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How an aerospace engineer can use AI, task by task

O*NET 17-2011.00: Aerospace EngineersMedian pay $134,960/year (BLS, May 2025)14 tasksJob Zone 4: Considerable preparation

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.

Your job title Type your own title and every prompt on this page updates to match. Also called: Aeronautical Engineer, Aerospace Stress Engineer, Avionics Engineer, Design Engineer, Flight Controls Engineer, Flight Systems Test Engineer, Flight Test Engineer, Special Mission Engineer, Structural Analysis Engineer, Structural Test Engineer.

Where AI fits in this job

AI-ready 16%AI-assist 42%Stays human 42%

Share of the job's tasks, weighted by how important and how frequent each task is (O*NET ratings). 2 AI-ready, 6 AI-assist and 6 human-led tasks out of 14. This measures where AI can help, not whether the job will disappear.

Information & paperwork

Thinking & planning

People & communication

Leading & teaching

Hands-on & physical

Shape of the job: importance of each kind of work activity (O*NET, 1 to 5).

🗓 Start here on Monday

The most frequent, most important tasks where AI can help right away.

Evaluate product data or design from inspections or reports for conformance to engineering principles, customer requirements, environmental regulations, or quality standards.Review & check · Weekly
Formulate conceptual design of aeronautical or aerospace products or systems to meet customer requirements or conform to environmental regulations.Create & design · Weekly
Write technical reports or other documentation, such as handbooks or bulletins, for use by engineering staff, management, or customers.Write it up · Monthly

💪 Lean into these

Core tasks that stay human. These skills get more valuable as the routine work gets automated.

Direct or coordinate activities of engineering or technical personnel involved in designing, fabricating, modifying, or testing of aircraft or aerospace products.Lead people · Weekly
Diagnose performance problems by reviewing reports or documentation from customers or field engineers or by inspecting malfunctioning or damaged products.Watch & inspect · Weekly
Plan or conduct experimental, environmental, operational, or stress tests on models or prototypes of aircraft or aerospace systems or equipment.Watch & inspect · Monthly

Skills to build & where you could move ↓

🔒 Many of these tasks involve people's information. Remove names and identifying details before using AI, or use only a tool your employer has approved.

AI can draft these 2

AI produces a usable first pass. You review it, fix it and own it.

Write technical reports or other documentation, such as handbooks or bulletins, for use by engineering staff, management, or customers.

Monthly

AI writes the first draft from your notes; you check every fact.

📊 Real AI use (Anthropic Economic Index, Apr 2026 to May 2026): AI completed the task directly in 58% of those conversations; the rest were back-and-forth with the person.

Show prompt & steps

Give AI your rough notes, numbers or last version and it will turn them into a clean, well-structured first draft. You check every fact and figure before it goes anywhere.

Ready-to-use prompt

I work as an aerospace engineer. Part of my job is to write technical reports or other documentation, such as handbooks or bulletins, for use by engineering staff, management, or customers.

Context: We use Microsoft Word.
Document: [operating manual, maintenance guide, handbook, bulletin]
Who uses it: [operators, maintenance staff, engineers]
Source notes: [paste specs, steps, existing text]

Draft the document with numbered steps, warnings first, and a troubleshooting table. Mark anything uncertain with [CHECK].

10-minute exercise: Manual or procedure document

Step 1Pick a real example: the next time you write technical reports or other documentation. Leave out names and identifying details.

Step 2Fill in [Document], [Who uses it] and [Source notes] with the real details, then run the prompt.

Step 3Walk through the procedure with the equipment or a user and fix every step that doesn't match reality.

AI will happily make up numbers, names and dates. Every fact in the draft needs checking against your source.

Importance 3.9/5 · core task · O*NET work activity: Prepare procedural documents..

Maintain records of performance reports for future reference.

Weekly

AI writes the first draft from your notes; you check every fact.

Show prompt & steps

Give AI your rough notes, numbers or last version and it will turn them into a clean, well-structured first draft. You check every fact and figure before it goes anywhere.

Ready-to-use prompt

I work as an aerospace engineer. Part of my job is to maintain records of performance reports for future reference.

Context: We use Microsoft Word.
Records: [geodetic, performance]
Needs: [describe]

Draft structure and entries. Use plain language and headings where they help, and mark anything you had to guess with [CHECK].

10-minute exercise: Records system upkeep

Step 1Pick a real example: the next time you maintain records of performance reports (this week).

Step 2Fill in [Records] and [Needs] with the real details, then run the prompt.

Step 3Check every fact, name and number against your source before it goes anywhere.

AI will happily make up numbers, names and dates. Every fact in the draft needs checking against your source.

Importance 3.7/5 · core task · O*NET work activity: Maintain operational records or records systems..

AI can help you prep these 6

AI speeds up the prep, drafting or thinking. The core of the task is still yours.

Evaluate product data or design from inspections or reports for conformance to engineering principles, customer requirements, environmental regulations, or quality standards.

Weekly

AI pre-checks against the rules; the sign-off stays with you.

📊 Real AI use (Anthropic Economic Index, Apr 2026 to May 2026): AI completed the task directly in 43% of those conversations; the rest were back-and-forth with the person.

Show prompt & steps

Use AI as a first-pass checker against a list of rules or standards. The final judgment and sign-off stay with you.

Ready-to-use prompt

I work as an aerospace engineer. Part of my job is to evaluate product data or design from inspections or reports for conformance to engineering principles, customer requirements, environmental regulations, or quality standards.

Context: We use The MathWorks MATLAB and MathWorks Simulink; the work draws on design, engineering and technology and physics.
Design or specs: [describe]
Standards: [list]

Review conformance and recommend changes. Make a table: requirement, met / not met / unclear, and the exact evidence.

10-minute exercise: Design quality review

Step 1Pick a real example: the next time you evaluate product data or design (this week). Leave out names and identifying details.

Step 2Fill in [Design or specs] and [Standards] with the real details, then run the prompt.

Step 3Do your usual review too, and note what AI caught and what it missed. Confirm the rules against the current official source.

AI can miss things and sound sure about it. Use it to catch extra problems, not as the final check.

Rules and regulations vary by place and change often. Confirm against the official source before relying on anything.

Importance 4.2/5 · core task · O*NET work activity: Evaluate designs or specifications to ensure quality..

Formulate conceptual design of aeronautical or aerospace products or systems to meet customer requirements or conform to environmental regulations.

Weekly

AI generates options and references; taste and the final call are yours.

Show prompt & steps

Use AI to generate lots of options, references and rough mock-ups fast. The craft, the taste and the final call are what make it yours.

Ready-to-use prompt

I work as an aerospace engineer. Part of my job is to formulate conceptual design of aeronautical or aerospace products or systems to meet customer requirements or conform to environmental regulations.

Context: We use Autodesk AutoCAD and Dassault Systemes SolidWorks; the work draws on design, engineering and technology and physics.
System: [aerospace, marine, machinery]
Requirements: [performance, space, weight]

Generate design concepts and trade-off table. Give 10 quite different options from safe to bold, then develop the best 2.

10-minute exercise: Electromechanical design concepts

Step 1Pick a real example: the next time you formulate conceptual design of aeronautical or aerospace products (this week). Leave out names and identifying details.

Step 2Fill in [System] and [Requirements] with the real details, then run the prompt.

Step 3Review concepts with your design team against requirements. Confirm the rules against the current official source.

Check the usage rules for AI images and text in your field, and make sure the final work is original.

Rules and regulations vary by place and change often. Confirm against the official source before relying on anything.

Importance 4.2/5 · core task · O*NET work activity: Design electromechanical equipment or systems..

Formulate mathematical models or other methods of computer analysis to develop, evaluate, or modify design, according to customer engineering requirements.

Monthly

AI does the arithmetic and suggests what to look at; the conclusions are yours.

📊 Real AI use (Anthropic Economic Index, Apr 2026 to May 2026): AI completed the task directly in 40% of those conversations; the rest were back-and-forth with the person.

Show prompt & steps

AI can do the arithmetic, build the spreadsheet formula and suggest what to look at. Deciding what the numbers mean for your situation is still you.

Ready-to-use prompt

I work as an aerospace engineer. Part of my job is to formulate mathematical models or other methods of computer analysis to develop, evaluate, or modify design, according to customer engineering requirements.

Context: We use The MathWorks MATLAB and MathWorks Simulink; the work draws on design, engineering and technology and physics.
Design or system: [describe]
Inputs and physics: [loads, flows, behaviours]

Propose a model, its assumptions and equations, and starter code or spreadsheet formulas, then a way to validate it.

10-minute exercise: Engineering model

Step 1Pick a real example: the next time you formulate mathematical models or other methods of computer analysis. Leave out names and identifying details.

Step 2Fill in [Design or system] and [Inputs and physics] with the real details, then run the prompt.

Step 3Validate the model against one known case before trusting its predictions.

AI makes arithmetic mistakes. Recompute anything that matters with a spreadsheet formula.

Importance 4.0/5 · core task · O*NET work activity: Create models of engineering designs or methods..

Analyze project requests, proposals, or engineering data to determine feasibility, productibility, cost, or production time of aerospace or aeronautical products.

Monthly

AI pre-checks against the rules; the sign-off stays with you.

Show prompt & steps

Use AI as a first-pass checker against a list of rules or standards. The final judgment and sign-off stay with you.

Ready-to-use prompt

I work as an aerospace engineer. Part of my job is to analyze project requests, proposals, or engineering data to determine feasibility, productibility, cost, or production time of aerospace or aeronautical products.

Context: We use The MathWorks MATLAB and MathWorks Simulink; the work draws on design, engineering and technology and physics.
Project: [describe]
Data: [proposals, engineering data]

Analyze requirements and feasibility. Make a table: requirement, met / not met / unclear, and the exact evidence.

10-minute exercise: Mechanical requirements review

Step 1Pick a real example: the next time you analyze project requests and proposals.

Step 2Fill in [Project] and [Data] with the real details, then run the prompt.

Step 3Do your usual review too, and note what AI caught and what it missed. Recompute every total yourself.

AI can miss things and sound sure about it. Use it to catch extra problems, not as the final check.

Double-check every number. AI can make arithmetic and rounding mistakes.

Importance 3.6/5 · core task · O*NET work activity: Analyze design or requirements information for mechanical equipment or systems..

Develop design criteria for aeronautical or aerospace products or systems, including testing methods, production costs, quality standards, environmental standards, or completion dates.

Monthly

AI drafts the structure and wording; the specifics and sign-off are yours.

Show prompt & steps

AI can draft the structure and standard wording. The specifics, the judgment calls and the sign-off are yours.

Ready-to-use prompt

I work as an aerospace engineer. Part of my job is to develop design criteria for aeronautical or aerospace products or systems, including testing methods, production costs, quality standards, environmental standards, or completion dates.

Context: We use Microsoft Word.
Product or source: [describe]
Requirements: [performance, standards]

Draft design criteria with rationale and test methods. Use plain language and headings where they help, and mark anything you had to guess with [CHECK].

10-minute exercise: Design criteria

Step 1Pick a real example: the next time you develop design criteria.

Step 2Fill in [Product or source] and [Requirements] with the real details, then run the prompt.

Step 3Check every fact, name and number against your source before it goes anywhere. Recompute every total yourself.

AI will happily make up numbers, names and dates. Every fact in the draft needs checking against your source.

Double-check every number. AI can make arithmetic and rounding mistakes.

Importance 4.1/5 · O*NET work activity: Determine design criteria or specifications..

Research new materials to determine quality or conformance to environmental standards.

A few times a year

AI does the arithmetic and suggests what to look at; the conclusions are yours.

Show prompt & steps

AI can do the arithmetic, build the spreadsheet formula and suggest what to look at. Deciding what the numbers mean for your situation is still you.

Ready-to-use prompt

I work as an aerospace engineer. Part of my job is to research new materials to determine quality or conformance to environmental standards.

Context: We use Wolfram Research Mathematica and The MathWorks MATLAB; the work draws on design, engineering and technology and physics.
Project or process: [describe]
Standards: [design specs, environmental standards]
Evidence: [test data, observations]

Make a conformance table: requirement, evidence, conforms or not, and next step. Show your working step by step and give spreadsheet formulas so I can reproduce the numbers.

10-minute exercise: Conformance review

Step 1Pick a real example: the next time you research new materials.

Step 2Fill in [Project or process], [Standards] and [Evidence] with the real details, then run the prompt.

Step 3Check two rows against the source documents.

AI makes arithmetic mistakes. Recompute anything that matters with a spreadsheet formula.

Importance 3.1/5 · O*NET work activity: Monitor operational procedures in technical environments to ensure conformance to standards.. Also involves: Evaluate plans or specifications to determine technological or environmental implications.; Analyze environmental regulations to ensure organizational compliance..

These stay human 6

They need your hands, your presence or your accountable judgment. Lean into them: they get more valuable as routine work is automated.

📏 Measured in this job (O*NET work context): Face-to-face discussions: every day · Contact with others: contact with others most of the time · Dealing with the public: very important · Impact of decisions: important results

Direct or coordinate activities of engineering or technical personnel involved in designing, fabricating, modifying, or testing of aircraft or aerospace products.

Weekly

Leading people runs on trust. AI can prep the paperwork around it.

Show prep prompt & steps

Where AI still helps: AI can prep the paperwork around leading: meeting agendas, feedback drafts, rotas, briefings and difficult-conversation rehearsals.

Prep prompt

I work as an aerospace engineer. Part of my job is to direct or coordinate activities of engineering or technical personnel involved in designing, fabricating, modifying, or testing of aircraft or aerospace products.

Context: The work draws on design, engineering and technology and physics.
Team: [technicians, engineers]
Project: [describe]

Help me prepare: the key message in 2 sentences, what good looks like, how people might react and how I'll respond, and one thing I'll check next week.

10-minute exercise: Directing design work

Step 1Pick a real example: the next time you direct or coordinate activities of engineering or technical personnel (this week). Leave out names and identifying details.

Step 2Fill in [Team] and [Project] with the real details, then run the prompt.

Step 3Afterward, note one thing people responded to and one thing you'd change.

Importance 4.1/5 · core task · O*NET work activity: Direct design or development activities..

Diagnose performance problems by reviewing reports or documentation from customers or field engineers or by inspecting malfunctioning or damaged products.

Weekly

Needs your eyes on site. AI can build the checklist and the report.

Show prep prompt & steps

Where AI still helps: AI can build your inspection checklists, explain standards and turn your notes and photos into clean reports.

Prep prompt

I work as an aerospace engineer. Part of my job is to diagnose performance problems by reviewing reports or documentation from customers or field engineers or by inspecting malfunctioning or damaged products.

Context: The work draws on design, engineering and technology and physics.
System: [describe]
Standards: [specs]

Make an inspection checklist and findings report. Group it by area, say what 'good' and 'bad' look like for each item, and add a short template for writing up what I find.

10-minute exercise: System inspection

Step 1Pick a real example: the next time you diagnose performance problems (this week). Leave out names and identifying details.

Step 2Fill in [System] and [Standards] with the real details, then run the prompt.

Step 3Take it with you next time, tick it alongside your usual routine, and add anything it missed.

📊 People already use AI around this task (Anthropic Economic Index, Apr 2026 to May 2026). The task itself stays human-led.

Importance 4.0/5 · core task · O*NET work activity: Inspect equipment or systems.. Also involves: Investigate system, equipment, or product failures..

Plan or conduct experimental, environmental, operational, or stress tests on models or prototypes of aircraft or aerospace systems or equipment.

Monthly

Needs your eyes on site. AI can build the checklist and the report.

Show prep prompt & steps

Where AI still helps: AI can build your inspection checklists, explain standards and turn your notes and photos into clean reports.

Prep prompt

I work as an aerospace engineer. Part of my job is to plan or conduct experimental, environmental, operational, or stress tests on models or prototypes of aircraft or aerospace systems or equipment.

Context: The work draws on design, engineering and technology and physics.
System: [describe]
Requirements: [performance targets]

Draft a test plan with conditions, measurements and pass criteria. Group it by area, say what 'good' and 'bad' look like for each item, and add a short template for writing up what I find.

10-minute exercise: Performance test plan

Step 1Pick a real example: the next time you plan or conduct experimental, environmental and operational.

Step 2Fill in [System] and [Requirements] with the real details, then run the prompt.

Step 3Take it with you next time, tick it alongside your usual routine, and add anything it missed.

Importance 4.1/5 · core task · O*NET work activity: Test performance of electrical, electronic, mechanical, or integrated systems or equipment..

Direct aerospace research and development programs.

Daily

Leading people runs on trust. AI can prep the paperwork around it.

Show prep prompt & steps

Where AI still helps: AI can prep the paperwork around leading: meeting agendas, feedback drafts, rotas, briefings and difficult-conversation rehearsals.

Prep prompt

I work as an aerospace engineer. Part of my job is to direct aerospace research and development programs.

Context: The work draws on design, engineering and technology and physics.
Team: [technicians, engineers]
Project: [describe]

Help me prepare: the key message in 2 sentences, what good looks like, how people might react and how I'll respond, and one thing I'll check next week.

10-minute exercise: Directing design work

Step 1Pick a real example: the next time you direct aerospace research and development programs (today).

Step 2Fill in [Team] and [Project] with the real details, then run the prompt.

Step 3Afterward, note one thing people responded to and one thing you'd change.

Importance 3.7/5 · O*NET work activity: Direct design or development activities..

Plan or coordinate investigation and resolution of customers' reports of technical problems with aircraft or aerospace vehicles.

Monthly

Leading people runs on trust. AI can prep the paperwork around it.

Show prep prompt & steps

Where AI still helps: AI can prep the paperwork around leading: meeting agendas, feedback drafts, rotas, briefings and difficult-conversation rehearsals.

Prep prompt

I work as an aerospace engineer. Part of my job is to plan or coordinate investigation and resolution of customers' reports of technical problems with aircraft or aerospace vehicles.

Context: The work draws on design, engineering and technology and physics.
Issue: [customer problem, defects]
Team: [describe]

Plan an investigation and team briefing. Give me the key message in 2 sentences, how people might react, and how to respond to each.

10-minute exercise: Leading quality control

Step 1Pick a real example: the next time you plan or coordinate investigation and resolution of customers' reports of technical. Leave out names and identifying details.

Step 2Fill in [Issue] and [Team] with the real details, then run the prompt.

Step 3Afterward, note one thing people responded to and one thing you'd change.

Importance 3.5/5 · core task · O*NET work activity: Direct quality control activities..

Evaluate and approve selection of vendors by studying past performance or new advertisements.

A few times a year

Your accountable call. Use AI as a sounding board beforehand.

Show prep prompt & steps

Where AI still helps: Use AI as a sounding board before you decide. Ask it to argue the other side, list what you might be overlooking, or organize the evidence.

Prep prompt

I work as an aerospace engineer. Part of my job is to evaluate and approve selection of vendors by studying past performance or new advertisements.

Context: The work draws on design, engineering and technology and physics.
Request: [budget line, purchase]
Budget status: [remaining, priorities]

Summarize the case for and against approval. Argue the strongest case against my current view and list what extra information would change the decision. I make the final call.

10-minute exercise: Expenditure approval

Step 1Pick a real example: the next time you evaluate and approve selection of vendors.

Step 2Fill in [Request] and [Budget status] with the real details, then run the prompt.

Step 3Make the call yourself, then note whether anything it raised changed your mind.

Importance 3.3/5 · O*NET work activity: Approve expenditures.. Also involves: Gather organizational performance information..

Get the full prompt pack for Aerospace Engineers

Every task, prompt and 10-minute exercise on this page in one PDF, formatted to print or keep on your desktop. Free.

Your next moves

Skills to build

From O*NET's ratings of how important each skill is in this job, matched to which part of the work it supports.

Stays human Deepen these

They power the human-led work, which is the part of the job AI can't take over.

Critical Thinkingimportance 4.1/5
Used in: Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates
Active Listeningimportance 3.9/5
Used in: Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates
Active Learningimportance 3.9/5
Used in: Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates
Speakingimportance 3.9/5
Used in: Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates

With AI Use these to work with AI

When AI does the first draft, these are the skills you use to brief it and check what comes back.

Reading Comprehensionimportance 4.1/5
Used in: Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment
Writingimportance 4.0/5
Used in: Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment

Where you could move

Related jobs from O*NET with the closest skill profile, favouring ones where more of the work stays human. No step down in preparation.

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Skills to build: Operation and Control, Operations Monitoring
Materials Scientists20% human-led · Same preparation · $117,790/yr · usually bachelor's degree
Your skills already line up
Commercial and Industrial Designers14% human-led · Same preparation · $83,910/yr · usually bachelor's degree
Your skills already line up
Physicists8% human-led · Needs more preparation · $172,250/yr · usually doctoral degree
Skills to build: Programming, Instructing, Active Learning

New tasks appearing in this job

O*NET has started tracking 1 new or updated task here: 0 AI-ready, 1 AI-assist, 0 stays human. They have no worker ratings yet, so they aren't counted in the bar above.

Develop and test autonomous systems for uncrewed aerospace vehicles.

New in O*NET

AI drafts scripts and configs; design and security are yours.

Show prompt & steps

AI can draft configurations, scripts and test cases and explain unfamiliar systems. Architecture and security decisions need your expertise.

Ready-to-use prompt

I work as an aerospace engineer. Part of my job is to develop and test autonomous systems for uncrewed aerospace vehicles.

Context: [C or Microsoft Visual Basic; what exists already]
Goal: [what it should do]
Constraints: [security, performance, style rules]

Propose an approach first, in 5 bullets max. Then write the code with comments, plus tests that prove it works. Point out any security risks.

10-minute exercise: Pair-program: autonomous systems

Step 1Pick one small, real piece of work where you develop and test autonomous systems.

Step 2Fill in [Context], [Goal] and [Constraints], ask for the approach first, and push back on anything you disagree with.

Step 3Run the tests yourself and read every line before you'd use it.

Don't paste secrets, passwords or proprietary code into tools your employer hasn't approved.

New O*NET task (05/2025). O*NET hasn't linked it to work activities yet, so it was labelled by hand.

Getting into this job

O*NET has not surveyed education and training for this occupation yet.

Software in this job

In-demand tools from O*NET. Many now have AI built in, so check what yours can do before adding a new tool.

Autodesk AutoCADCC#C++Dassault Systemes SolidWorksExtensible markup language XMLLinuxMicrosoft AccessMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerPoint