Aerospace Engineering Technician

Job Description

Aerospace Engineering Technician Jobs entail work on designing and manufacturing aircraft, missiles, satellites and space vehicles. Aerospace Engineering Technicians may be specialist mechanical, electrical or electronics engineering technicians.

The aerospace engineering technician work may involve:

• Research concerned with solving engineering problems caused by weight, altitude, temperature and engine performance.
• Engineering design work with computer-aided design (CAD) systems to turn ideas into plans for new aircraft.
• The manufacture, modification and assembly of components that produce aircraft, missiles or satellites.

Aerospace engineering technicians may specialise in:

• airframes - construction and maintenance of airframes and wings
• hydraulics - operation of aircraft controls, ailerons, elevators and flaps
• engines – piston/gas turbine engines
• fuel - storage of and use of specialist fuels
• pneumatics - air compression
• avionics - electrical and communication systems engineering
• materials and structures - investigating and testing materials for airframes and components

Working Conditions

Technicians undertaking research and design usually work in laboratories and research centres. However, they may also visit production areas.

Aerospace engineering technicians require the following:

• good practical skills
• good mathematical and computing skills
• possess a logical approach to problem solving
• ability to understand engineering drawings and principles
• an interest in aircraft and flight technology

Entrance Requirements

Aerospace Engineering career applicants normally require four to five GCSEs/S grades (A-C/1-3), including mathematics and science or technology, or a BTEC first diploma. Apprenticeships/internships usually last between three and four years.

Promotion in the aerospace engineering technician profession could be to engineering posts or, with experience and higher qualifications, to management roles. Note that incorporated or chartered engineer status is usually required to gain promotion to higher-level jobs. Aerospace engineering technicians also go on to become licensed aircraft engineers.

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