What is an aerodynamics engineer and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted expert

Ms. Tracee Friess A.V.P.

An aerodynamics engineer applies physics and mathematics to design, analyze, and optimize aircraft, vehicles, and other objects that move through air and other gasses. These engineers use computer simulations and wind tunnel tests to evaluate the performance of different designs and make improvements to increase efficiency. Aerodynamics engineers develop new technologies for propulsion systems and improve safety features. These professionals collaborate regularly with other engineers to ensure their designs meet safety and budget standards.

What general advice would you give to an aerodynamics engineer?

Ms. Tracee Friess A.V.P.

A.V.P., Strategic Communication & Marketing

You can get on a flight with a bunch of other people and with a high degree of confidence tell yourself it is not just magic pixie dust that makes the plane fly.

ScoreAerodynamics EngineerUS Average

Salary

7.6

Avg. Salary $99,629

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

5.4

Growth rate 6%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

7.5

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.30%

Asian 13.51%

Black or African American 4.11%

Hispanic or Latino 10.66%

Unknown 4.41%

White 66.99%

Gender

female 13.76%

male 86.24%

Age - 43

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 43

Stress level

5.4

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level

8.0

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

5.7

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being an aerodynamics engineer?

Pros

Opportunity to work on cutting-edge technology and innovation
Ability to make a significant impact on the performance of aircraft
Competitive salary and benefits due to demand for aerodynamics engineers
Opportunity for career advancement and professional development
Opportunity to travel and work on international projects

Cons

Long hours and tight project deadlines may lead to stress and burnout
High expectations for accuracy and precision in design and analysis
Highly competitive job market for entry-level positions
May experience pressure from management to produce results quickly
May require working in hazardous environments, such as wind tunnels or flight test facilities

Key steps to become an aerodynamics engineer

Explore aerodynamics engineer education requirements

Most common aerodynamics engineer degrees

Bachelor's

79.4 %

Master's

16.7 %

Doctorate

2.0 %

Start to develop specific aerodynamics engineer skills

Skills	Percentages
Aerospace	15.85%
MATLAB	15.70%
Computational Fluid Dynamics	13.10%
Wind Tunnel	8.96%
Post Processing	8.17%

Complete relevant aerodynamics engineer training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New aerodynamics engineers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an aerodynamics engineer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real aerodynamics engineer resumes.

Research aerodynamics engineer duties and responsibilities

Manage Jenkins security by providing specific access to authorize developers/testers using project base matrix authorization strategy.
Finalize an approve FAA regulatory flight manual with collect data and test results.
Provide design guideline and MRB repairs to ensure the airworthiness of aircraft structural modifications.
Work in airframe and systems aircraft design, field & production support, and new product development.

Get aerodynamics engineer experience

Generally, it takes 2-4 years to become an aerodynamics engineer. The most common roles before becoming an aerodynamics engineer include research assistant, internship team lead and engineering internship.

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