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OaSIS 2025 Version 1.0
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21390.00 – Aerospace engineers

Aerospace engineers research, design and develop aerospace vehicles, aerospace systems and their components, and perform duties related to their testing, evaluation, installation, operation and maintenance.

Overview

Example job titles

  • Aerodynamics engineer
  • Aeronautical engineer
  • Aerospace engineer
  • Aerospace structural engineer
  • Aerospace systems engineer
  • Aerospace test engineer
  • Aircraft design engineer
  • Stress engineer - aerospace

Core competencies

  • Critical Thinking, Decision Making and Problem Solving to investigate structural, component and system failures to determine corrective actions
  • Numeracy to ensure precise calculations for designing, analyzing and testing aerospace vehicles and systems
  • Deductive Reasoning to apply general principles and theories to aerospace problems, ensuring logical and accurate solutions
  • Categorization Flexibility and Information Ordering to synthesize information to investigate, report and recommend corrective actions for structural, component and system failures
  • Attention to Detail to ensure the safety, reliability and performance of aerospace vehicles and systems, from design and testing to maintenance and operation
  • Knowledge in Physics to understand the principles of aerodynamics, propulsion, structural integrity and material science to guide the design and evaluation of aerospace machinery

Main duties

This group performs some or all of the following duties:

  • Design and develop aerospace vehicles, systems and components such as aircraft, spacecraft, missiles, satellites and space-based communication systems
  • Develop and conduct computer simulations of aerospace vehicles, systems and components using advanced mathematical modelling
  • Prepare specifications for materials and processes to be used in aerospace manufacturing, maintenance, repair or modification
  • Supervise and coordinate the manufacturing, assembly, modification, repair and overhaul of aircraft and spacecraft
  • Coordinate ground and flight tests of air and spacecraft
  • Develop operational specifications, maintenance schedules and manuals for operators
  • Develop the technical phases of logistical and operational support for aerospace vehicles and systems
  • Investigate and report on structural or other component or system failures, accidents or incidents and prepare recommendations for corrective action.

Additional information

  • There is considerable mobility between aerospace engineering specializations at the less senior levels.
  • Supervisory and senior positions in this unit group require experience.
  • Aerospace engineers work closely with other scientists and engineers and mobility is possible between some fields of specialization.
  • Engineers often work in a multidisciplinary environment and acquire knowledge and skills through work experience that may allow them to practise in associated areas of science, engineering, sales, marketing or management.

Similar occupations classified elsewhere

Exclusions:

NOC hierarchy breakdown

NOC version

NOC 2021 Version 1.0

Broad occupational category

2 – Natural and applied sciences and related occupations

TEER

1 – Occupations usually require a university degree

Major group

21 – Professional occupations in natural and applied sciences

Sub-major group

213 – Professional occupations in engineering

Minor group

2139 – Other engineers

Unit group

21390 – Aerospace engineers

Occupational profile

21390.00 – Aerospace engineers

O*NET in-it

This page includes information from the O*NET 27.2 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Employment and Social Development Canada has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.