Aerospace engineering technician

Aerospace engineering technicians build, test and maintain commercial and military aircraft, and satellites.

Also known as: Aircraft maintenance technician

• Starter salary£27,000 a year
• Experienced£50,000 a year
• Typical hours40 to 42 a week

What you'll do

As an aerospace engineering technician, you could:

• inspect, service and maintain aircraft electrical, mechanical and electronic systems
• build and fit wings, engines and landing gear
• install and test navigation, communication and flight controls
• investigate faults and work with engineers to fix them
• assemble and install satellite instruments
• create 3D models of parts for manufacture, using computer-aided design (CAD) software
• complete safety documentation and maintenance logbooks

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.

Skills and knowledge you'll need

You'll need:

• knowledge of engineering science and technology
• maths skills
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• the ability to work well with your hands
• the ability to use, repair and maintain machines and tools
• the ability to work well with others
• the ability to think clearly using logic and reasoning
• the ability to analyse quality or performance
• to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently

How to become a aerospace engineering technician

You can get into this job through:

• a university course
• a college course
• an apprenticeship
• the armed forces

University

You could do a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree in engineering to get into this career.

Relevant subjects include:

• aeronautical engineering
• aerospace 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
• 2 or 3 A levels, or equivalent, including maths and a science for a degree

College

You could do A levels or an engineering course that would give you some of the skills and knowledge needed to apply for a trainee technician job with an aerospace company.

Courses include:

• maths, physics and design and technology
• mechanical and electrical engineering
• aerospace and aviation engineering
• aircraft maintenance
• 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

Apprenticeship

You could apply to do an apprenticeship to train as a technician. Examples include:

• Aircraft Maintenance Technician Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship
• Aerospace Engineering Technician Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship
• Mechatronics Maintenance Technician Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship
• Engineering Manufacturing Technician Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship
• Space Engineering Technician Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship

These apprenticeships usually take between 3 and 4 years to complete and are a mix of on-the-job training and off-site study.

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

Other routes

You could train and gain qualification as an aircraft technician in the armed forces.

You can find out more through the:

• Royal Air Force
• Royal Navy
• Army

Restrictions and requirements

You may need to apply for a UK Part 66 Aircraft Maintenance Licence (AML) for certain jobs, depending on your responsibilities.

Career path and progression

With experience, you could:

• become a workshop supervisor or senior technician
• take further training to qualify as an aerospace engineer
• specialise in a particular area, like aircraft design, quality control or production management

Career tips

You can try out virtual work experiences in different aviation industry jobs, including aircraft maintenance.

Guides for this industry

• Engineering: pay, interviews and getting started →

Related roles

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• Job roleWind turbine technician
• Job roleMaintenance fitter

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