Jobs, Careers and Occupations

Aerospace Careers, Jobs and Occupations

Aerospace

Aerospace / avionics companies design, develop and perform duties related to the testing, evaluation, installation, operation, maintenance, repair and/or overhaul services of aerospace vehicles, aerospace systems and their components, aircraft and spacecraft manufacturers, and air transport carriers . Related occupations include aerospace engineers, propulsion engineers, avionics technicians, aircraft maintenance engineers, aircraft mechanics, simulator engineers, airport managers, airworthiness inspectors, pilots and airline staff.

Aerospace engineering creates airplanes and spacecrafts. They design, develop and test aircraft, spacecraft and missiles and supervise the manufacture of these products. Aerospace engineers who work with aircraft are called aeronautical engineers, and those working specifically with spacecraft are astronautical engineers.

Aerospace engineering develops new technologies for use in aviation, defense systems and space exploration. Aerospace engineering specializes in areas such as structural design, guidance, navigation and control, instrumentation and communication, or production methods. Aerospace engineering often use computer-aided design (CAD) software, robotics, and lasers and advanced electronic optics in a particular type of aerospace product, such as commercial transports, military fighter jets, helicopters, spacecraft, or missiles and rockets. Aerospace employees are experts in aerodynamics, thermodynamics, celestial mechanics, propulsion, acoustics, or guidance and control systems.

Aerospace engineering and operations technicians install, construct, maintain and test systems used to test, launch, or track aircraft and space vehicles. Using computer and communications systems, aerospace engineering and operations technicians often calibrate record and interpret test data.

Many aircraft mechanics specialize in preventive maintenance. They inspect engines, landing gear, instruments, pressurized sections, accessories and other parts of the aircraft, and do the necessary maintenance and replacement of parts. Inspections take place following a schedule based on the number of hours the aircraft has flown. Large, sophisticated planes are equipped with aircraft monitoring systems, consisting of electronic boxes and consoles that monitor the aircraft’s basic operations and provide valuable diagnostic information to the mechanic. Worn or defective parts are repaired or replaced. Mechanics may also repair sheet metal or composite surfaces, measure the tension of control cables, and check for corrosion, distortion and cracks in the fuselage, wings and tail. After completing all repairs, they must test the equipment to ensure that it works properly.

Aerospace Related Industries

• Engineering
• Transport