Aerospace engineering technician

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

• equivalent entry requirements
• student finance for fees and living costs
• university courses and entry requirements

You could do a college course like:

• Level 3 Diploma in Mechanical Engineering
• Level 3 Diploma in Electrical Engineering
• Level 3 Diploma in Aerospace and Aviation Engineering

These courses cover areas like CNC (computer numerical controlled) machining, computer aided design and maintenance work.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

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

More Information

• equivalent entry requirements
• funding advice
• search for courses

You can train through an advanced engineering technician apprenticeship with an airline operator, airline manufacturer or service engineering company.

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

More Information

• equivalent entry requirements
• guide to apprenticeships

Further information

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

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

You'll usually work in either:

• mechanics - building and servicing aircraft fuselage, hydraulic and pneumatic systems, like wings, engines and landing gear
• avionics - installing and testing electrical and electronic systems used in navigation, communications and flight control

Your day-to-day duties in both areas might include:

• developing component plans using computer aided design (CAD) and computer aided manufacturing (CAM) software
• investigating and testing solutions to engineering problems
• building and testing prototypes
• using prototypes to predict and improve the performance of aircraft systems

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.