Aeronautical Engineer
Designs, develops and builds safe, fuel-efficient aircraft, satellites, missiles and spacecraft.
Overview
An aeronautical engineer is responsible for designing, developing and constructing safe and fuel-efficient machines, which can fly in air and space such as aircraft, helicopters, satellites, missiles, drones and spacecraft. He/she is also responsible for regularly inspecting and issuing clearance of the aircraft for air-worthiness.
Where they work
- Indian Air Force
- Defence Ministry
- Airlines industry
- Aviation companies
- Research agencies
Work environment
It is a full-time job, work hours may extend to more than 8 hours a day. You can either work in offices or at units where equipment is designed, manufactured, assembled or tested.
Opportunities for differently abled exist in this field.
Skills and interests
This career might suit you if…
- You like to build or assemble things
- You enjoy figuring how things work and pay attention to details
- You like keeping things in order and analyse problems
- You enjoy drawing
Eligibility and education roadmap
Please check the duration of the course during enrolment.
- 1Complete 10+2 in Science (Physics, Chemistry, Maths).
- 2Complete Bachelor's degree (B.Tech/B.E.) in Aeronautical or Aerospace Engineering.
Forms, exams and applications
For admissions, you must qualify entrance examination conducted at national level (JEE Main, JEE Advanced etc.) or AME CET for studying aerospace/aeronautical engineering. Check the official notification for current eligibility and dates.
Exam names above are as printed in the source card. Application windows, eligibility and syllabi change — always check the official notification for current dates.
Where to apply
This course is offered by the Department of Aeronautical or Aerospace Engineering. This list of institutes is indicative only.
Government institutes
- Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, Tamil Nadu
- Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh
- Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati, Assam
- Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala
- College of Engineering, Chennai, Tamil Nadu
- Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Hyderabad, Telangana
- Rajasthan Technical University, Kota, Rajasthan
- Punjab Engineering College, Chandigarh
Private institutes
Please check if the institute is affiliated and accredited before applying.
- Manipal Institute of Technology, Manipal, Karnataka
- Dayananda Sagar College of Engineering, Bengaluru, Karnataka
- Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, Tamil Nadu
- Kumaraguru College of Technology, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu
- Dr. Ambedkar Institute of Technology, Bengaluru, Karnataka
- Nitte Meenakshi Institute of Technology, Bengaluru, Karnataka
- Bannari Amman Institute of Technology, Sathyamangalam, Tamil Nadu
- Madras Institute of Technology, Chennai, Tamil Nadu
These institute lists are indicative examples from the source card, not a ranked or complete directory. Always verify accreditation on the institute's official website.
Career outcomes
Growth path
- 1Graduate Trainee Engineer
- 2Aircraft Engineer/Air Safety Officer
- 3Senior Engineer
- 4Principal Engineer
Related careers to explore
Automobile Engineer
Designs, develops, manufactures, tests and services automobiles and their systems.
Mechanical Engineer
Designs, develops, builds and tests mechanical devices, tools, engines and machines.
Student action plan
What you can do this month
- Read this whole roadmap and note any subjects, exams or institutes you don't recognise yet.
- Talk to a teacher or school counsellor about how your current subjects connect to Science, Maths.
- Look for a school club, competition or online course related to building.
- Shortlist 2–3 institutes from the list above and check their official website for current admission details.
- Save this career and compare it with 1–2 others you're considering.
Example from the field
Kalpana Chawla — Was the first Indian woman to earn an Aeronautical Engineering degree at the Punjab Engineering College. She joined NASA after pursuing her PhD. and undertook her first space mission in 1997. Her career and life trajectories remain etched in history. She is an inspiration for all professionals in this field.
SourceThis profile is shared for training/educational purposes only, as printed in the source card.
Sources and update notice
- Career card source: Exploring Career Paths with Career Cards, Volume 2, printed page 449 (NCERT / UNICEF India / PSSCIVE Bhopal, First Edition, April 2025).
- Income source: https://www.amecet.in/aeronautical-engineering-salary-in-india.php
- Last reviewed on this site: 2026-08-21
The Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology is at Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala; the card prints it as Tamil Nadu, and the state is corrected here.
Eligibility, fees, exam patterns and admissions change often. Always verify current details on official institute, exam-body or government websites before making decisions.