Write CV Ltd has put together this useful list of essential skills that an Aviation and Aerospace Engineer requires to fulfil their job role. Most of these skills should be contained in a candidates Resume in a condensed format. These are the essential skills that a potential employer would be looking for. Even if you have worked your way up to a Senior Level position, many of these skills should still be present in your Resume.

1. Write CV Guide - Essential Skills for
Aviation/Aerospace Engineer’s
A. Reading Text
Read comments on inspection, test and reporting forms, log book entries, and other informal
text written by co-workers. (1)
Read e-mails from co-workers or clients scheduling, confirming or giving the minutes of
meetings, teleconferences or videoconferences. (2)
Read user manuals when operating computerized equipment. For example, design engineers
may refer to software user manuals to review specific functions or steps needed to create three-
dimensional models of aerospace components. (3)
Refer to Air Transport, Standard Practice, Quality Assurance, Best Practices and Lessons
Learned manuals and other aerospace policy documents to ensure that their designs, processes,
procedures and practices are compliant with industry standards and company requirements. (3)
May review résumés from potential candidates for jobs in the manufacturing, testing, repair or
overhaul of aerospace vehicles or parts. They read these résumés to identify candidates with
work histories and educational experiences that are relevant to available jobs so that they can
make sound hiring recommendations. (3)
Read presentations posted on boards at conferences such as those organized by the SAE
Aerospace Engineering International Group or Canadian Aerospace Association. These
presentations contain summaries of research rationales and designs, research methods, data
analyses and interpretations, reference lists, and authorship details. They read these poster
presentations to gain information related to their areas of expertise. (3)
Read lengthy Requests for Proposals, Flight Test Proposals and Technical Requirement
Documents for projects involving the design, development or testing of aircraft, spacecraft,
missiles, satellites or space-based communication systems. They read each invitation-to-tender
to evaluate the technical requirements that must be met by the particular project. Based on this
evaluation, they determine whether their organizations have the necessary skills sets to
undertake the projects and identify options for meeting projects' requirements. (4)
Read reports, contracts and technical documents from various sources. For example, they may
read documents from original equipment manufacturers dealing with certification, airworthiness,
operation, maintenance and repair of aircraft and space vehicles. They may read these
documents to evaluate and recommend parts procurement policies taking into consideration
safety, quality and cost. (4)
Read a wide range of academic journals and trade publications such as Flight and Aircraft
Engineering and Aerospace Technology to stay abreast of new aerospace technologies related to
flight testing, fluid dynamics, aerodynamics, structures, materials, navigation or
communication. They select and read relevant articles to find alternative solutions to particular
problems. They also refer to these articles when designing or testing aerospace vehicles,
systems or components. (4)
B. Document Use
Locate and retrieve data on forms. For example, they may scan request for change forms to
locate information on design changes required. (1)
Read lists of project requirements embedded in Requests for Proposals, Flight Test Proposals
and Technical Requirement Documents. (2)
Locate data on labels. For example, they refer to labels on aircraft parts to obtain information
such as the part number, the manufacturer's name, the date received and the compliance code.
(2)
Refer to schedules and resource allocation matrices to find information about the phases,
activities, resources, milestones and deadlines for their projects. (2)
Interpret a variety of icons to navigate aerospace technology websites; access online software
manuals; and search technical information about standards, methods, materials and equipment.
(2)

2. Review schematic drawings of mechanical, electrical, maintenance, structural, pneumatic,
hydraulic, fluid and flight control systems to understand and analyze their operation. (3)
Refer to drawings and diagrams in documents obtained from original equipment manufacturers.
They scan these drawings to understand equipment construction and the purpose of equipment
options so that they can select the equipment and options which will best suit their needs. (3)
Enter client, production, purchase requisition, inventory and warehousing, shipping order,
delivery, repair, cost and resource usage information into forms. They may have to combine
data from several sources to enter information correctly onto such electronic documents. (3)
Analyze graphs of variables for aircraft, space vehicles, systems or components under simulated
or controlled conditions. They interpret these graphs to identify patterns in data, relationships
between variables and criteria for diagnosing problems and designing systems. (4)
May review floor plans when setting up new pieces of equipment to perform tests on systems,
models or parts to meet specific needs related to safety of flight, aircraft certification or
problem investigation. They take measurements from structural and mechanical system
drawings to check that the new and existing equipment can be set up efficiently. (4)
Examples
Produce structural and system drawings.
Construct graphs to identify trends in test results over time and relationships among measured
parameters. For example, they may build bar charts and whiskers graphs to illustrate findings
from the statistical analysis of data collected in product stress tests and other experiments.
Design schedules for various projects related to the manufacturing, assembly modification,
maintenance, repair or overhaul of aerospace vehicles, components or systems. They may plot
tasks and milestones on Gantt charts to track project progress.
Translate the conceptual designs of aerospace vehicles and parts into two-dimensional and
three-dimensional scale drawings. They also prepare detail and assembly drawings for the
manufacture of structural components complying with client specifications and industry
standards.
Make sketches and schematic drawings when planning tests, simulations and production
processes. They use common shapes such as lines, rectangles, triangles and circles to show
how components will be placed, how different software programs will interact with each other,
or how testing and manufacturing processes will be sequenced.
C. Writing
Write e-mail messages to co-workers, colleagues and clients to remind them of project due
dates, ask for technical information, or respond to inquiries. (1)
May write brief comments into the programming code associated with simulations. These
comments describe the rationale for including a particular line or sequence of code. (1)
Write short papers for co-workers when they return from training courses or conferences. In
these papers, they summarize the content of courses or conferences and describe its relevance
to their organizations. (2)
Write investigation reports following aircraft or spacecraft accidents or the discovery of
structural, component or system failures. These reports vary in length and complexity, but each
of them describes an accident or technical failure, its effects, the approach taken to identify its
cause and the outcome of the investigation. (3)
Create and prepare specifications for the design, manufacturing, maintenance, repair or
overhaul of aerospace vehicles, systems or components. These specifications comprise a
detailed description of the tasks to be performed; of the materials, products, accessories,
standards or processes to be used; and of other contract requirements such as the need to
respect plans, permits, codes and airworthiness and safety regulations, to write instruction
manuals, to provide logistical or operational support and to repair deficiencies. (4)
Write submissions related to their areas of expertise in responses to Requests for Proposals,
Flight Test Proposals and Technical Requirement Documents. Each submission must address the
key components of the request and convey complex concepts in an effective manner. The
preparation of these submissions involves gathering and selecting technical descriptions from
multiple sources and re-writing them for a sophisticated and knowledgeable audience, but in
some instances, content must be written for the sole purpose of the request. (4)
May write articles for scientific journals, conference proceedings or other research publications
such as the Canadian Aeronautics and Space Journal. The articles usually involve explaining
research protocols, describing the difficulties encountered in conducting experiments and the
scientific principles used to analyze data collected. The writing must present a detailed

3. discussion of results obtained and comment on their significance. For example, an aerospace
engineer might report on models which have been developed to assist in the design of the fuel
system for a new aircraft (5)
D. Numeracy
Calculate totals on shipping orders and purchase requisitions, multiplying the amount of each
type of unit shipped or purchased by its unit price. (Money Math), (2)
Prepare expense reports for out of town business travel, taking into account the number of days
and kilometres travelled, a per kilometre rate, the chargeable unit costs for the room and meals
and the applicable taxes. (Money Math), (2)
Compute unit production costs. They factor in the time and hourly rates of employees,
quantities and prices of materials, and overhead to obtain the cost of each unit produced.
(Scheduling, Budgeting & Accounting Math), (3)
Establish and monitor project budgets for large development and testing projects. They ensure
that work paid for has been accomplished and that expenses incurred for labour, materials and
equipment are fully covered by budgets. (Scheduling, Budgeting & Accounting Math), (3)
Calculate distances between waypoints in navigation models. (Measurement and Calculation
Math), (2)
Calculate the rotational speed to determine the inertial force of a gas-turbine engine.
(Measurement and Calculation Math), (3)
Plan the placement of new equipment using scale drawings. This involves measuring scale
distances, converting them to actual distances and calculating areas, volumes and perimeters.
(Measurement and Calculation Math), (3)
Use trigonometric constants to calculate angles. For instance, they may use trigonometric
constants to calculate the bend radius for a piece of flat metal. (Measurement and Calculation
Math), (4)
Use advanced mathematical methods to verify that specific parts of aerospace vehicles are
strong enough to withstand design load conditions. For example, they may use mathematical
modelling to determine whether a wing could withstand expected air loads during flight and
calculate whether a seat would stay fastened to an aircraft during a crash. (Measurement and
Calculation Math), (5)
Compare the power output of aerospace engines over multiple test runs. (Data Analysis Math),
(1)
Compare the technical capabilities of different hardware and software solutions. (Data Analysis
Math), (2)
Calculate the average costs of labour and materials over several productions. (Data Analysis
Math), (3)
Analyse performance data for aircraft, systems or components under controlled or simulated
conditions. They interpret quantitative data and graphs generated by simulation software to
identify patterns in data, relationships between variables and criteria for diagnosing problems.
(Data Analysis Math), (4)
Develop and analyse mathematical models which predict the strength and durability of
aerospace components. For example, an engineer may create a mathematical method to predict
the life of an aircraft wing and then validate its predictive ability through physical testing. (Data
Analysis Math), (5)
Use advanced mathematical methods to analyse dynamic aircraft systems. For example, they
may determine load sharing between several airframe components or analyse the loads on
different joints to identify the types and thicknesses of construction materials needed. (Data
Analysis Math), (5)
Identify optimal strategies, potential sources of bias and methodological techniques needed to
monitor variables in product stress tests, wind tunnel tests, structural tests, dynamic tests,
durability and damage tolerance tests, complete airframe static tests, flight tests, air load
surveys, ground vibrations tests and other experiments. Once test data have been collected,
they perform statistical analysis to measure the confidence level of results. (Data Analysis
Math), (5)
Estimate the amount of time required to do the physical setup for a flight control system based
on experience. (Numerical Estimation), (1)
Estimate the number of person-days which should be assigned to site maintenance in their
budgets. Estimates are based on past requirements but there must be an allowance given for
unexpected equipment failures. (Numerical Estimation), (2)
Estimate how closely their models approximate the performance of aircraft vehicles, systems or
components. Many factors are involved in these estimates and a fair degree of precision is

4. required to ensure the validity of results. (Numerical Estimation), (3)
E. Oral Communication
Talk to suppliers about price quotes and technical information for new equipment. (1)
Interact with subordinates such as technicians, technologists, tradespeople, maintenance
workers and equipment operators. They assign new tasks, review completed tasks and enquire
about the status of ongoing work activities. (2)
Meet with senior management or clients to discuss the availability of funds and resources for
projects; to present project plans and deliverables and to obtain guidance, recommendations or
approvals. They may also meet to negotiate deadlines or budgets for projects. (3)
Participate in aerospace industry meetings with colleagues from manufacturing companies,
research institutes, educational institutions, consulting firms, national and provincial
professional associations or guilds, and government departments. They attend these meetings
to discuss business opportunities and innovative uses for new and existing aerospace
technologies. (3)
Meet team members individually to discuss annual performance appraisals. At these meetings,
they review employees' work objectives and the extent to which targets have been met. They
commend successes and identify areas for improvement. They may also present
recommendations for other job assignments, further training and salary increases. (3)
Participate in meetings with co-workers to discuss invitations to tender, organizational policies,
testing processes, equipment, structures, materials, navigation, aerodynamics, communication,
structural dynamics and a wide range of other topics. At these meetings, they may be asked to
present technical information about testing techniques they have designed, manufacturing
processes they have developed or papers they have written. (3)
Lead problem solving sessions with small and large groups of employees. The aerospace
engineer's role is to monitor and support the group and, using a variety of exercises and
settings, analyze problems and develop solutions. At the end of each session, the engineer
facilitates the synthesis of information and guides the group in the development of a series of
recommendations which can be presented to clients, plant managers and co-workers. The
engineer's team building and management skills may be evaluated on the success of these
meetings. (4)
F. Thinking Skills
1. Problem Solving
Recognize that they do not have the skills or knowledge to complete a design or analysis
activity on their own. They consult with co-workers and others who have expertise in the
subject area to assist in completing the activity. (1)
Realize there are skill shortages within their project teams. They meet with senior management
to outline the issue and discuss whether or not funding will be made available to recruit team
members with the expertise needed. (2)
Discover that junior engineers on their teams are no longer 'on task.' They work with these
employees to identify where the problems started and then to guide them in the proper
direction. They monitor work closely to ensure that junior engineers stay on task and on target.
(3)
Realize they do not have all the data required to define components and related operating
conditions. They identify the information that is missing and then search the literature for
techniques to develop or to estimate missing data. They may find ways of extrapolating existing
data using previous designs so that they can define the components without the expense of
developing the additional data through testing. (3)
Are unable to find Canadian sources for specialized equipment which is needed immediately.
They meet with their purchasing departments to discuss technical specifications and may assist
in identifying appropriate suppliers and arranging for the fastest possible delivery methods.
They may also act as the technical liaison with the supplier during the procurement process. (3)
Receive complaints from clients who discover technical failures with aerospace vehicles,
systems or components which they have delivered. They recall the products and test them to
identify why the failures are occurring, what modifications are required, and what protocol can
be used to test the validity of any changes made. They may have to perform major overhauls or
re-design the products in order to resolve the problems. (4)

5. 2. Decision Making
Decide whether particular parts of aerospace vehicles, systems or components will be repaired
or changed. They inspect each part flagged for repair, assess the extent of the damage and
determine what steps will be taken based on safety, feasibility and cost. (2)
Decide which jobs to assign to engineers, technicians and technologists on their teams. They
consider individual strengths and weaknesses, work experience and ability to meet deadlines.
(2)
Decide which statistical analysis techniques to use. They consider the theoretical assumptions,
strengths and limitations of each technique, and the type, quality and completeness of available
data. (2)
Recommend changes to existing software programs to address unique situations in simulations
and tests. Each recommendation is based on a review of existing programs and of the
objectives, constraints and technical requirements of the particular simulations. (2)
Recommend or decide to bid on particular projects involving the design, development or testing
of aircraft, spacecraft, missiles, satellites or space-based communication systems. They review
invitations-to-tender to evaluate projects' technical requirements and to determine whether
their organizations have the time and skills sets needed to write solid submissions, be
competitive and eventually bring the proposed projects to fruition. (3)
3. Critical Thinking
Assess the adequacy of candidates for jobs in the manufacturing, testing, repair or overhaul of
aerospace vehicles or components. They review resumes to identify relevant work history and
education, interview potential candidates, and analyse qualifications using evaluation guidelines
or grids. (2)
Evaluate the feasibility of engineering designs from safety, quality and cost perspectives.
Aerospace engineers work with multi-disciplinary teams of experts to assess the technical
soundness of designs and the extent to which each is likely to meet customers' requirements.
They estimate and analyse costs to ensure that designs fit the proposed budgets. (3)
May assess the appropriateness of the setup and configuration of new equipment. Their
assessments are based upon a review of drawings representing the equipment layouts; on
estimations of expected downtimes; on detailed analyses of how current procedures will be
changed; and on an investigation of how equipment users and maintenance employees will be
affected. (3)
Assess compliance with airworthiness standards for the stability, manoeuvrability, performance
and safety of aerospace vehicles. For example, they use computational fluid dynamics and
aerodynamic wing and surface design techniques to evaluate aircraft aerodynamics, stability,
performance and control features. They conduct stress tests to confirm that aircraft structure
can withstand all aerodynamic loads. They perform wind tunnel tests and simulations to
investigate flight characteristics. (4)
Evaluate the adequacy of measures proposed following aircraft or spacecraft accidents or the
discovery of structural, component or system failures. When such an accident or failure occurs,
they identify possible root causes and participate with their team in the investigations Once the
investigations have been conducted, they review all data and supporting documents to ensure
that all factors have been evaluated and the sources of the failure have been identified. Finally,
they confirm that corrective actions are taken and preventative measures put in place. (4)
May assess whether scientific articles written by staff members are ready for publication. For
instance, an aerospace engineer may review an article on models which have been developed to
assist in the design of the fuel system for a new aircraft. The engineer evaluates the article
based on the soundness of the methodological approach, the validity of research outcomes, the
consistency of explanations, the clarity of text and the appropriateness of the conclusions
reached. (4)
4. Job Task Planning and Organizing
Own job planning and organizing
Aerospace engineers work in a dynamic environment with many conflicting demands on their
time. Their work is team-oriented so that they must integrate their own tasks and work
schedules with those of a team of experts in disciplines such as welding, thermal spray,
aerospace cleaning and mechanical finishing. Their ability to work on several projects at the
same time and manage priorities is critical to their jobs. Equipment breakdowns, emergencies

6. and changing corporate priorities make frequent prioritizing and sequencing of job tasks
necessary.
Planning and organizing for others
Aerospace engineers may contribute expertise to long-term and strategic planning for their
organizations and play a central role in organizing, planning and scheduling day-to-day
operations. They are also responsible for training and assigning tasks to junior engineers,
technicians and technologists who assist them in the manufacturing, maintenance, repair and
modification of aerospace products or parts.
5. Significant Use of Memory
Remember where they have stored information on their computers.
Remember procedures, tests and calculation results for day-to-day team interactions.
Recall the names and areas of expertise of the many engineers, scientists, technicians and
technologists working with them to facilitate communication.
6. Finding Information
Find expertise for upcoming projects by asking co-workers. (2)
Refer to technical and user manuals to find operating instructions and specifications for
equipment. (2)
Find information about past Non Conformance Report incidents by searching internal databases.
(2)
Find information about industry standards and company requirements in policy, procedures, and
standards manuals. (3)
Find solutions to particular problems related to flight testing, aerodynamics, structures,
materials, navigation and communication by consulting technical libraries, websites, academic
journals and trade publications. They need to analyse, synthesize and integrate information
from a wide range of sources, including the Internet and Intranets, to develop innovative
solutions. (4)
G. Working with Others
Aerospace engineers perform some tasks independently but more generally they work with or lead a
team of technicians, technologists, other engineers and scientists. They may work independently when
creating prototypes or conducting computer simulations of aerospace vehicles, systems or
components, but most other tasks are carried out jointly with team members. They coordinate their
work with experts from a variety of disciplines such as welding, thermal spray, aerospace cleaning and
mechanical finishing. They may collaborate with manufacturers, research institutes, educational
institutions, consulting firms, professional associations and government departments to share
technology intelligence and innovations. They supervise technicians, technologists and other engineers
in the manufacturing, repair and overhaul of aerospace products or parts.
H. Computer Use
Use word processing software. For example, they use word processing software to write
proposals for the design and development of aircraft, spacecraft, missiles, satellites or space-
based communication systems. To create these proposals, they import tables and graphics from
other applications and use formatting features such as page numbering, heading levels,
indexes, columns and, occasionally, footnotes. (3)
Use database software. For example, they may develop Access databases to create document,
drawing or incident tracking systems and to store and retrieve testing, process or production
data. (3)
Use spreadsheet software. For example, they use programs like Excel to create scheduling and
budgeting spreadsheets, monitor the progress of project activities and tasks and track project
expenditures. They may also use Excel to analyze data and perform repetitive calculations. For
example, an engineer may set up a spreadsheet to calculate interface loads between
components and the structure of an aerospace vehicle. (3)
Use communications software. For example, they exchange e-mail and electronic files with
clients, colleagues and co-workers on their distribution lists. (3)

7. Use Internet browser software. For example, they use Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator
to complete registration forms for online news bulletins; browse aerospace technology websites;
access online software manuals; and search technical information, standards, methods,
materials and equipment. (3)
Use project management software. For example, they use Project to control their whole
portfolio of projects; produce Gantt charts; identify underperforming projects, trends and
problem areas; assess resource efficiency; monitor cycle times; and determine recruitment
needs. (3)
Use delivery management, inventory management and warehousing software. For example,
they use SAP and Trackit-Pro to track deliveries and inventories of materials, as well as
availability and resource usage by type of employee. (3)
May use statistical analysis software. For example, they may use software like Statistical
Process Control (SPC), Statistica or MatLab to create statistical designs for experiments, to
monitor variables in testing procedures, and to calculate means, medians, standard deviations
and confidence intervals. (4)
Use computer-assisted design, manufacturing and machining. For example, they use AutoCAD,
Inventor, CATIA, ProEng and Aviation Prototype Builder to review technical drawings of
equipment, create three-dimensional models of aerospace vehicles or construct working
prototypes of flight components. (4)
Use graphics software. For example, they design presentations for management or clients about
new aerospace technologies and products. To create these presentations, they may, for
example, import graphs drawn with Project, pictures prepared with Photoshop, and spreadsheet
tables generated with Excel. (4)
Use specialized and industry-specific simulation and modeling software. For example, they may
use STAGE HeliSim to create rotary wing flight simulations and test aircraft design or
performance under controlled conditions. They may also use NASTRAN to calculate failures of
different parts as a result of applied loads. (4)
May do programming and systems software design. For example, they may use C, C++ or
Visual Basic to write or modify programs to simulate the performance of aircraft, space vehicles,
components and systems. For instance, an engineer may write a program to re-format raw data
from the HeliSim flight model and display realistic navigational co-ordinates during simulations.
(5)
I.Continuous Learning
Aerospace engineers are required to continually update their skills and knowledge of aerospace
vehicles, systems and components to keep up with technological progress in such areas as flight
testing, aerodynamics, structures, materials, navigation or communication. On a day-to-day basis,
they acquire new learning by discussing with co-workers, colleagues and suppliers and by reading
information found in scientific journals, newsletters, magazines, textbooks, CD-ROMs and websites, as
well as in research reports and governmental publications.
Aerospace engineers are governed by the engineering society or guild of the province in which they
practice. They may be required to develop their own learning plan and attend conferences, seminars,
workshops or university courses on topics such as space and satellite design, structural repairs or flight
control systems.
J. Other Information
Physical Aspects
Aerospace engineers are required to sit at their computer or at a simulation workstation for a portion
of their time. They stand, walk, bend and kneel to monitor equipment. Aerospace engineers use upper
limb coordination and hand-eye coordination to operate computer equipment and peripherals such as
joysticks, keyboards and a mouse. Multiple limb coordination is required for moving laboratory
equipment or climbing when doing the physical setup for a simulator. Aerospace engineers require
medium strength to move and lift various pieces of equipment or aerospace components. Colour vision
is required to read drawings and inspect parts for repair.