – £85k+ (Chartered / Principal)
What you'll do

A day in the life

  • Model components in CAD
  • Run simulations and wind tunnel tests
  • Analyse flight data
  • Collaborate on multi-disciplinary teams
  • Document to strict regulatory standards
The path

Your career roadmap

Every milestone from school to senior. Track progress as you complete each stage.

  1. 1

    GCSEs

    education
    2 yrs

    Top grades in Maths & Physics.

  2. 2

    A-Levels

    education
    2 yrs

    Maths, Physics, Further Maths.

  3. 3

    Aerospace Degree

    qualification
    3–4 yrs

    BEng/MEng accredited by RAeS.

  4. 4

    Year in Industry

    experience
    1 yr

    Placement with an aerospace employer.

  5. 5

    Graduate Engineer

    role
    2 yrs

    Structured graduate scheme.

  6. 6

    Design Engineer

    role
    3 yrs

    Own subsystems and analysis.

  7. 7

    Chartered Engineer

    certification
    4+ yrs

    CEng via RAeS.

  8. 8

    Principal Engineer

    role
    8+ yrs

    Lead technical direction.

What you need

Skills you'll build

AerodynamicsMaterialsCAD/CFDSystems engineeringAttention to detail
Qualifications
  • GCSEs
  • A-Levels (Maths, Physics)
  • Aerospace Engineering Degree
Certifications
  • RAeS Membership
  • Chartered Engineer (CEng)

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