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Aerospace Engineers

SOC 17-2011.00Job Zone 4 · Considerable Preparationv.26.05

Context coveredThis framework covers aerospace engineering practice across design, analysis, testing, documentation, and program leadership within aerospace and defense development environments, calibrated to practitioners holding bachelor's degrees and several years of progressive engineering experience.

Sources:O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.SkillsCrosswalkSkillsCrosswalk — O*NET enrichment + adjacency index. Opens in new tab.
Emerging
Entry / Apprentice
  1. Mathematical models for basic aerodynamic analysis — construct and validate under direct supervision using analytical or scientific software in a structured engineering environment.
  2. Technical reports and engineering documentation — draft with guidance from senior engineers for use by internal project teams on assigned aerospace programs.
  3. Design criteria and customer requirements — review and interpret under supervision to verify alignment with established aerospace engineering standards.
  4. CAD software tools — apply to produce preliminary design drawings of aerospace components under direction from a lead engineer.
  5. Environmental and stress test procedures — assist in planning and executing on scaled models or prototypes in a controlled laboratory setting.
  6. Engineering principles and quality standards — apply to inspect product data or design outputs under close oversight on entry-level design tasks.
  7. Customer-reported technical problems — document and categorize initial findings to support senior engineers investigating aerospace vehicle anomalies.
  8. Systems analysis concepts — apply to identify basic interdependencies within aerospace subsystems while working within a defined engineering team.
  9. Engineering mathematics including calculus and differential equations — use to support design calculations under supervision on assigned aerospace components.
  10. Industry regulations and environmental standards — research and summarize to inform design criteria reviews conducted by senior engineering staff.
Developing
Mid-level / Established
  1. Mathematical models and computer analysis methods — develop and refine with reduced oversight to evaluate design alternatives for aerospace systems against customer specifications.
  2. Experimental and operational test plans — formulate and coordinate for aircraft models or prototypes, adapting procedures based on observed results in a testing environment.
  3. Conceptual design proposals for aeronautical products — prepare independently by synthesizing customer requirements and applicable environmental regulations.
  4. Technical problem investigations — lead resolution efforts for customer-reported issues on aerospace vehicles, coordinating findings with cross-functional engineering teams.
  5. Engineering handbooks, bulletins, and technical specifications — author clearly and accurately for use by engineering staff and program management.
  6. CAD and analytical software suites — use proficiently to model, simulate, and assess aerospace component performance under varying operational conditions.
  7. Design conformance reviews — conduct against engineering principles, quality standards, and regulatory requirements, producing documented evaluation reports.
  8. Production cost and schedule criteria — incorporate into design development activities to balance performance objectives with program constraints on mid-scale aerospace projects.
  9. Systems evaluation methods — apply to assess overall aerospace system performance against defined operational and environmental benchmarks.
  10. Configuration management software — use to track design changes and maintain version control across iterative aerospace product development cycles.
Proficient
Senior / Expert IC
  1. Complex mathematical models and multi-physics simulation frameworks — independently formulate and validate to drive design decisions on advanced aerospace systems under demanding customer requirements.
  2. Full-scope experimental, environmental, and stress test campaigns — plan, oversee, and interpret results for aircraft or aerospace systems, resolving non-routine anomalies encountered during testing.
  3. Conceptual and preliminary design of complete aeronautical systems — lead across all phases, ensuring compliance with customer requirements, safety standards, and environmental regulations.
  4. Root-cause investigations for critical technical problems — direct end-to-end resolution processes for customer-reported failures on operational aerospace vehicles, communicating findings to stakeholders.
  5. Comprehensive technical documentation packages including specifications, reports, and regulatory submissions — produce to the standard required for certification and program approval.
  6. Design criteria encompassing testing methodology, quality standards, environmental compliance, and production cost targets — develop authoritatively for new aerospace product lines.
  7. Multidisciplinary design reviews — evaluate engineering data, inspection results, and analysis outputs to render independent conformance judgments across the full product lifecycle.
  8. Requirements analysis and system architecture software — apply to decompose complex customer needs into traceable, verifiable aerospace system specifications.
  9. Emerging analytical technologies and learning strategies — assess and integrate selectively into engineering workflows to improve design fidelity and development efficiency.
  10. Systems analysis across interconnected aerospace subsystems — perform autonomously to identify performance drivers, failure modes, and design trade-space boundaries on novel vehicle architectures.
Advanced
Lead / Principal / Executive
  1. Organizational engineering methodology and modeling standards — establish and govern to ensure analytical rigor and consistency across all aerospace programs within the enterprise.
  2. Strategic test and evaluation frameworks — define at the program and portfolio level, setting policies that govern experimental design and acceptance criteria for new aerospace vehicles.
  3. Conceptual design vision for next-generation aeronautical platforms — set direction by integrating customer strategy, regulatory foresight, and emerging technology roadmaps into system-level requirements.
  4. Enterprise-wide technical problem resolution capability — lead by instituting structured investigation processes and cross-program knowledge sharing to address systemic aerospace engineering challenges.
  5. Technical communication standards and documentation governance — champion organization-wide to elevate the quality and consistency of engineering publications delivered to customers and regulatory bodies.
  6. Engineering and technical workforce teams — direct and develop across design, fabrication, and test functions, mentoring talent and building organizational competency in aerospace product development.
  7. Product design criteria and quality policy at the enterprise level — author and steward to align engineering standards, environmental compliance requirements, and cost objectives with long-range business strategy.
  8. Senior customer and regulatory authority relationships — manage by representing the organization's engineering position on complex conformance and certification matters for major aerospace programs.
  9. Technology adoption and innovation strategy — lead by evaluating advanced CAD, simulation, and systems engineering tools for enterprise investment and integration into the development environment.
  10. Systems engineering governance and cross-disciplinary integration — orchestrate at the executive level to ensure coherent design convergence across propulsion, structures, avionics, and operations for large-scale aerospace programs.

AI-at-Work Competency Framework

Sources:Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab.Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab.WEF Skills TaxonomyWEF Skills Taxonomy 2021 — Building a Common Language for Skills at Work. Opens in new tab.
Subscriber feature

Authoritative source data identified for 998 occupations

How a worker at each mastery level uses, directs, and evaluates AI tools in this occupation. Each statement cites its evidence inline; click a citation chip to verify the source.

Emerging
  1. AI-assisted documentation drafting — submits structured technical report outlines to an LLM to generate initial sections of engineering handbooks or bulletins, then reviews and corrects every factual claim before release Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab..
  2. Standards and regulation lookup — queries an LLM to surface aerospace regulatory references and design constraints, cross-checking each result against primary sources before incorporating them into requirements documents WEF Skills TaxonomyWEF Skills Taxonomy 2021 — Building a Common Language for Skills at Work. Opens in new tab..
Developing
  1. Mathematical model scaffolding — delegates the initial formulation of simulation equations and parameter setups to an AI assistant, then validates outputs against hand-checked boundary conditions and known aerodynamic benchmarks Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab. Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab..
  2. Test plan drafting — directs an LLM to generate draft experimental and stress-test protocols for aircraft prototypes, editing each section to ensure compliance with program-specific safety margins and environmental conditions Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab..
  3. Customer problem triage support — feeds structured customer discrepancy reports into an AI tool to identify candidate failure modes, then applies engineering judgment to prioritize investigation paths Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab..
Proficient
  1. Iterative design analysis — orchestrates an AI assistant through successive cycles of aerodynamic and structural analysis, specifying evaluation criteria at each step and retaining authorship of all design trade decisions Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab. WEF Skills TaxonomyWEF Skills Taxonomy 2021 — Building a Common Language for Skills at Work. Opens in new tab..
  2. Cross-domain requirement synthesis — directs an LLM to reconcile conflicting customer requirements with environmental regulations across multiple subsystem documents, auditing the synthesized output for logical consistency before use Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab. WEF Skills TaxonomyWEF Skills Taxonomy 2021 — Building a Common Language for Skills at Work. Opens in new tab..
  3. Time-critical documentation acceleration — leverages AI-generated first drafts of technical reports and engineering bulletins to compress documentation cycles, with measured time savings informing project scheduling commitments Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab..
Advanced
  1. AI autonomy governance — establishes team-level protocols that define which aerospace design tasks are delegated fully to AI pipelines versus those requiring engineer sign-off, calibrated against the occupation's measured AI autonomy profile Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab. Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab..
  2. Augmentation strategy leadership — directs junior engineers in structuring AI-assisted computational workflows for conceptual design and operations analysis, embedding critical-thinking checkpoints at each handoff to preserve engineering accountability Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab. WEF Skills TaxonomyWEF Skills Taxonomy 2021 — Building a Common Language for Skills at Work. Opens in new tab. Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab..
Evidence pack
AEI usage
Task observations: 168
Augment share: 16.8%
Time saved: 82.9%
AI autonomy: 3.10
SAFI positioning
Top skill: Critical Thinking
Score: 57.9 / 100
precision: category_estimate
WEF cluster
Computational Thinking
computational_thinking
Sources:Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab.WEF Skills TaxonomyWEF Skills Taxonomy 2021 — Building a Common Language for Skills at Work. Opens in new tab.Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab.

Pathsmith Durable Skills Framework

Sources:Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
Subscriber feature

Ten durable-skill domains mapped to four proficiency/role levels for each occupation. Each statement is aligned to the Pathsmith taxonomy, derived from trusted grounding data and mapped to occupation-specific O*NET tasks and skills.

1Communication15 statements
Emerging
  1. Technical report drafting — writes initial sections of engineering reports documenting test parameters and preliminary findings for peer review Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Design requirement clarification — asks structured questions during customer briefings to confirm aeronautical specifications and constraints Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  3. Engineering terminology use — applies discipline-specific vocabulary accurately in written memos and verbal team updates within the engineering group Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Developing
  1. Technical documentation production — composes complete technical reports, handbooks, and engineering bulletins that accurately convey system performance data to engineering staff and management Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Cross-functional briefing — presents design trade studies and analysis results to multidisciplinary teams using visual aids and precise engineering language Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  3. Customer requirements translation — converts customer-stated performance needs into written engineering specifications that guide design development O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  4. Active listening in design reviews — synthesizes stakeholder feedback during formal design reviews and reflects understanding back to participants to confirm alignment Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
Applying
  1. Failure investigation reporting — authors comprehensive technical problem resolution documents for customer-reported aircraft anomalies, covering root cause, corrective action, and validation evidence Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Executive-level technical communication — translates complex aerodynamic or structural analysis outcomes into concise briefings accessible to non-engineering management audiences Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  3. Regulatory documentation — produces clear written submissions to aviation regulatory bodies such as FAA, ensuring compliance language aligns with engineering evidence O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  4. Cross-discipline coordination communication — facilitates information exchange between structures, propulsion, avionics, and manufacturing teams to eliminate design interface ambiguities Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Exceeding
  1. Standards-setting documentation — authors or co-authors engineering standards, design guides, or technical handbooks adopted across the organization or published externally Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Program-level communication leadership — establishes communication protocols and templates for large aerospace programs, ensuring consistent technical messaging from concept through certification Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  3. Expert witness and public communication — presents highly technical aerospace findings to regulatory panels, accident investigation boards, or public forums with accuracy and clarity O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  4. Mentored communication development — coaches junior engineers on technical writing and presentation skills through structured feedback on reports and design review presentations Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
2Leadership14 statements
Emerging
  1. Task ownership within design teams — takes initiative to complete assigned analysis tasks without prompting and flags blockers proactively to the project lead Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Peer guidance in lab settings — shares knowledge of test setup procedures with less experienced colleagues during prototype testing campaigns Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  3. Meeting contribution — volunteers relevant technical insights during team meetings on aerodynamic or structural design problems Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Developing
  1. Small team technical direction — coordinates activities of two to four engineers or technicians on a defined subsystem design or fabrication task Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Schedule and milestone ownership — tracks progress of an engineering workstream against program milestones and escalates schedule risks to program management Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  3. Technical decision advocacy — argues for design approaches based on analysis evidence during engineering reviews, demonstrating confidence and accountability Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Applying
  1. Engineering team leadership — directs activities of engineering and technical personnel involved in designing, fabricating, modifying, or testing aerospace products across a full development phase Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Design authority responsibility — serves as cognizant engineer accountable for technical integrity and regulatory conformance of a defined aerospace system or subsystem O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  3. Mentorship program participation — structures and delivers ongoing technical mentorship to early-career engineers on design methodology and analysis practices Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  4. Cross-program resource coordination — allocates engineering talent across competing project priorities, balancing technical risk with schedule and budget constraints Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
Exceeding
  1. Chief engineering leadership — defines technical vision, design philosophy, and systems engineering approach for a major aerospace vehicle or platform program Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Organizational capability building — establishes new engineering competency centers, tools, or processes that elevate the technical capacity of the entire engineering organization Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  3. Strategic stakeholder influence — leads engagement with customers, regulatory authorities, and executive leadership to align on program direction and technical risk posture Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  4. Succession and talent development — identifies and deliberately develops high-potential engineers into technical lead and chief engineer roles through targeted assignments and coaching Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
3Metacognition12 statements
Emerging
  1. Self-assessment of analysis gaps — identifies areas of personal knowledge weakness in aerodynamics, structures, or propulsion and seeks targeted learning resources to address them Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Learning strategy selection — chooses between textbook review, simulation practice, or expert consultation based on the type of engineering problem encountered Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  3. Error reflection — reviews computational or modeling mistakes to understand the source of the error and adjusts problem-solving approach accordingly Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Developing
  1. Analysis approach monitoring — tracks progress of a mathematical model or simulation during development and adjusts methodology when intermediate results diverge from physical expectations Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Knowledge boundary recognition — distinguishes between what is known from established aerospace principles and what requires experimental validation or external expertise Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  3. Feedback integration — revises engineering analysis methods and design approaches based on formal review feedback and incorporates lessons into future work Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Applying
  1. Cognitive load management during complex analysis — structures multi-variable aerospace system optimization problems into manageable sub-problems, monitoring solution coherence throughout Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Design judgment calibration — reflects on past design decisions and their outcomes during post-program reviews to refine personal engineering judgment for future programs Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  3. Learning plan construction — builds a structured personal development plan aligned with evolving aerospace technologies such as advanced propulsion or composite materials Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Exceeding
  1. Epistemic leadership — models disciplined thinking about uncertainty and knowledge limits for engineering teams, distinguishing between validated analysis and engineering assumption Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Organizational learning facilitation — leads lessons-learned processes after program milestones or anomalies, structuring reflection so engineering insights transfer across teams Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  3. Metacognitive mentorship — coaches engineers to recognize their own cognitive biases in design trade studies and analysis interpretation, improving team-wide decision quality Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
4Critical Thinking15 statements
Emerging
  1. Assumption identification in design inputs — identifies stated and unstated assumptions embedded in customer requirements or design briefs before beginning analysis Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Basic trade study participation — evaluates two or three design alternatives against defined criteria such as weight, cost, and performance using structured comparison O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  3. Data validity checking — questions anomalous test or simulation results before accepting them, checking for instrumentation error or modeling artifacts Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
Developing
  1. Mathematical model evaluation — assesses the validity of a computational model by comparing predictions against known physical benchmarks or empirical data Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Requirements conflict identification — detects contradictions between customer performance requirements, environmental regulations, and structural or propulsion constraints during concept formulation O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  3. Risk-based design assessment — evaluates design options by systematically analyzing failure modes, safety margins, and probability of occurrence using structured methodologies Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  4. Evidence-based design recommendation — formulates design recommendations supported by quantitative analysis and documented rationale rather than convention or preference Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
Applying
  1. System-level trade analysis — conducts multi-disciplinary trade studies across aerodynamics, structures, propulsion, and cost domains to derive optimized aerospace system configurations Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Customer anomaly root cause analysis — applies structured fault isolation logic to identify root causes of technical problems reported by aircraft operators, eliminating competing hypotheses through evidence O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  3. Regulatory conformance evaluation — evaluates product design data against engineering principles, customer requirements, and environmental regulations to determine certification readiness Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  4. Test plan critical review — scrutinizes experimental test plans for logical gaps, inadequate instrumentation, or confounding variables before execution Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Exceeding
  1. Program-level risk logic — constructs and leads systematic technical risk assessments for full aerospace programs, applying probabilistic reasoning to prioritize mitigation investments Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Independent technical review — conducts rigorous independent review of peer organizations' design analyses or failure investigations, identifying flaws in logic, methodology, or data interpretation Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  3. Emergent complexity analysis — analyzes unforeseen system-of-systems interactions in next-generation aerospace platforms, developing new analytical frameworks where established methods are insufficient Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  4. Critical thinking standards development — establishes organizational standards for design analysis rigor, peer review criteria, and evidence requirements for design decisions Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
5Collaboration13 statements
Emerging
  1. Multidisciplinary team participation — contributes assigned analysis deliverables on time to a larger design team working across structures, aerodynamics, and systems disciplines Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Design review engagement — listens actively during design reviews, asks clarifying questions, and records action items with accountability Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  3. Shared tool use — operates common engineering modeling and simulation platforms in a shared environment without overwriting colleagues' work or violating configuration control Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Developing
  1. Interface negotiation — coordinates with adjacent engineering disciplines to resolve conflicting design requirements at system interfaces, achieving mutually acceptable technical solutions Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Customer collaboration — works directly with customer technical representatives to clarify requirements and validate engineering solutions during iterative design development Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  3. Test team integration — collaborates with test engineers and technicians during experimental campaigns, aligning analysis predictions with test objectives and supporting real-time anomaly response O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
Applying
  1. Integrated product team membership — contributes consistently to an IPT spanning engineering, manufacturing, quality, and supply chain, navigating differing priorities to maintain program momentum Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Cross-cultural and multi-site collaboration — coordinates engineering work across geographically distributed teams or international partners on joint aerospace programs Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  3. Conflict resolution in technical teams — mediates technical disagreements between engineers using data and structured trade analysis to reach defensible team decisions Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  4. Supplier technical collaboration — partners with aerospace suppliers to evaluate and validate component designs, sharing technical constraints and reviewing supplier analysis products O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
Exceeding
  1. Collaborative ecosystem leadership — builds and sustains collaboration frameworks across customer, supplier, regulatory, and internal engineering stakeholders for complex, multi-year aerospace programs Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Inter-agency coordination — leads joint engineering working groups with government agencies such as NASA or DoD, aligning technical objectives and sharing analytical responsibilities Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  3. Collaboration culture development — establishes practices and norms within the engineering organization that reduce siloed behavior and increase cross-discipline design integration quality Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
6Character13 statements
Emerging
  1. Engineering ethics awareness — recognizes the safety and public-interest obligations embedded in aerospace engineering practice and applies them to routine analysis and documentation tasks Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Accountability for deliverables — accepts responsibility for errors in analysis or documentation and corrects them promptly without deflection Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  3. Professional conduct in reviews — engages in design reviews with honesty about analysis limitations and uncertainty rather than overstating confidence in results Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Developing
  1. Safety-first decision-making — raises safety concerns about a design or analysis without hesitation, even when doing so creates schedule or cost pressure Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Intellectual honesty in reporting — documents unfavorable test results or analysis findings accurately and completely in technical reports rather than selectively omitting inconvenient data Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  3. Regulatory compliance integrity — adheres to airworthiness standards and certification requirements even when program schedule pressure creates incentives to shortcut the process Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Applying
  1. Ethical design authority — makes airworthiness determinations based solely on technical evidence and regulatory compliance, resisting commercial or organizational pressure to approve non-conforming designs Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Professional accountability under scrutiny — takes full ownership of engineering decisions during failure investigations or regulatory audits, providing complete and truthful technical records Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  3. Whistleblower courage — reports potential safety non-conformances through appropriate channels when organizational inertia or hierarchy discourages escalation Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  4. Mentoring ethical practice — explicitly discusses professional ethics obligations with junior engineers during technical coaching, connecting abstract principles to real aerospace design situations Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Exceeding
  1. Ethical culture leadership — establishes engineering review processes and organizational norms that make safety and integrity the dominant decision-making criteria across the program Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Industry ethics contribution — participates in professional bodies such as AIAA or SAE to advance ethical standards and best practices for the aerospace engineering profession Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  3. Transparent risk communication — communicates known technical risks to customers, regulators, and senior leadership with full transparency, even when disclosure is commercially disadvantageous Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
7Creativity13 statements
Emerging
  1. Concept generation participation — contributes novel design concept sketches or ideas during brainstorming sessions at program concept phase without self-censoring unconventional proposals Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Analogical thinking — draws on design solutions from adjacent engineering domains such as automotive or marine to generate fresh ideas for aerospace challenges Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  3. Creative use of analysis tools — applies standard computational tools in non-standard configurations to explore design space beyond the nominal baseline Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Developing
  1. Innovative conceptual design — formulates original aeronautical or aerospace product concepts that satisfy customer requirements through approaches not previously used in the program Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Experimental test design — devises creative test methodologies for evaluating prototype performance in conditions that standard test procedures do not cover Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  3. Design constraint reframing — redefines a design problem by challenging assumed constraints, opening solution space that conventional framing had closed off Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Applying
  1. Novel modeling methodology development — develops new mathematical models or simulation approaches to evaluate design performance in regimes where established models are inadequate Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. System architecture innovation — proposes unconventional aerospace system architectures that achieve superior performance, cost, or environmental compliance compared to traditional configurations Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  3. Creative problem solving in anomaly resolution — develops non-obvious corrective approaches for technically complex aircraft anomalies when standard remedies are infeasible Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  4. Cross-domain technology integration — identifies and adapts emerging technologies from fields such as materials science, artificial intelligence, or additive manufacturing for aerospace system design applications Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Exceeding
  1. Disruptive concept leadership — champions and develops transformative aerospace concepts such as novel propulsion cycles, morphing structures, or fully autonomous vehicle architectures that redefine program possibilities Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Innovation process establishment — builds organizational processes for systematic creative exploration during conceptual design phases, including structured ideation, rapid prototyping, and experimental validation cycles Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  3. Patent and IP generation — produces patentable aerospace engineering innovations and leads intellectual property development processes within the organization Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
8Growth Mindset12 statements
Emerging
  1. Technology learning initiative — independently studies emerging aerospace propulsion, materials, or avionics technologies outside of assigned project scope to expand engineering capability Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Challenge acceptance — volunteers for design tasks at the boundary of current competence rather than defaulting to familiar analysis types Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  3. Constructive feedback reception — receives critical feedback on engineering analysis or documentation during design reviews without defensiveness and applies it to the next iteration Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Developing
  1. Skill stretch through assignment — seeks assignments involving unfamiliar aerospace disciplines such as moving from structural analysis into propulsion systems to broaden technical breadth Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Failure analysis learning — treats test failures or design non-conformances as structured learning opportunities, extracting transferable insights for future design work Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  3. Continuous tool proficiency development — commits to mastering new computational fluid dynamics, finite element analysis, or systems modeling tools as they become relevant to program work Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Applying
  1. Expertise evolution through program experience — systematically builds deeper mastery in a specialized aerospace domain across successive programs, treating each challenge as an incremental step toward expert-level capability Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Post-program lesson integration — applies lessons from prior program failures or near-misses to current design decisions, demonstrating genuine learning transfer rather than repeated patterns Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  3. Peer learning culture contribution — shares hard-won technical insights from challenging projects through internal technical seminars, design guides, or mentoring relationships Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Exceeding
  1. Organizational growth culture modeling — demonstrates visible learning behaviors during program challenges that signal to the engineering organization that vulnerability and growth are valued alongside technical expertise Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Curriculum and competency gap leadership — identifies engineering skill gaps across the organization and drives formal development programs to close them in anticipation of future program needs Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  3. Personal mastery at the frontier — pursues advanced technical education, research collaboration, or industry engagement at the leading edge of aerospace technology to continuously expand what the organization can accomplish Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
9Mindfulness13 statements
Emerging
  1. Attention management during analysis — maintains focused concentration during extended computational modeling tasks, recognizing when attention has lapsed and redirecting without judgment Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Stress awareness in deadline contexts — recognizes personal stress responses during program crunch periods and applies basic regulation techniques to maintain analysis accuracy Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  3. Intentional review practice — approaches final checks of engineering calculations with deliberate, unhurried attention rather than cursory automated scanning Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Developing
  1. Emotion regulation in adversarial reviews — manages frustration or defensiveness during technically contentious design reviews, maintaining constructive engagement throughout Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Present-moment focus during testing — maintains full attention to real-time data during experimental test runs, catching anomalies that distraction would cause to be missed Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  3. Meeting intentionality — prepares clear personal objectives for each engineering meeting and monitors whether discussions are producing useful outcomes, redirecting when they drift Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Applying
  1. High-stakes calm — maintains composure and methodical thinking during in-flight anomaly investigations or critical test failures where time pressure and organizational anxiety are high Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Deliberate communication pacing — slows verbal communication during complex technical briefings to ensure precision and check for audience comprehension before advancing Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  3. Workload-aware task sequencing — consciously prioritizes engineering tasks based on technical risk and deadline criticality rather than reactively addressing whichever demand arrives most recently Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  4. Team psychological safety cultivation — notices emotional dynamics within the engineering team and intentionally creates conversational space for dissenting technical views to surface Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Exceeding
  1. Mindful leadership under uncertainty — models calm, intentional decision-making for the engineering team during program crises, preventing panic-driven design decisions with lasting negative consequences Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Organizational attention culture — promotes practices across the engineering organization that protect deep analytical focus time, reducing fragmentation from excessive meetings and interruptions Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  3. Sustained performance mindfulness — applies mindfulness practices deliberately to sustain personal cognitive performance across multi-year high-complexity aerospace programs Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
10Fortitude13 statements
Emerging
  1. Persistence through analytical difficulty — continues working through computationally complex aerodynamic or structural problems without abandoning the approach prematurely when initial results are inconclusive Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Schedule pressure tolerance — maintains technical rigor in analysis and documentation under moderate program schedule pressure without cutting safety-relevant corners Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  3. Early-career resilience — recovers constructively from first experiences of design rejection or test failure, returning to problem-solving rather than withdrawing from engagement Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Developing
  1. Sustained problem-solving through uncertainty — continues methodical investigation of a technically ambiguous aircraft anomaly over extended periods when the root cause is not immediately apparent Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Regulatory challenge endurance — persists through extended certification processes with regulatory agencies, maintaining technical thoroughness across multiple review cycles and revision requests Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  3. Courage in safety escalation — raises a safety concern to leadership or regulatory authorities despite organizational pressure to maintain program schedule, accepting the professional discomfort that follows Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Applying
  1. Program adversity leadership — maintains team focus and technical momentum during program crises such as major test failures, cost overruns, or requirement changes that threaten program viability Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Long-duration program commitment — sustains high-quality engineering contribution across multi-year aerospace development programs through periods of low visibility, resource constraints, and technical setbacks Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  3. Technical position defense under pressure — defends a well-supported engineering conclusion against executive or customer pressure to accept a technically inferior alternative, providing clear evidence-based rationale Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  4. Adaptive perseverance — shifts approach when a design strategy proves unworkable after sustained effort, preserving motivation and intellectual energy for the revised path rather than becoming demoralized Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Exceeding
  1. Crisis program recovery leadership — leads the technical recovery of a failing or grounded aerospace program, sustaining engineering team morale and analytical rigor through an extended period of organizational and technical adversity Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Courageous organizational dissent — formally challenges an organizational or program decision that poses unacceptable safety risk, maintaining the position through sustained institutional resistance Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  3. Fortitude modeling and mentorship — explicitly coaches junior engineers on resilience and professional courage by sharing personal experiences of technical and organizational adversity and the strategies used to navigate them Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Sources:Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
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Source anchors that ground each statement

Related titles
Aerodynamicist · Aerodynamics Engineer · Aeronautical Design Engineer · Aeronautical Engineer · Aeronautical Project Engineer · Aeronautical Research Engineer · Aeronautical Test Engineer · Aerospace Design Engineer · Aerospace Engineer · Aerospace Physiologist · Aerospace Programmable Logic Design Engineer · Aerospace Quality Engineer
RAPIDS apprenticeships
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O*NET skills
Critical ThinkingScienceReading ComprehensionActive ListeningComplex Problem SolvingOperations AnalysisWritingSpeakingMathematicsMonitoringJudgment and Decision MakingActive LearningSystems EvaluationSystems AnalysisLearning StrategiesTechnology DesignQuality Control AnalysisCoordinationTime ManagementPersuasionSocial PerceptivenessNegotiationInstructing
Knowledge domains
Engineering and TechnologyMathematicsDesignPhysicsComputers and ElectronicsEnglish LanguageMechanicalProduction and Processing
Abilities
Written ComprehensionProblem SensitivityDeductive ReasoningInductive ReasoningInformation OrderingMathematical ReasoningOral ExpressionWritten ExpressionOral ComprehensionNear Vision
Work styles
Attention to DetailDependabilityInnovationCautiousnessIntellectual CuriosityAchievement Orientation
Technology
Computer aided manufacturing CAM softwareDevelopment environment softwareAnalytical or scientific softwareComputer aided design CAD softwareObject or component oriented development softwareEnterprise application integration softwareOperating system softwareConfiguration management softwareRequirements analysis and system architecture softwareGraphics or photo imaging software
Tasks · seed anchors for statements
  1. Formulate mathematical models or other methods of computer analysis to develop, evaluate, or modify design, according to customer engineering requirements.
  2. Plan or conduct experimental, environmental, operational, or stress tests on models or prototypes of aircraft or aerospace systems or equipment.
  3. Formulate conceptual design of aeronautical or aerospace products or systems to meet customer requirements or conform to environmental regulations.
  4. Plan or coordinate investigation and resolution of customers' reports of technical problems with aircraft or aerospace vehicles.
  5. Write technical reports or other documentation, such as handbooks or bulletins, for use by engineering staff, management, or customers.
  6. Direct or coordinate activities of engineering or technical personnel involved in designing, fabricating, modifying, or testing of aircraft or aerospace products.
  7. Evaluate product data or design from inspections or reports for conformance to engineering principles, customer requirements, environmental regulations, or quality standards.
  8. Develop design criteria for aeronautical or aerospace products or systems, including testing methods, production costs, quality standards, environmental standards, or completion dates.
CIP education codes
14.020114.020214.029914.100114.1901

Sources: O*NET v30.2 (CC BY 4.0), SkillsCrosswalk.com, LER.me, Anthropic Economic Index, SAFI (Jadhav & Danve, 2026), WEF Skills Taxonomy 2021, Pathsmith Durable Skills Framework. © 2026 EBSCOed.