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Aerospace engineering technician

Alternative titles for this job include

Aerospace engineering technicians design, build, test and repair civil and military aircraft.

Average salary (a year)

£23,000 Starter

to

£42,000 Experienced

Typical hours (a week)

40 to 42 a week

You could work

evenings / weekends on shifts

How to become

Explore the different ways to get into this role.

How to become an aerospace engineering technician

You can get into this job through:

  • a university course
  • a college course
  • an apprenticeship

University

You can do a foundation degree or higher national diploma in engineering to get into this career. Relevant subjects include:

  • aeronautical engineering
  • mechanical engineering
  • electrical or electronics engineering
  • avionics

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English, maths and science
  • 1 or 2 A levels, or equivalent, for a foundation degree or higher national diploma

More Information

College

You could do an engineering course that would give you some of the skills and knowledge needed for this job. General engineering, mechanical and electrical engineering courses are useful as well as more specialist courses like:

  • Level 2 or 3 Diploma in Aerospace and Aviation Engineering
  • Level 3 Diploma in Aircraft Manufacture
  • T Level in Engineering, Manufacturing, Processing and Control

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English, maths and science
  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths for a T level

More Information

Apprenticeship

You can do an advanced engineering technician apprenticeship or an engineering manufacturing technician higher apprenticeship.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English, maths and science
  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship

More Information

More Information

Further information

You'll find more on working and training in aerospace engineering from Careers in Aerospace and Tomorrow's Engineers.

What it takes

Find out what skills you’ll use in this role.

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

  • knowledge of engineering science and technology
  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • the ability to work well with your hands
  • the ability to use your initiative
  • persistence and determination
  • the ability to use, repair and maintain machines and tools
  • maths skills
  • the ability to work well with others
  • to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently

What you’ll do

Discover the day to day tasks you’ll do in this role.

What you'll do

Day-to-day tasks

You could work on the mechanics of the aircraft or the electrical and electronic systems or 'avionics'. You may:

  • build and service aircraft fuselage
  • create and test hydraulic and pneumatic systems, like wings, engines and landing gear
  • install and test electrical and electronic systems used in navigation, communications and flight control
  • use computer aided design (CAD) and computer aided manufacturing (CAM) software
  • investigate and test solutions to engineering problems
  • build and test prototypes
  • use prototypes to predict and improve the performance of aircraft systems

Working environment

You could work in an aircraft hangar, on an aircraft, in a factory, in an office or in a laboratory.

Your working environment may be cramped.

Career path and progression

Look at progression in this role and similar opportunities.

Career path and progression

With experience, you could move into supervisory, project management and higher management roles, or specialise in a particular field, like aircraft design.

Current opportunities

Find apprenticeships, courses and jobs available near you.

Current opportunities

Apprenticeships In England

Hardware Apprentice

  • Wage: £152.10 Weekly
  • Location: Middlesbrough

CNC Turning Apprentice

  • Wage: £301.08 Weekly
  • Location: Nottingham
Find apprenticeships near you

Courses In England

Engineering (Aerospace Engineering) - BEng (Hons)

  • Provider: BLACKPOOL AND THE FYLDE COLLEGE
  • Start date: 13 September 2022
  • Location: Blackpool

Aerospace Engineering - BEng (Hons)

  • Provider: BLACKPOOL AND THE FYLDE COLLEGE
  • Start date: 13 September 2022
  • Location: Blackpool
Find courses near you

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