Aerospace Engineering CV example

Aerospace engineering isn’t just about calculations and CAD models – it’s about solving real-world problems in high-stakes environments. Whether you specialise in aerodynamics, propulsion, or structures, your CV needs to showcase how you’ve applied technical knowledge in meaningful ways.

This guide walks through everything from formatting to content, helping you with writing a CV that communicates your capabilities with the same precision you apply to your designs.

When it comes to aerospace, clarity and control are key – and your CV should follow the same principle. Recruiters and hiring managers need to identify your experience, qualifications, and technical specialisms without hunting through an unstructured layout or dense paragraphs.

Here’s the structure to follow:

• Name and contact details – Ensure your name and personal details are easily visible at the top. A photo is optional and depends on the role.
• Profile – Craft a short introduction that showcases your professional background and key accomplishments.
• Core skills – Provide a quick overview of your top skills that show why you’re a great fit.
• Work experience – Outline your career progression in reverse order, emphasising your contributions and successes.
• Education – Provide details on your academic background, including certifications or specialised training.
• Additional info – You can add hobbies or activities here that reflect your enthusiasm for the industry.
  

Use clearly labelled section headings, and break down text with bullet points so it’s skimmable. Keep your font professional, and avoid cramming too much in – a clean, breathable layout always wins. Aim to keep your CV length under two pages, using white space wisely to guide the reader’s eye. A coherent CV format communicates technical competence before they even read a word.

Your CV profile is the first place to showcase your engineering strengths and the value you bring to a technical team. In a short, punchy paragraph, sum up what you do, what you specialise in, and how your work makes a difference.

Whether you’ve worked on design, testing, research, or production, this section should convey your professional identity – and the benefit you provide to any aerospace organisation.

Include the following:

• Where you worked – Mention the kind of organisations you’ve worked for, from aerospace manufacturers to defence contractors or research institutions.
• Your top qualifications – Highlight your degree, accreditations, or certifications in aerospace or mechanical engineering.
• Essential skills – Refer to your core areas, like stress analysis, CAD modelling, FEA tools, or materials selection.
• Technical focus – Indicate whether your background is in structures, systems, propulsion, avionics, or R&D.
• Value delivered – Mention how your work improved performance, efficiency, safety, or innovation within a project or product lifecycle.

This section gives a quick, high-impact summary of the hard CV skills you bring to the role – the ones that match what’s in the job spec. Focus on specific engineering software, analysis methods, and technical competencies.

Think less about soft skills and more about precision – recruiters want to see toolkits, technical knowledge, and project experience. CAD tools, MATLAB, thermal analysis, systems modelling, and regulatory knowledge are all fair game – just make sure it’s tailored to your specialism.

Here’s where you convert your technical skills into career evidence. Aerospace employers want to see how you’ve contributed to real-world projects, whether in design, testing, simulation, or manufacturing. Each job you list should clearly show your technical input and the measurable impact you had.

Whether you’re entry-level or highly experienced, this section is your launchpad. Start with your most recent work experience and work backwards. For each job, open with a short paragraph outlining your employer, your position, and the project or product area. Then use bullet points to break down responsibilities and achievements – highlighting the tools, processes, and outcomes involved.

• Outline – Describe the company or team you worked for, your role, and the type of projects you supported – e.g. commercial aircraft design, UAV development, or propulsion testing.
• Responsibilities – Use action words like “developed” and “analysed.” For example: “developed structural components using CATIA V5” or “analysed fluid dynamics in high-speed inlets using CFD tools.”
• Achievements – Highlight real-world results: improved fuel efficiency, reduced weight, shortened development cycles, or compliance with safety standards. Always quantify where possible.

Aerospace roles require heavy levels of academic training and education, so this section should be clear and well-structured. Include your degree title, awarding university, and dates. If relevant, add special modules, your thesis title, or key projects – especially if you’re early in your career or the experience was highly technical.

If you’ve done postgraduate study, relevant certifications, or CPD, include those too.