Aviation Engineering Jobs: Career Guide, Roles, Salaries & Opportunities

Aviation engineering careers help make aircraft safer, more efficient, more reliable, and ready for the future. From designing next-generation aircraft structures and avionics to improving manufacturing processes, certifying modifications, and supporting in-service fleets, engineering professionals work across commercial aviation, business aviation, defense, MRO, airports, and emerging aerospace sectors.

Explore current opportunities on All Aviation Job’s Engineering jobs page, set up job alerts, and discover aviation roles that match your technical specialty, location, and career goals.

Your Guide to Getting Started as an Engineering Professional in Aviation

A career in aviation engineering usually starts with a bachelor’s degree in aerospace, mechanical, electrical, software, systems, industrial, materials, or manufacturing engineering. The best degree depends on the work you want to do: aerospace and mechanical engineering are common for airframe, propulsion, and flight-physics work; electrical and computer engineering are central to avionics and embedded systems; and software engineering is increasingly important for simulation, autonomy, flight controls, and digital aircraft platforms.

Employers typically look for candidates who can combine technical knowledge with strong documentation, problem-solving, communication, and regulatory awareness. An internship, co-op, capstone project, aircraft-maintenance exposure, or experience with CAD, MATLAB/Simulink, Python, C/C++, PLM, FEA, CFD, or configuration management can help make an application more competitive.

A practical starting path:

1. Build a technical foundation through an accredited engineering degree or relevant technical program.
2. Gain hands-on experience through internships with OEMs, airlines, MRO providers, suppliers, airports, or defense contractors.
3. Learn the regulatory environment, including FAA airworthiness and certification concepts in the United States.
4. Create a portfolio that demonstrates calculations, designs, simulations, test reports, data analysis, or engineering projects.
5. Search aviation jobs by engineering specialty, employer, location, and employment type.

The FAA notes that engineering positions generally require completion of a four-year professional engineering curriculum leading to a bachelor’s degree or higher, although relevant education, training, and technical experience may also be considered for some roles.[faa]

What Does an Engineering Professional Do?

An aviation engineer applies scientific, mathematical, and technical principles to solve problems involving aircraft, engines, components, systems, manufacturing processes, flight operations, safety, and regulatory compliance. The role is broad: one engineer may design a structural component, another may validate avionics software, while another may coordinate an aircraft modification from design through certification and installation.

Typical responsibilities include:

• Designing, analyzing, testing, and improving aircraft or aerospace components and systems.
• Writing engineering drawings, requirements, test plans, reports, repair data, and technical instructions.
• Using simulation and analysis tools to assess stress, fatigue, aerodynamics, thermal performance, electrical loads, reliability, or safety.
• Supporting certification, airworthiness, continued operational safety, and regulatory compliance.
• Working with technicians, mechanics, pilots, suppliers, quality teams, program managers, and customers.
• Investigating failures, nonconformities, service issues, and opportunities to improve performance or maintainability.
• Managing configuration changes and ensuring engineering work is traceable, documented, and controlled.

Aerospace engineers design, develop, and test aircraft, spacecraft, satellites, and missiles, and the occupation generally requires at least a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering or a related field.[bls]

What Does the Engineering Job Look Like?

The day-to-day experience depends on the specialty and employer. A design engineer may spend much of the day in CAD, analysis tools, design reviews, and supplier meetings. A manufacturing engineer may work closely with production teams on the shop floor to resolve build issues and improve tooling, quality, and cycle time. A flight-test or systems engineer may analyze data, write test procedures, and collaborate with pilots and technicians.

Aviation engineering work often combines desk-based analysis with practical collaboration. You may review drawings in the morning, attend a design or safety review at midday, inspect an aircraft or manufacturing issue in the afternoon, and finish by documenting decisions for a certification package or engineering release.

The work is detail-oriented because aircraft systems must meet demanding safety, reliability, performance, and compliance requirements. Engineers must be comfortable explaining complex technical findings clearly to both technical and nontechnical stakeholders.

Examples of Engineering Jobs in Aviation

• Aerospace Engineer: Designs and evaluates aircraft, propulsion, structures, and aerospace systems to meet performance, safety, and certification requirements.
• Aircraft Structures Engineer: Analyzes and develops airframes, composite parts, metallic structures, repairs, and fatigue or damage-tolerance solutions.
• Avionics Engineer: Develops, integrates, tests, or supports aircraft electrical, navigation, communications, flight-control, and electronic systems.
• Systems Engineer: Converts aircraft-level customer and regulatory needs into clear technical requirements, interfaces, verification plans, and integrated system solutions.
• Mechanical Engineer: Designs and improves mechanical assemblies such as environmental-control, actuation, fuel, hydraulics, landing-gear, and propulsion-adjacent systems.
• Electrical Engineer: Works on electrical power distribution, wiring, sensors, power electronics, electromagnetic compatibility, and aircraft electrical architecture.
• Embedded Software Engineer: Builds and verifies software that operates avionics hardware, flight controls, sensors, mission systems, or connected aircraft platforms.
• Flight Test Engineer: Plans test activity, supports test flights, analyzes aircraft data, and documents whether the aircraft meets defined performance and safety criteria.
• Airworthiness Engineer: Supports aircraft certification, modification approval, compliance documentation, and continued airworthiness activities.
• Manufacturing Engineer: Improves how aircraft and aerospace products are assembled, tested, inspected, and delivered.
• Quality Engineer: Develops quality controls, investigates defects, manages corrective action, and helps ensure processes meet customer and regulatory standards.
• Stress Engineer: Uses structural analysis methods to confirm that aircraft components can withstand expected loads, vibration, fatigue, and environmental conditions.
• Reliability Engineer: Uses data and root-cause analysis to improve component reliability, maintenance intervals, and fleet availability.
• MRO Engineer: Provides technical support for aircraft maintenance, repair, overhaul, component repairs, and fleet service issues.
• Certification Engineer: Coordinates technical evidence showing that an aircraft, system, component, or modification meets applicable regulatory requirements.

Browse Aviation Engineering Jobs by City/State

Use location-based job searches to find engineering opportunities in major aviation, aerospace, manufacturing, MRO, defense, and business-aviation hubs.

• Fort Worth, Texas: Find engineering opportunities connected to defense programs, aircraft modification, production, and major aerospace supply chains.
• Dallas–Fort Worth, Texas: Explore roles supporting airlines, OEM suppliers, avionics firms, airports, maintenance organizations, and advanced aviation businesses.
• Houston, Texas: Search for engineering work across aviation, aerospace, rotorcraft, space-adjacent operations, manufacturing, and energy-sector aviation support.
• Wichita, Kansas: Discover jobs in a major general-aviation and business-aircraft manufacturing center with strong airframe, systems, production, and supplier demand.
• Seattle, Washington: Browse opportunities in commercial-aircraft design, manufacturing, interiors, systems, quality, supplier engineering, and aerospace innovation.
• Los Angeles, California: Explore engineering roles in aerospace manufacturing, defense, launch systems, advanced air mobility, and aviation technology.
• San Diego, California: Find positions in defense aviation, unmanned systems, avionics, composite structures, and aerospace research.
• Atlanta, Georgia: Search for airline engineering, MRO, flight-operations support, supply-chain, and aviation technology roles.
• Miami, Florida: Browse engineering jobs tied to international airline operations, cargo, business aviation, component repair, MRO, and fleet support.
• Orlando, Florida: Discover engineering opportunities in defense, simulation, training technology, rotorcraft, advanced manufacturing, and aerospace systems.
• Savannah, Georgia: Find business-aviation manufacturing, completions, interiors, service-center, and aircraft-support engineering roles.
• Montreal, Quebec: Explore Canadian aerospace opportunities in aircraft manufacturing, simulation, regional aviation, engines, and certification.
• Toronto, Ontario: Search for engineering roles across aerospace suppliers, airlines, airports, MRO, and advanced manufacturing.

For a broader search, visit All Aviation Job and filter open positions by city, state, company, and job category.

Browse Aviation Engineering Jobs by Job Type

• Full-time engineering jobs: Permanent roles for professionals supporting long-term aircraft programs, manufacturing operations, MRO organizations, or airline engineering departments.
• Contract engineering jobs: Project-based opportunities often used for aircraft modifications, certification campaigns, product-development surges, and technical consulting.
• Remote Engineering jobs: Positions that may allow design, analysis, software, documentation, and program-support work away from a primary office, subject to security and program requirements.
• Hybrid engineering jobs: Roles that combine remote technical work with onsite design reviews, laboratory activity, factory support, aircraft visits, or team collaboration.
• Entry-level engineering jobs: Early-career roles designed for new graduates and junior professionals building experience in analysis, design, manufacturing, quality, or systems engineering.
• Internship and co-op jobs: Structured learning opportunities that provide real aerospace or aviation project experience while completing education.
• Senior engineering jobs: Leadership-level roles that guide technical strategy, review complex work, manage risks, and mentor engineering teams.
• Engineering management jobs: Positions responsible for people leadership, budgets, schedules, technical delivery, and coordination across programs and disciplines.

Browse Aviation Engineering Jobs by Aircraft Manufacturer

• Boeing engineering jobs: Roles may support commercial airplanes, defense aircraft, production systems, supplier quality, digital engineering, and aftermarket services.
• Airbus engineering jobs: Opportunities can include commercial-aircraft systems, structures, manufacturing, sustainability, flight operations, and global support programs.
• Lockheed Martin engineering jobs: Positions often focus on defense aircraft, mission systems, advanced development, sustainment, and classified programs.
• Gulfstream engineering jobs: Roles commonly support business-jet design, interiors, flight test, completions, certification, and customer-service engineering.
• Bombardier engineering jobs: Opportunities can include business-aircraft development, systems integration, manufacturing, maintenance, and product support.
• Embraer engineering jobs: Engineering professionals may work on commercial jets, executive aviation, defense platforms, services, and emerging aviation technology.
• Dassault Aviation engineering jobs: Roles may involve business jets, military aircraft, aircraft systems, structures, certification, and customer support.
• Textron Aviation engineering jobs: Opportunities may support Cessna and Beechcraft aircraft through product development, manufacturing, aftermarket, and technical services.
• Pilatus engineering jobs: Positions can focus on utility, training, and business aircraft design, production, support, and airworthiness.
• Honda Aircraft Company engineering jobs: Roles may support light-jet design, composite structures, manufacturing, customer support, and continued-airworthiness activities.

Browse Aviation Engineering Jobs by Aircraft Name

• Boeing 737 engineering jobs: Support a high-volume commercial-aircraft platform through structures, systems, production, retrofit, reliability, and fleet-service work.
• Boeing 787 Dreamliner engineering jobs: Focus on composite structures, advanced systems, manufacturing, modifications, customer support, and long-haul fleet performance.
• Airbus A320 engineering jobs: Work with one of the world’s most widely operated narrow-body families on modifications, reliability, maintenance, avionics, and fleet support.
• Airbus A330 engineering jobs: Support wide-body aircraft systems, cabin modifications, maintenance planning, operational performance, and component engineering.
• Airbus A350 engineering jobs: Contribute to advanced composite-aircraft support, systems engineering, manufacturing, airworthiness, and lifecycle improvement.
• Gulfstream G650/G700 engineering jobs: Work on high-end business-jet performance, interiors, systems, certification, completions, and customer support.
• Bombardier Global engineering jobs: Support long-range business-jet platforms through systems, structures, cabin, manufacturing, modifications, and service engineering.
• Embraer E-Jet engineering jobs: Work on regional and commercial aircraft systems, fleet performance, MRO support, modifications, and reliability programs.
• Cessna Citation engineering jobs: Support light and midsize business jets through design, production, service, technical publications, and airworthiness work.
• F-35 engineering jobs: Contribute to defense-aircraft systems, sustainment, software, structures, logistics, modification, and mission capability programs.

Browse Aviation Engineering Jobs by Aircraft Name or Certifications

Search engineering roles using aircraft platform names and credential keywords that align with your expertise. Useful search terms include:

• FAA certification: For positions involving U.S. airworthiness regulations, FAA compliance findings, certification plans, technical data, or approvals.
• EASA certification: For roles that support European regulatory compliance, aircraft certification, continuing airworthiness, or international fleet operations.
• FAA A&P: Relevant for engineering positions that value practical aircraft maintenance knowledge, especially MRO, repair, reliability, and field-support jobs.
• EASA Part-66: Useful for maintenance engineering and certifying-staff-related roles in Europe and organizations operating EASA-regulated aircraft.
• DER / ODA experience: Strong keywords for specialized certification engineering roles involving approved data, conformity, compliance, or delegated authority processes.
• AS9100: A key quality-management standard often requested for aerospace manufacturing, supplier quality, and process-engineering positions.
• CATIA, Siemens NX, SolidWorks: CAD and product-design skills frequently used in aircraft structures, interiors, mechanical systems, and manufacturing engineering.
• ANSYS, NASTRAN, Abaqus: Analysis tools used in structural, stress, vibration, thermal, and finite-element engineering roles.
• MATLAB/Simulink: Commonly used for controls, modeling, simulation, systems engineering, and avionics-development work.
• DO-178C / DO-254: High-value avionics keywords for software and airborne-electronic-hardware development and verification.
• ARP4754A / ARP4761: Systems-engineering and safety-assessment keywords for complex aircraft and avionics programs.
• Boeing 737, Airbus A320, Gulfstream G650, Embraer E-Jet: Aircraft-specific terms that can identify fleet-support, modification, reliability, and MRO engineering opportunities.

For EASA-regulated maintenance environments, Part-66 includes categories such as A, B1, B2, B3, B2L, L, and C; B1 covers mechanical areas, while B2 focuses on avionics and electrical systems.[easa.europa]

Engineering Influencers to Follow in Aviation

Follow engineers, communicators, organizations, and technical communities that discuss aircraft design, safety, certification, sustainability, flight systems, and the future of aerospace.

• AIAA: The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics is a major global technical society for aerospace professionals, offering technical resources, events, and a professional network.
• NASA: Follow for aerospace research, aeronautics innovation, flight testing, materials, propulsion, sustainable aviation, and space technology.
• FAA: Follow for U.S. aviation safety, airworthiness, certification, regulations, and aviation technology updates.
• EASA: Follow for European aviation safety regulations, certification guidance, airworthiness, and international regulatory developments.
• SAE International: A valuable source for engineering standards, mobility technology, technical events, and aerospace-industry knowledge.
• Royal Aeronautical Society: Follow for aviation and aerospace professional development, research, events, and global industry discussion.
• Dr. Peter L. Jakab: An aviation historian and Smithsonian leader whose work provides useful context on aircraft innovation and engineering heritage.
• Dr. R. John Hansman: An MIT aviation researcher known for work related to aviation systems, operations, safety, and air transportation.
• Bjorn Fehrm: An aerospace analyst whose commentary can help professionals follow commercial-aircraft programs, performance, and industry developments.
• Scott Hamilton: An aviation analyst who covers commercial aviation, aircraft programs, manufacturers, and airline-market trends.

Engineering Courses & Certifications to Grow in Aviation

Engineering credentials should match the job you want, your location, and whether you work in design, certification, manufacturing, MRO, avionics, software, or management.

• ABET-accredited engineering degree: A strong foundation for U.S.-based engineering careers in aerospace, mechanical, electrical, systems, software, manufacturing, or materials disciplines.
• FAA-focused airworthiness and certification training: Useful for professionals supporting FAA compliance, certification plans, aircraft modifications, continued airworthiness, or engineering approvals.
• EASA Part-66 training: Relevant for maintenance-oriented technical careers and work connected to EASA-approved maintenance organizations.
• FAA A&P certificate: Particularly valuable for engineering professionals working close to aircraft maintenance, repairs, reliability, technical operations, and field support.
• AS9100 internal auditor training: Helpful for quality, manufacturing, supplier-quality, and process-improvement engineering roles in aerospace.
• Project Management Professional (PMP): A strong option for engineers moving toward program leadership, technical project management, or cross-functional delivery.
• INCOSE Systems Engineering certification: Useful for systems engineers managing requirements, interfaces, verification, validation, and complex aircraft programs.
• Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt: Valuable for manufacturing, quality, operational excellence, process engineering, and root-cause improvement work.
• CAD, FEA, and simulation training: Courses in CATIA, Siemens NX, SolidWorks, ANSYS, NASTRAN, MATLAB, Simulink, or Python can directly strengthen technical applications.
• DO-178C and DO-254 training: High-value preparation for avionics, embedded software, electronic hardware, verification, and certification roles.

Engineering Salary Expectations in United States Aviation Roles

In the United States, aerospace engineers earned a median annual wage of $134,830 in May 2024, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The BLS projects 6% employment growth for aerospace engineers from 2024 to 2034, with roughly 4,500 openings per year on average.

Salary varies materially based on specialty, location, level of responsibility, clearance eligibility, aircraft program, employer, overtime structure, and whether the role is in design, defense, manufacturing, airline technical operations, MRO, software, or certification.

Career levelTypical U.S. aviation engineering base salaryEntry-level engineer$75,000–$105,000Engineer II / mid-level engineer$100,000–$140,000Senior engineer$125,000–$175,000+Principal, lead, or highly specialized engineer$150,000–$220,000+Engineering manager$140,000–$210,000+

These are directional market ranges, not guaranteed compensation. Total pay can be higher when it includes bonuses, overtime, shift premiums, relocation, profit sharing, stock compensation, or security-clearance premiums.

Engineering technicians and technologists typically earn less than degreed aerospace engineers but remain critical aviation professionals; BLS reported a median annual wage of $79,830 for aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians in May 2024.

International Engineering Salary Expectations

International compensation varies widely by local labor market, currency, taxation, living costs, language requirements, aircraft-program concentration, and whether the employer is an OEM, airline, MRO, supplier, defense contractor, or government organization. The ranges below are broad annual gross-pay planning estimates in local currency.

RegionTypical aviation engineering salary rangeMarket contextBrazilR$70,000–R$200,000+Entry and support roles commonly sit toward the lower end, while experienced engineers supporting OEM, defense, certification, and leadership programs can earn more.CanadaCAD 70,000–CAD 130,000+Montreal, Toronto, and major aerospace manufacturing or MRO centers often provide the broadest range of opportunities.Europe€40,000–€95,000+Pay differs substantially among countries; Germany, France, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and the UK often have distinct salary and tax structures.Asia₹500,000–₹1,800,000+ in India; higher ranges in Singapore, Japan, South Korea, and parts of the GulfCompensation depends heavily on country, employer type, expatriate status, and whether work is in manufacturing, airline engineering, MRO, or advanced aerospace.Central AmericaUS$18,000–US$55,000+Jobs are often concentrated in airline support, MRO, airports, components, logistics, and regional aviation operations; senior or multinational roles may pay more.

Canada’s aerospace salary estimates are commonly reported around CAD 80,000 for typical aerospace-engineering roles, while country-level figures vary sharply across Europe and Asia; treat international benchmarks as starting points and validate them against current local job postings and employer compensation data.

Find Your Next Aviation Engineering Role

Whether you are a new graduate, a CAD designer moving into aerospace, an A&P professional pursuing engineering support work, or a senior engineer leading certification and aircraft-modification programs, the aviation sector offers opportunities across aircraft design, production, maintenance, safety, electronics, software, and flight operations.

Browse the latest engineering jobs in aviation, explore the full aviation job board, and create a job alert so new engineering opportunities are delivered directly to your inbox.