Aerospace engineers

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.

AI Resistance Index 38 of 99

Changing faster than most: more resilient than 38% of the 831 careers we score. AI exposure is high (the Bureau of Labor Statistics rates it very high), and US jobs are projected to change by +8.3% by 2035, faster than average. The work leans on creative vision and ethical judgement.

AI can help with many of the tasks, and demand is still growing. Being fluent with AI is the edge here.

Median pay (2025): $134,960
Job growth to 2035: +8.3%
Openings a year: 3,800
People doing it (2025): 68,700
Usual route in: Bachelor's degree

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Where people already use AI for this work

Evaluate designs, specifications, or other technical data
Document technical designs, procedures, or activities
Test performance of equipment or systems

From Microsoft Research, Working with AI (2025).

Work AI rarely helps with

Direct scientific or technical activities
Design electrical or electronic systems or equipment
Manage control systems or activities

What the work looks like

Formulate conceptual design of aeronautical or aerospace products or systems to meet customer requirements or conform to environmental regulations.
Evaluate product data or design from inspections or reports for conformance to engineering principles, customer requirements, environmental regulations, or quality standards.
Direct or coordinate activities of engineering or technical personnel involved in designing, fabricating, modifying, or testing of aircraft or aerospace products.
Develop design criteria for aeronautical or aerospace products or systems, including testing methods, production costs, quality standards, environmental standards, or completion dates.
Plan or conduct experimental, environmental, operational, or stress tests on models or prototypes of aircraft or aerospace systems or equipment.

From O*NET 31.0, US Department of Labor.

What the Bureau of Labor Statistics expects

More of these jobs, as aerospace engineers are needed to support the government#39;s increased interest in space, especially given the newly established Space Force military branch.

Careers using similar strengths, with a stronger outlook

Materials engineersGrows with AI, Index 61, +7.5%
Chemical engineersGrows with AI, Index 54, +4.7%
Civil engineersGrows with AI, Index 44, +6.4%
Agricultural engineersGrows with AI, Index 66, +6.9%

Also known as: Avionics Engineer, Design Engineer, Flight Test Engineer, Special Mission Engineer, Aeronautical Engineer, Aerospace Stress Engineer, Flight Controls Engineer, Flight Systems Test Engineer.

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Sources: US Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2025 to 2035; O*NET 31.0; Microsoft Research (2025); Anthropic Economic Index (2026); Eloundou and colleagues (Science, 2024); Felten, Raj and Seamans (2023). How we score. Updated 12 October 2026.