21390 Aerospace engineers

What this occupation covers

Aerospace engineers research, design and develop aerospace vehicles, aerospace systems and their components, and perform duties related to their testing, evaluation, installation, operation and maintenance. They are employed by aircraft and spacecraft manufacturers, air transport carriers, and in government and educational and research institutions.

Official main duties

The NOC profile lists 8 main duties for this code.

• Design and develop aerospace vehicles, systems and components such as aircraft, spacecraft, missiles, satellites and space-based communication systems
• Develop and conduct computer simulations of aerospace vehicles, systems and components using advanced mathematical modelling
• Prepare specifications for materials and processes to be used in aerospace manufacturing, maintenance, repair or modification
• Supervise and coordinate the manufacturing, assembly, modification, repair and overhaul of aircraft and spacecraft
• Co-ordinate ground and flight tests of air and spacecraft
• Develop operational specifications, maintenance schedules and manuals for operators
• Develop the technical phases of logistical and operational support for aerospace vehicles and systems
• Investigate and report on structural or other component or system failures, accidents or incidents and prepare recommendations for corrective action.

Do not copy these lines into your reference letter. The letter has to describe what you actually did, in your employer’s words. DUTYPROOF flags wording lifted from the NOC as something to review, and an officer reading a letter that mirrors the NOC reads it the same way.

What DUTYPROOF screens for

This is DUTYPROOF’s screening threshold, not IRCC’s decision. For this NOC, screening requires at least 2 of its 8 official duties to be evidenced in your own words, plus the required letter elements. IRCC asks that you performed the actions in the occupation’s lead statement and a substantial number of its main duties — so treat the duty coverage as the number that matters, not the badge.

Codes this one is confused with

The NOC profile names these itself. Choosing the wrong code of a look-alike pair is the most common way genuine work experience fails to establish eligibility.

• 22313 Aircraft instrument, electrical and avionics mechanics, technicians and inspectors
• 72404 Aircraft mechanics and aircraft inspectors
• 21310 Electrical and electronics engineers
• 20010 Engineering managers
• 21301 Mechanical engineers
• 21322 Metallurgical and materials engineers

Excluded from this code

• Aircraft maintenance engineer (AME) - avionics (See 22313 Aircraft instrument, electrical and avionics mechanics, technicians and inspectors)
• Aircraft maintenance engineer (AME) (except avionics) (See 72404 Aircraft mechanics and aircraft inspectors)
• Avionics engineer (See 21310 Electrical and electronics engineers)
• Engineering managers (See 20010 Engineering managers)
• Mechanical engineers (See 21301 Mechanical engineers)
• Metallurgical and materials engineers (See 21322 Metallurgical and materials engineers)

Job titles filed under this code

A title on this list does not by itself put your experience in this code — the duties in your letter decide that.

aerodynamics engineer · aeronautical engineer · aeronautical project engineer · aerospace engineer · aerospace engineer - design and development · aerospace engineer - flight operations · aerospace engineer - flight support · aerospace engineer - flight test · aerospace engineer - mass properties · aerospace engineer - material stress · aerospace engineer - materials and processes · aerospace engineer - propulsion systems · aerospace engineer - systems · aerospace engineer - systems analysis · aerospace engineer - weight and balance · aerospace engineering officer - Canadian Armed Forces · aerospace reliability specialist · aerospace structural engineer · aerospace systems engineer · aerospace test engineer · aircraft design engineer · engineer weight analyst - aircraft design · propulsion engineer - aerospace vehicles · space reliability specialist

Employment requirements

• A bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering or in a related engineering discipline, such as mechanical engineering or engineering physics, is required.
• A master's degree or doctorate in a related engineering discipline may be required.
• Licensing by a provincial or territorial association of professional engineers is required to approve engineering drawings and reports and to practise as a Professional Engineer (P.Eng.).
• Engineers are eligible for registration following graduation from an accredited educational program, and after three or four years of supervised work experience in engineering and passing a professional practice examination.