Jobs and Careers Summer 2023 - 269

Flying high
The door is wide open for early years careers
in aerospace. Graduate opportunities abound,
while apprenticeships are regularly available.
For graduates and those looking to change
career, many companies offer programmes in
engineering, technology, project management,
manufacturing, consulting and finance. These
generally last for 18-30 months, then you can
decide which area you want to specialise in.
You may benefit from career coaching, plus
support such as a buddy, mentor or graduate
development lead, depending on your placement.
Undergraduates may be offered the opportunity
to get first-hand experience of an aerospace
company with talks, networking opportunities
and personal development sessions, while
one-year placements are regularly up for grabs.
Apprenticeships include entry-level, advanced
and higher, depending on your experience and
qualifications, and offer the opportunity to gain
qualifications while being paid.
Test technician
You'll be carrying out testing on fuel,
structural and avionics (aviation
electronics) aerospace systems for things
such as the effects of lightning. This
involves testing, recording and assessing
data, writing reports on the findings,
photographing samples, and interacting
with clients on technical issues and
answering any questions they may have.
What skills and qualifications do I need?
A background in testing and measurement,
and an aptitude for experimental testing
and problem solving would be ideal.
You'll also be expected to have a relevant
HNC or HND.
How much can I earn? Expect a starting
salary of £24,000, rising to £37,000.
What skills and qualifications do I need?
A degree in computer science, IT-networks
related subject, maths or physics.
How much can I earn? Salaries start
from around £30,000.
Flight operations
manager
You'll be part of the team responsible
for the day-to-day running of the airline
operations control centre, making sure
the airline has the right aircraft in the
right place, at the right time, with the
right crew. You'll arrange maintenance
and repairs on aircraft, deal with air
traffic control problems and adverse
weather conditions, and advise other
departments of operational issues that
may affect the airline's performance.
What skills and qualifications do I need?
A relevant qualification such as a GCSE
in Leisure & Tourism or BTEC First
Certificate or Diploma in Travel &
Tourism. It's helpful to have already
worked in another air transport job.
You should have good planning and
communication skills, and the ability
to remain calm under pressure.
How much can I earn? A typical salary
would be £25,000 to £30,000.
Aerospace engineer
You'll research, maintain and test aircraft,
which could include civil or military
craft, missiles, weapon systems, satellites
or space vehicles. You'll also be involved
in assessing and improving flight safety
and fuel efficiency, and reducing costs,
as well as using advanced technologies
to improve performance.
What skills and qualifications do I need?
You can study for a specific degree in
aerospace or aeronautical engineering,
but it's also possible to get into the
profession by holding a related degree,
especially in a subject such as maths,
software engineering and production
engineering, and training on the job.
How much can I earn? Engineers typically
start on a salary of £22,000 to £28,000,
but with experience this can rise to
£40,000. At a senior levels, you can
expect to earn more than £60,000.
Find out more
* Careers In Aerospace
careersinaerospace.com
* Royal Aeronautical Society
aerosociety.com
* Aviation Job Search
aviationjobsearch.com
* North West Aerospace Alliance
aerospace.co.uk
jobsandcareersmag.com /// JOBS & CAREERS /// 269
TRANSPORT &
LOGISTICS
http://careersinaerospace.com http://aerosociety.com http://aviationjobsearch.com http://aerospace.co.uk http://jobsandcareersmag.com
Jobs and Careers Summer 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Jobs and Careers Summer 2023
