Aerospace engineers use scientific principles as well as engineering concepts and practices to design, build, test, and operate aerospace, aviation and aeronautical systems and vehicles. They are involved with the design, development, and production of vehicles for flight both in and beyond the atmosphere. Aerospace engineers apply their knowledge of aerodynamics, propulsion, structures, dynamics, control, and performance to a wide variety of challenges.
SAMPLE JOB TITLES
- Aeronautical Engineer
- Aerospace Stress Analysis Engineer
- Aerospace Systems Engineer
- Computational Fluid Dynamics Engineer
- Design Engineer
- EBA Systems Engineer
- Electrical Design Engineer
- Field Engineer
- Flight Controls Engineer
- Flight Test Engineer
- Machine Design Engineer
- Manufacturing Engineer
- Materials Testing Engineer
- Mechanical Design Engineer
- Missile Simulation Engineer
- Pilot
- Product Engineer
- Propulsion Systems Engineer
- Structures Engineer
- Submarine Officer
- Survivability Engineer
- Systems Engineers
- Test Engineer
- Vehicle Systems and Flight Engineer
Sample job titles based on graduate responses to the Auburn University First Destination Survey in recent years (2020 - 2025).
What do employees do in these roles? Log into Handshake to find job descriptions and qualifications for jobs, internships, and co-ops.
Salary Information
Undergraduate
Mean starting salary | $77, 593
Median Starting Salary | $78,000
Graduate
Mean starting salary | $87,655
Median starting salary | $88,870
Mean and median starting salaries are based on responses to the 2024-25 Auburn University First Destination Survey.
Hiring Companies and Organizations
- Aerojet Rocketdyne
- Airbus
- Auburn University
- Boeing
- ERC
- GE Aviation
- Gulfstream Aerospace
- Jacobs
- L3Harris Technologies
- Leidos
- Lockheed Martin
- NASA
- Northrop Grumman
- Parsons Corporation
- Raytheon Technologies
- Torch Technologies
- US Army
- US Air Force
- US Navy
These companies hired 5 or more graduates in 2020-2025.
- Agilis
- American Airlines
- Archer Aviation
- Arete
- Astrion
- Belcan
- Blue Origin
- Bassen Technology
- Dallas Texas Consultants
- Delta Air Lines
- U.S. Department of Defense
- DEVCOM AVMC
- EBZ SysTec
- GE Aviation
- General Dynamics Mission Systems
- GKN Aerospace
- HTS
- Integrated Solutions for Systems (IS4S)
- KBR
- Kratos Security and Defense
- Newport News Shipbuilding
- nou Systems
- Peraton
- Phoenix Air Unmanned
- Redstone Test Center
- ReLogic Research
- Remora Robotics
- SpaceX
- York Space Systems
This is a sampling of companies who hired AU Aerospace graduates in 2020-2025, not reflective of all organizations who recruit AU Aerospace Engineers.
TOP CITIES
- Huntsville, AL
- Fort Worth, TX
- Auburn, AL
- Marietta, GA
- Atlanta, GA
- Houston, TX
- Savannah, GA
- Greenville, SC
Based on graduate responses to the Auburn University First Destination Survey in recent years (2020 - 2025).
STUDENT STORIES
ALUMNI
- Debi Tomek | Deputy Director | NASA Space Technology and Exploration
- Emily Zieman, '04 | Risk Management Lead | NASA
- Jim Voss, ’72 | Astronaut | U.S. Army Colonel
- Lauren Krapf, ’13 | Enterprise Account Manager | Ansys Government Initiatives (AGI)
- Lorenda Ward, ’90 and ’92 | Chief, Air Carrier and Space Investigations | National Transportation Safety Board
- Nelda Lee, ’69 | Retired; Manager for Test and Evaluation Personnel | Boeing
- Rich Krtezschmar | Chief Executive Officer | i3
- Robert Champion, ’86 | Director, Spacecraft and Vehicles Systems Department | NASA
- Seth Curl, ’08 | Principal Product Manager | Amazon
- Thomas Ken Mattingly, '58 | Astronaut | NASA
- Walt Woltosz, '69 and '77 | Co-Founder and Board Member | Simulations Plus, Inc
- Wendell Mead, ’63 and ’66 | CEO and Chief Technical Director | Associate Group for Research and Innovation
BUILD YOUR RESUME
HIGHLIGHTS
- Actively develop Career Ready Competencies
- Join AIAA and/or other professional student organizations related to your interests
- Get to know alumni and professionals in your area of career interest
- Attend the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering Career Fairs and Industry Days
- Gain experience through internships, co-op, global programs, volunteer opportunities, and/or part-time jobs
- Gain research experience by working on faculty projects or as a student employee