Aerospace engineers are responsible for designing and testing prototypes of spacecraft, aircraft, missiles and satellites. They may work in certain specializations such as structural design, aerodynamic fluid flow, navigation and guidance, communication and instrumentation, propulsion or robotics. Aerospace engineers evaluate and coordinate designs to make sure they meet safety and customer requirements.
When writing your aerospace engineer job description, make sure that you include important qualities that you want to see in an applicant. Strong analytical skills along with problem-solving and critical-thinking skills are extremely important in an aerospace engineer. Being proficient in math, such as trigonometry and calculus, is also an important attribute.
Because the work of engineers needs to meet standards set by the federal government, applicants should be knowledgeable in common business practices and commercial law. To get an idea about how these qualities fit into your aerospace engineer job description, check out the example below.
Aerospace Engineer Job Summary
As an aerospace engineer for our company, you will have the opportunity to design, analyze and test intensive software applications and provide modeling of navigation, autopilot, IMU and airframe response. While you will enjoy working with little supervision, you will also collaborate closely with other professionals to identify and troubleshoot various issues. The environment is fast-paced and is perfect for someone who is highly self-motivated. You will be required to use your background in engineering and advanced mathematics on a daily basis. The job comes with a high amount of responsibility, and you will often be asked to provide operational support to clients from the NOAA, NASA and USGS government.
Job Responsibilities
- Create mathematical models and computer analysis methods to design, evaluate or modify existing designs to meet engineering requirements from clients; conduct stress, operational, experimental or environmental tests on prototypes of aerospace equipment and systems
- Develop and maintain internal software analysis tools to evaluate system performance
- Conduct operational safety investigations and coordinate with other professionals to correct issues; maintain regular records of performance reports
- Prepare technical reports, bulletins and handbooks for use by management, engineering staff or clients
- Develop design criteria, such as environmental standards, production costs, testing methods, completion dates or quality standards, for aerospace systems and products
- Direct activities of technical and engineering personnel involved in the fabrication, design and testing of aerospace products
- Evaluate project proposals, requests or engineering statistics to determine cost, feasibility, production time or productibility of aerospace products
- Apply risk management thinking in your decision making and planning regarding the proper level of FAA involvement; understand the FAA and the responsibilities and roles of the aerospace industry
Job Skills & Qualifications
Reqiured:
- Master’s degree
- Strong background in mathematics and engineering
- Training in linear control systems and orbital mechanics
Preferred:
- PhD in Aerospace Engineering
- Experience with Java and MySQL programming
- Minimum of five years’ experience
Aerospace Engineer Job Responsibilities
In your aerospace engineer job description, the leading purpose of the job responsibilities section is to outline the purpose and expectations of the position. It is the most detailed and thorough portion of the job description and should provide specific information beyond daily perfunctory duties. Though it makes up the bulk of your document, it should still be concise.
When writing your aerospace engineer job description, use bullet points to list the various job responsibilities. Start each line with an action verb, such as “coordinate” or “develop,” to assert urgency into the role. Remember, you are trying to attract the best talent for the job; you want to provide responsibilities that are professionally enriching and appealing to applicants, which means painting a picture for candidates. The section should provide a clear illustration of the experience as an aerospace engineer.
Before compiling your list of job duties, take a look at these aerospace engineer job responsibilities to understand the format and content of this section:
Develop mathematical models for computer analysis and technology testingFacilitate research projects and design testing parametersDesign functional models of aerospace technologyCompile research data and draft technical reportProvide expert insight into research grant proposals
Aerospace Engineer Job Specifications
When presenting an aerospace engineer job description, you need to establish clear specifications for the position to reduce the number of unqualified applicants. If your core qualifications section is too broad or vague, you risk swamping your inbox with resumes from ill-suited applicants. To streamline the hiring process, you need an effective skills section that provides basic minimum job requirements and preferred specialties.
As in all sections of your aerospace engineer job description, the core qualifications portion needs to be concise. Again, bullet lists are extremely helpful in conveying information clearly and directly. When compiling your list of skills, you want to create two separate categories: preferred and required skills. Doing this helps you prioritize your needs and expectations, as well as refine the applicant pool. The required skills should reflect the bare minimum for consideration, such as training and experience levels. Preferred traits usually involve specialties that are less common like project experience.
Here are a few examples of aerospace engineer job specifications that illustrate the kinds of skills important to employers in your industry:
BS in Engineering, Mathematics or related field requiredCAD software proficiency (Autodesk, Mathsoft)Altera Quartus II training preferred4-5 years’ experience in technical engineering roleLeadership and creative problem-solving