Aerospace Engineers
Architecture and Engineering Occupations- O*NET-SOC code
- 17-2011.00
Perform engineering duties in designing, constructing, and testing aircraft, missiles, and spacecraft. May conduct basic and applied research to evaluate adaptability of materials and equipment to aircraft design and manufacture. May recommend improvements in testing equipment and techniques.
- Data source: BLSPublished: 2026-08
Very high· relative
LowFour relative bandsVery highGroup-level value
Scale, basis and source
Four relative bands (Low / Moderate / High / Very high)
831 detailed occupations in the BLS Employment Projections table. Assigned per National Employment Matrix (NEM) code, so occupations sharing a NEM code carry the same band
- Data source: AnthropicPublished: 2026-03
0.075
0.000Range of values carried here0.745Scale, basis and source
Observed exposure index, 0–1 as published
Mapped onto O*NET tasks
Published per SOC 2018 occupation; every O*NET occupation with the same SOC 2018 code carries this value
- Data source: ILOPublished: 2025
0.32
0.09Range of values carried here0.70Group-level value
Scale, basis and source
Generative AI exposure index, 0–1 as published
Published per ISCO-08 unit group. Linked to this occupation, wholly or in part, by applying U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (ISCO-08 to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to 2018 SOC) as published
What kind of figure this source publishes
The BLS category is a relative rank, not an absolute level, and it is not a first-hand measurement: it groups an occupation's percentile ranks across several published studies into four bands. It is not an employment or wage forecast, not a probability of adoption, and it does not separate automation from augmentation.
Task-level exposure
Show 12 hidden tasks18 rated tasks · 17 tasks with β ≥ 0.5 (94.4%)
β = direct exposure (E1) + 0.5 × exposure when tools are available (E2), per the source repository's definition.
- Source unit: O*NET 27.2 tasks → O*NET 31.0 occupation code
- 4 rated tasks are not in the O*NET 31.0 task list; their scores are kept as published for O*NET 27.2.
- Source
- OpenAI "GPTs are GPTs" exposure rubric
- Release
- gh-main-0471612
- License
- MIT License, Copyright (c) 2024 OpenAI
| Task (O*NET 30.2) | Claude.aiRaw / share % | APIRaw / share % |
|---|---|---|
Evaluate product data or design from inspections or reports for conformance to engineering principles, customer requirements, environmental regulations, or quality standards.17-2011.00 | 0.030042.9 | 0.280087.5 |
Write technical reports or other documentation, such as handbooks or bulletins, for use by engineering staff, management, or customers.17-2011.00 | 0.030042.9 | 0.01003.1 |
Formulate mathematical models or other methods of computer analysis to develop, evaluate, or modify design, according to customer engineering requirements.17-2011.00 | 0.010014.3 | 0.00000.0 |
Diagnose performance problems by reviewing reports or documentation from customers or field engineers or by inspecting malfunctioning or damaged products.17-2011.00 | 0.00000.0 | 0.03009.4 |
Values in this tab are predicted labels, not observations. Eloundou et al. (2023) published two rating regimes — human raters and GPT-4 — and the β shown here is derived from the GPT-4 rater basis alone; the same task can take a different value under the other regime. The unit and the meaning differ from the observed shares (%) in the other tabs, so do not place them on the same axis.
| Task (O*NET 27.2) | βE1 + 0.5 × E2 |
|---|---|
Formulate mathematical models or other methods of computer analysis to develop, evaluate, or modify design, according to customer engineering requirements.O*NET Task ID 1339 | 1.0 |
Write technical reports or other documentation, such as handbooks or bulletins, for use by engineering staff, management, or customers.O*NET Task ID 1340 | 1.0 |
Maintain records of performance reports for future reference.O*NET Task ID 1346 | 1.0 |
Direct or coordinate activities of engineering or technical personnel involved in designing, fabricating, modifying, or testing of aircraft or aerospace products.O*NET Task ID 1335 | 0.5 |
Analyze project requests, proposals, or engineering data to determine feasibility, productibility, cost, or production time of aerospace or aeronautical products.O*NET Task ID 1341 | 0.5 |
Evaluate and approve selection of vendors by studying past performance or new advertisements.O*NET Task ID 1344 | 0.5 |
Plan or coordinate investigation and resolution of customers' reports of technical problems with aircraft or aerospace vehicles.O*NET Task ID 1345 | 0.5 |
Design new or modify existing aerospace systems to reduce polluting emissions, such as nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide, or smoke emissions.O*NET Task ID 19601 | 0.5 |
Design or engineer filtration systems that reduce harmful emissions.O*NET Task ID 19602 | 0.5 |
Evaluate biofuel performance specifications to determine feasibility for aerospace applications.O*NET Task ID 19603 | 0.5 |
Research new materials to determine quality or conformance to environmental standards.O*NET Task ID 19604 | 0.5 |
Review aerospace engineering designs to determine how to reduce negative environmental impacts.O*NET Task ID 19605 | 0.5 |
Formulate conceptual design of aeronautical or aerospace products or systems to meet customer requirements or conform to environmental regulations.O*NET Task ID 20724 | 0.5 |
Evaluate product data or design from inspections or reports for conformance to engineering principles, customer requirements, environmental regulations, or quality standards.O*NET Task ID 20725 | 0.5 |
Develop design criteria for aeronautical or aerospace products or systems, including testing methods, production costs, quality standards, environmental standards, or completion dates.O*NET Task ID 20726 | 0.5 |
Diagnose performance problems by reviewing reports or documentation from customers or field engineers or by inspecting malfunctioning or damaged products.O*NET Task ID 20727 | 0.5 |
Direct aerospace research and development programs.O*NET Task ID 20728 | 0.5 |
β = E1 + 0.5 × E2 · E1 = tasks where direct LLM access alone cuts time by at least 50%, E2 = tasks where software built on top of an LLM cuts time by at least 50%. Values take only 0 / 0.5 / 1.0.
Data sources & licenses — O*NET®, Anthropic Economic Index, Eloundou et al. (2023): see full notices on the Credits page
All O*NET 31.0 task statements (14)
All O*NET 31.0 task statements for this occupation (English, as published; task type core or supplemental). Exposure values are not listed here; they are in the table above, next to each task statement as worded in the O*NET version each source used.
| Task (O*NET 31.0) | Type |
|---|---|
| Direct or coordinate activities of engineering or technical personnel involved in designing, fabricating, modifying, or testing of aircraft or aerospace products. | Core |
| Plan or conduct experimental, environmental, operational, or stress tests on models or prototypes of aircraft or aerospace systems or equipment. | Core |
| Formulate mathematical models or other methods of computer analysis to develop, evaluate, or modify design, according to customer engineering requirements. | Core |
| Write technical reports or other documentation, such as handbooks or bulletins, for use by engineering staff, management, or customers. | Core |
| Analyze project requests, proposals, or engineering data to determine feasibility, productibility, cost, or production time of aerospace or aeronautical products. | Core |
| Plan or coordinate investigation and resolution of customers' reports of technical problems with aircraft or aerospace vehicles. | Core |
| Maintain records of performance reports for future reference. | Core |
| Formulate conceptual design of aeronautical or aerospace products or systems to meet customer requirements or conform to environmental regulations. | Core |
| Evaluate product data or design from inspections or reports for conformance to engineering principles, customer requirements, environmental regulations, or quality standards. | Core |
| Diagnose performance problems by reviewing reports or documentation from customers or field engineers or by inspecting malfunctioning or damaged products. | Core |
| Evaluate and approve selection of vendors by studying past performance or new advertisements. | Supplemental |
| Research new materials to determine quality or conformance to environmental standards. | Supplemental |
| Develop design criteria for aeronautical or aerospace products or systems, including testing methods, production costs, quality standards, environmental standards, or completion dates. | Supplemental |
| Direct aerospace research and development programs. | Supplemental |
0.00/ 3· Robot exposure index
Scale, basis and source
Each physical task is graded 0–3 by the setting in which robots that have been deployed, sold or demonstrated could do it (0 none · 1 purpose-built robot settings such as a fenced machine cell or a bottling line · 2 structured facilities such as a hospital pharmacy or a container port · 3 unstructured settings such as a private home or a construction site), and the grades are averaged by share of working time
Physical tasks among this occupation's O*NET 29.3 tasks
Anthropic estimated the grades and time shares with Claude Opus 5 using web search, as of 2026.
The robot exposure index is a different measure from the AI exposure figures on this site and cannot be added to or compared with them. It does not measure actual adoption or cost, and 0 also covers occupations with no physical tasks.
Tier of each physical task
None of this occupation's O*NET 29.3 tasks is classified as a physical task.
Occupation information
Employment outlook (BLS)
- Employment, 2025
- 69K
- Projected employment, 2035
- 74K
- Change (2025–35)
- +8.3%
- Median annual wage, 2025
- $134,960
- Typical education needed for entry
- Bachelor's degree
Korea classification links (KSCO)
Links from the current release of the Korea Occupation Direct Crosswalk v1.1, made by AI Changing Work. Relation values are read from the O*NET-SOC occupation side.
| KSCO code | KSCO title | Relation | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23518 | 항공기‧철도차량공학 기술자 및 연구원 | This occupation is narrower | confirmed |
Relation and status definitions(kr-direct v1.1)
ILO occupational description
AI Changing Work links the ISCO-08 unit groups below to this occupation by applying the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (2018 SOC to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to ISCO-08) as published, without case-by-case selection; each link may be whole or partial.
- ISCO-08 2144Mechanical Engineers
The definition, tasks and examples below are the ILO's description of that unit group, not of this occupation.
Mechanical engineers conduct research; advise on, design and direct production of machines, aircraft, ships, machinery and industrial plant, equipment and systems; advise on and direct their functioning, maintenance and repair; or study and advise on mechanical aspects of particular materials, products or processes.
Tasks
- (a) advising on and designing machinery and tools for manufacturing, mining, construction, agricultural, and other industrial purposes;
- (b) advising on and designing steam, internal combustion and other non-electric motors and engines used for propulsion of railway locomotives, road vehicles or aircraft, or for driving industrial or other machinery;
- (c) advising on and designing: hulls, superstructures and propulsion systems of ships; mechanical plant and equipment for the release, control and utilization of energy; heating, ventilation and refrigeration systems, steering gear, pumps and other mechanical equipment;
- (d) advising on and designing airframes, undercarriages and other equipment for aircraft as well as suspension systems, brakes, vehicle bodies and other components of road vehicles;
- (e) advising on and designing non-electrical parts of apparatus or products such as word processors, computers, precision instruments, cameras and projectors;
- (f) establishing control standards and procedures to ensure efficient functioning and safety of machines, machinery, tools, motors, engines, industrial plant, equipment, or systems;
- (g) ensuring that equipment, operation and maintenance comply with design specifications and safety standards.
Example occupations
Aeronautical engineer · Engine designer · Marine architect · Marine engineer · Mechanical engineer
Sources: ILO ISCO-08 — details: Credits
ESCO occupational vocabulary
Each entry below is matched to this occupation in the published ESCO-O*NET Crosswalk (version 1, 2022). The match types are that crosswalk's; the wording is AI Changing Work's.
- aerospace engineerESCO 2144.1.1Same scope
Aerospace engineers develop, test and oversee the manufacture of flight vehicles such as aircrafts, missiles, and spacecrafts. The field of engineering they are active in, can be divided into two branches: aeronautical engineering and astronautical engineering.
- aerospace engineering drafterESCO 3118.3.1This occupation is broader
Aerospace engineering drafters convert the aerospace engineers' designs into technical drawings usually using computer-aided design programs. Their drawings detail dimensions, fastening and assembling methods and other specifications used in the manufacture of aircrafts and spacecrafts.
- flight test engineerESCO 2152.1.2This occupation is broader
Flight test engineers work with other systems engineers to plan the tests in detail and to make sure that the recording systems are installed for the required data parameters. They analyse the data collected during test flights and produce reports for individual test phases and for the final flight test. They are also responsible for the safety of the test operations.
- material stress analystESCO 3115.1.9This occupation is broader
Material stress analysts plan and use software to perform structural analyses including static, stability and fatigue analyses on a variety of machines. They develop analysis of primary and secondary structures. They prepare technical reports to document their analysis results, participate in design reviews and recommend process improvements. They also assist in the development of structural test plans.
- aerodynamics engineerESCO 2144.1.1.1Overlapping, not the same
Aerodynamics engineers perform aerodynamics analysis to make sure the designs of transport equipment meet aerodynamics and performance requirements. They contribute to designing engine and engine components, and issue technical reports for the engineering staff and customers. They coordinate with other engineering departments to check that designs perform as specified. Aerodynamics engineers conduct research to assess adaptability of equipment and materials. They also analyse proposals to evaluate production time and feasibility.
- aerospace engineering technicianESCO 3115.1.1Overlapping, not the same
Aerospace engineering technicians work with aerospace engineers to operate, maintain and test equipment used on aircraft and spacecraft. They review blueprints and instructions to determine test specifications and procedures. They use software to make sure that parts of a spacecraft or aircraft are functioning properly. They record test procedures and results, and make recommendations for changes.
- aircraft engine specialistESCO 7232.2Overlapping, not the same
Aircraft engine specialists advise on maintaining procedures to engines of aircrafts and helicopters. They perform operability tests to components and parts of aircrafts to diagnose suitability for usage and possible operations to improve performance. They interpret and provide support to understand the technical specifications given by manufacturers for application at the airport's premises.
- aircraft engine testerESCO 3115.1.3Overlapping, not the same
Aircraft engine testers test the performance of all engines used for aircraft in specialised facilities such as laboratories.They position or give directions to workers positioning engines on the test stand. They use hand tools and machinery to position and connect the engine to the test stand. They use computerised equipment to enter, read and record test data such as temperature, speed, fuel consumption, oil and exhaust pressure.
- aircraft maintenance engineerESCO 3153.1Overlapping, not the same
Aircraft maintenance engineers make preflight and postflight inspections, adjustments, and minor repairs to ensure safe and sound performance of aircrafts. They inspect aircraft prior to takeoff to detect malfunctions such as oil leaks, electrical or hydraulic problems. They verify passenger and cargo distribution and amount of fuel to ensure that weight and balance specifications are met.
- mechanical engineering technicianESCO 3115.1Overlapping, not the same
Mechanical engineering technicians provide technical support to mechanical engineers in producing and manufacturing mechanical machinery. They help make designs and adjustments, and perform tests. They also develop layouts and drawings, collate and interpret data and write reports.
Source: European Commission, DG EMPL — ESCO API 2026-08-08 (bridge v1.2.1)
License: CC BY 4.0 (EU Reuse Notice)
ESCO reuse terms and the modification notice are in Credits.
France classification links (ROME)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and ROME 4.0 job profiles, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side. Links marked “provisional” were adopted on the judgments of two judges from the same model family (Claude) alone, or by an operator rule applied to their judgments, so they rest on weaker evidence than confirmed links.
| ROME code | ROME title (French) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| H1206 | Ingénieur / Ingénieure R&D en industrie | This occupation is narrowerprovisional |
| K1735 | Architecte système de force, d'arme ou équipement militaire | Related, not a match |
| H1246 | Technicien / Technicienne en bureau d'études aéronautiques | Related, not a matchprovisional |
Source: France Travail — Répertoire Opérationnel des Métiers et des Emplois (ROME 4.0), version 61, last updated 15 June 2026 (https://www.data.gouv.fr/datasets/repertoire-operationnel-des-metiers-et-des-emplois-rome). Licence Ouverte 2.0.
ROME codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET-SOC occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a France Travail correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: fr-direct v1)
Spain classification links (CNO-11)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and CNO-11 occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| CNO-11 code | CNO-11 title (Spanish) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 2434 | Ingenieros aeronáuticos | This occupation is broader |
| 2464 | Ingenieros técnicos aeronáuticos | This occupation is broader |
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE), National Classification of Occupations 2011 (CNO-11, Royal Decree 1591/2010) — www.ine.es · Licensed CC BY 4.0. CNO-11 codes and Spanish titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not an INE correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: es-direct v1)
Germany classification links (KldB)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and KldB occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| KldB code | KldB title (German) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 25234 | Berufe in der Luft- und Raumfahrttechnik - hoch komplexe Tätigkeiten | Same scope |
| 51234 | Berufe in der Flugsicherungstechnik - hoch komplexe Tätigkeiten | Related, not a matchprovisional |
Source: © Statistik der Bundesagentur für Arbeit — Klassifikation der Berufe 2010 – überarbeitete Fassung 2020, https://statistik.arbeitsagentur.de. KldB codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own mapping (eigene Zuordnung) and are not a Bundesagentur für Arbeit correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: de-direct v1)
Japan classification links (JSCO)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and JSCO occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| JSCO code | JSCO title (Japanese) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 075 | 輸送用機器技術者(自動車を除く)(開発) | This occupation is narrower |
| 073 | 機械技術者(開発) | Related, not a match |
| 085 | 輸送用機器技術者(自動車を除く)(開発を除く) | Related, not a match |
Source: Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC), Japan Standard Occupational Classification (Dec. 2009, MIC Notification No. 555). JSCO codes and Japanese titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a MIC correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: jp-direct v1)
Sources, licenses and AI Changing Work's modification and translation notices for this page: Credits & sources