Description
Design, develop, and test aircraft, missiles, and spacecraft from concept through validation. Conduct basic and applied research to assess materials, components, and manufacturing methods for aerospace applications. Analyze results and recommend improvements to designs, test equipment, and test methods to enhance performance, safety, cost, and compliance.
- • Design, analyze, and modify aerospace structures, systems, and components to meet requirements.
- • Plan and execute experimental, environmental, operational, and stress tests on models and prototypes.
- • Develop and validate mathematical models and simulations to evaluate and optimize designs.
- • Prepare technical reports, specifications, and documentation for teams, management, and customers.
- • Analyze proposals and engineering data to assess feasibility, manufacturability, cost, and schedule.
- • Evaluate and recommend suppliers based on capability, quality, and past performance.
- • Investigate and resolve customer and field-reported technical issues on aerospace products.
- • Maintain configuration, test, and performance records for traceability and future reference.
- • Develop design changes that reduce emissions and improve environmental performance.
- • Design or specify filtration and exhaust-treatment systems to reduce harmful emissions.
- • Evaluate biofuels or alternative propellants for aerospace application feasibility.
- • Create conceptual designs and trade studies that meet customer and regulatory requirements.
- • Review inspection data and reports for conformance to engineering principles and quality standards.
- • Define design criteria, verification methods, cost targets, quality metrics, and schedules.
- • Diagnose performance problems through data analysis, inspection, and root-cause investigation.
- • Contribute to and sometimes lead aerospace research and development activities.
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Advanced Manufacturing
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Tasks & skills:
O*NET occupational data (work activities, skills, knowledge).
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This site includes information from O*NET by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. Career Clutch has modified some of this information for student readability. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Last reviewed: Jan 2026
