Aeronautical Engineer vs. Aerospace Engineer

An aeronautical engineer deals with the creation, design, and maintenance of travel machines such as airplanes, missiles, and satellites, while an aerospace engineer works on the broader aspect of engineering for both aircraft and spacecraft.

How To Become An Aeronautical Engineer: What It Is and Career Path

What is an aeronautical engineer and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

Quoted expert

Ms. Tracee Friess A.V.P.

Aeronautical engineers are responsible for working on aircraft, spacecraft, satellites, and missiles. They coordinate and direct the design of these aerospace products and ensure that they are tested properly. After proper examination, they then determine if these proposed projects will result in a safe operation as well as check that they meet the engineering principles and environmental regulations. Aeronautical engineers earn a median sum of $85,000 annually or $40 per hour.

Aeronautical engineers are experts in designing, upgrading, and maintaining sophisticated and complex engineering machines. They work primarily in the aviation, aerospace, and defense industries and perform key duties such as assessing design requirements, undertaking theoretical and practical research, assembling aircraft, fitting components, and providing technical advice.

Aeronautical engineers typically hold a bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, or a related field. They are expected to have relevant work experience. Professional certifications may also help to showcase a potential candidate's skills and expertise to employers.

What general advice would you give to an aeronautical 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.

ScoreAeronautical EngineerUS Average

Salary

6.3

Avg. Salary $80,442

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 15.08%

Black or African American 4.09%

Hispanic or Latino 10.52%

Unknown 4.40%

White 65.61%

Gender

female 10.62%

male 89.38%

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

Key steps to become an aeronautical engineer

Explore aeronautical engineer education requirements

Most common aeronautical engineer degrees

Bachelor's

74.9 %

Master's

15.8 %

Associate

4.2 %

Start to develop specific aeronautical engineer skills

Skills	Percentages
MATLAB	13.12%
Airframe	10.94%
CAD	8.93%
Stress Analysis	8.20%
Catia V5	6.61%

Complete relevant aeronautical engineer training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New aeronautical 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 aeronautical engineer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real aeronautical engineer resumes.

Research aeronautical engineer duties and responsibilities

Lead development of MATLAB base software tool for flight and grind handling loads estimation.
Manage the fuel supply and aircraft electrical distribution system on board ship, including radar tank gauging and filtration systems.
Analyze and compare the requirements to the FAA standards.
Incorporate MATLAB algorithms into the model and export simulation results to MATLAB for further analysis.

Get aeronautical engineer experience

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

Prepare your aeronautical engineer resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your aeronautical engineer resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on an aeronautical engineer resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable aeronautical engineer resume templates

Build a professional aeronautical engineer resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your aeronautical engineer resume.

Apply for aeronautical engineer jobs

Now it's time to start searching for an aeronautical engineer job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first aeronautical engineer job

Sawa Maymani

Aeronautical Engineer

My Journey to Becoming an Aeronautical Engineer :

My name is Salwa MAYMANI. From as early as I can remember, I harbored a dream that soared high above the earth – to become an aerospace engineer and one day work at NASA or one of the most important Aerospace companies in the world, the epitome of space exploration and aeronautical innovation. This ambition set me on a path of dedication, learning, and relentless pursuit of excellence.

Educational Foundation

I embarked on this journey at the National School of Applied Sciences of Berrechid in Morocco, where I pursued a degree in Aeronautical Engineering. This institution provided me with a robust technical foundation, equipping me with the essential skills and knowledge required in this demanding field. The curriculum was rigorous, covering various aspects of aeronautics, from aerodynamics to propulsion systems, which helped me develop a comprehensive understanding of the subject.

Professional Experience

While my academic journey was crucial, it was my hands-on experience that truly shaped my career. I had the opportunity to intern and work with leading companies in the aeronautics sector in Morocco, which significantly enriched my practical knowledge and professional skills.

- **SAFRAN NACELLES**: Here, I began my professional career, currently holding the position of a Composites Methods Engineer. This role involves developing and optimizing manufacturing processes for composite materials, which are essential for the production of lighter and more efficient aircraft components.

- **SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES SERVICES MOROCCO**: At SAFRAN Aircraft Engines Services I was an intern, I gained in-depth experience in engine maintenance and repair, learning the intricacies of ensuring engines operate at peak performance.

- **SABCA MOROCCO**: My time at SABCA where I was an intern in production departement, was invaluable, as I was involved in various projects that expanded my expertise in aerospace manufacturing and assembly.

- **Capgemini Engineering and Figeac Aero**: These experiences allowed me to work on diverse projects, from engineering consulting to the fabrication of critical aerospace components. Each role honed my technical skills and provided me with a broader perspective on the industry.

The Dream Continues :

Each step of my journey has been a testament to my passion for aeronautics. The dream of working at NA

How do aeronautical engineers rate their job?

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Aeronautical engineer reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Aug 2023

Pros

I’ve always wanted to have a job related to engineering and used Math and Science. I think it is fascinating!!

Cons

Very hard job. Will definitely get home late and you have to be mega smart.