Career Overlap Transition record Edition 1 · ESCO v1.2.1
Table 1Transition record

mechanical engineertoaerospace engineer

A mechanical engineer already meets 50% of what the aerospace engineer role asks for. The move turns on 8 required skills not yet in the profile.

From mechanical engineer
50%
Overlap1
To aerospace engineer
21 Skills carried over
8 Required, not held
53.7 Difficulty2
Career overlap Partial match

50%

Learning distance Real move, short list to learn

53.7/ 100

1 Share of the aerospace engineer role’s weighted skill requirement already met by the mechanical engineer profile. Required skills count in full, supplementary skills at 0.35. Directional: the figure for the reverse move differs. 2 Combines what is missing with how specialised it is, so a gap of general skills scores easier than the same number of narrow ones.

Why

Why this move works

A aerospace engineer role treats 11 of its required skills as things a mechanical engineer already does. These are the ones it depends on most.

  • adjust engineering designs
  • aircraft mechanics
  • approve engineering design
  • assess financial viability
  • computer simulation
  • engineering principles

What stands in the way is 8 required skills the profile does not yet cover. Table 3 groups them; Table 4 says which to take first.

Table 2

Table 2 · What you already bring

Of the 21 skills that carry over, these are the ones fewest other occupations ask for. A aerospace engineer role needs them, and most people applying for one will not have them already. This is the part of a mechanical engineer background worth leading with.

Skill the target role also needs Area
  • already held aerodynamics engineering, manufacturing and construction
  • already held mathematical modelling natural sciences, mathematics and statistics
  • already held fluid mechanics engineering, manufacturing and construction
  • already held aircraft mechanics engineering, manufacturing and construction
  • already held computer simulation information and communication technologies (icts)
  • already held create a product's virtual model communication, collaboration and creativity

All 21 carried skills, including the 11 the aerospace engineer role treats as required.

Table 3

Table 3 · What you would need to learn

The 26 missing skills fall into 11 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, numbered below in the order worth working in: the areas carrying the most required skills come first, and inside each one the required skills sit above the supplementary ones.

Skill to acquire Tier
01 engineering, manufacturing and construction 4 required, 3 supplementary
  • required, not held aerospace engineering required
  • required, not held manufacturing processes required
  • required, not held production processes required
  • required, not held safety engineering required
  • optional, not held guidance, navigation and control optional
  • optional, not held unmanned air systems optional
  • optional, not held state estimation optional
02 information skills 1 required, 3 supplementary
  • required, not held execute feasibility study required
  • optional, not held analyse production processes for improvement optional
  • optional, not held oversee assembly operations optional
  • optional, not held record test data optional
03 assisting and caring 1 required
  • required, not held ensure aircraft compliance with regulation required
04 business, administration and law 1 required
  • required, not held quality standards required
05 communication, collaboration and creativity 1 required
  • required, not held troubleshoot required
06 management skills 5 supplementary
  • optional, not held plan test flights optional
  • optional, not held apply advanced manufacturing optional
  • optional, not held control production optional
  • optional, not held develop test procedures optional
  • optional, not held manage product testing optional

5 further areas in the appendix

Table 4

Table 4 · Where to start

The 3 entries a aerospace engineer role is least likely to hire without. The ordering is computed from the skill data, not from what pays.

Each entry opens a course search for that skill. Career Overlap earns nothing from these links.

Appendix

Appendix · The rest of the record

All 21 skills that carry over
Skill Type
  • already held adjust engineering designs skill
  • already held aircraft mechanics knowledge
  • already held approve engineering design skill
  • already held assess financial viability skill
  • already held computer simulation knowledge
  • already held engineering principles knowledge
  • already held engineering processes knowledge
  • already held industrial engineering knowledge
  • already held perform scientific research skill
  • already held technical drawings knowledge
  • already held use technical drawing software skill
  • already held CAE software knowledge
  • already held aerodynamics knowledge
  • already held create a product's virtual model skill
  • already held design principles knowledge
  • already held design prototypes skill
  • already held draft design specifications skill
  • already held fluid mechanics knowledge
  • already held material mechanics knowledge
  • already held mathematical modelling knowledge
  • already held mechanical engineering knowledge
The 5 learning areas not shown above
Skill to acquire Tier
07 services 2 supplementary
  • optional, not held defense system optional
  • optional, not held stealth technology optional
08 working with computers 2 supplementary
  • optional, not held use CAD software optional
  • optional, not held use CAM software optional
09 constructing 1 supplementary
  • optional, not held conduct performance tests optional
10 handling and moving 1 supplementary
  • optional, not held build a product's physical model optional
11 natural sciences, mathematics and statistics 1 supplementary
  • optional, not held synthetic natural environment optional
18 supplementary skills, helpful but not required
Skill to acquire Tier
  • optional, not held defense system optional
  • optional, not held guidance, navigation and control optional
  • optional, not held plan test flights optional
  • optional, not held stealth technology optional
  • optional, not held synthetic natural environment optional
  • optional, not held unmanned air systems optional
  • optional, not held analyse production processes for improvement optional
  • optional, not held apply advanced manufacturing optional
  • optional, not held build a product's physical model optional
  • optional, not held conduct performance tests optional
  • optional, not held control production optional
  • optional, not held develop test procedures optional
  • optional, not held manage product testing optional
  • optional, not held oversee assembly operations optional
  • optional, not held record test data optional
  • optional, not held state estimation optional
  • optional, not held use CAD software optional
  • optional, not held use CAM software optional
71 held skills the aerospace engineer role does not ask for
Skill Type
  • not needed by the target role 3D modelling knowledge
  • not needed by the target role advise on machinery malfunctions skill
  • not needed by the target role automation technology knowledge
  • not needed by the target role automotive engineering skill
  • not needed by the target role blueprints knowledge
  • not needed by the target role build machines skill
  • not needed by the target role building automation knowledge
  • not needed by the target role calibrate mechatronic instruments skill
  • not needed by the target role combined heat and power generation knowledge
  • not needed by the target role continuum mechanics knowledge
  • not needed by the target role coordinate engineering teams skill
  • not needed by the target role create technical plans skill
  • not needed by the target role define part requirements skill
  • not needed by the target role define technical requirements skill
  • not needed by the target role design a domotic system in buildings skill
  • not needed by the target role design a solar absorption cooling system skill
  • not needed by the target role design automation components skill
  • not needed by the target role design drawings knowledge
  • not needed by the target role design engineering components skill
  • not needed by the target role design heating and cooling emission systems skill
  • not needed by the target role determine production capacity skill
  • not needed by the target role develop mechatronic test procedures skill
  • not needed by the target role disassemble engines skill
  • not needed by the target role electric current knowledge
  • not needed by the target role electromechanics knowledge
  • not needed by the target role environmental legislation knowledge
  • not needed by the target role evaluate engine performance skill
  • not needed by the target role execute analytical mathematical calculations skill
  • not needed by the target role gather technical information skill
  • not needed by the target role hydraulics knowledge
  • not needed by the target role inspect engine rooms skill
  • not needed by the target role install automation components skill
  • not needed by the target role install mechatronic equipment skill
  • not needed by the target role instruct on energy saving technologies skill
  • not needed by the target role integrated design knowledge
  • not needed by the target role keep up with digital transformation of industrial processes skill
  • not needed by the target role maintain electrical equipment skill
  • not needed by the target role maintain robotic equipment skill
  • not needed by the target role manage engine-room resources skill
  • not needed by the target role manage supplies skill

31 further entries not listed here

11 gaps that are knowledge rather than practice

Knowledge gaps usually close through study. Practical skill gaps usually need something you can point at.

Skill to acquire Tier
  • required, not held aerospace engineering required
  • required, not held manufacturing processes required
  • required, not held production processes required
  • required, not held quality standards required
  • required, not held safety engineering required
  • optional, not held defense system optional
  • optional, not held guidance, navigation and control optional
  • optional, not held stealth technology optional
  • optional, not held synthetic natural environment optional
  • optional, not held unmanned air systems optional
  • optional, not held state estimation optional
Index

Other moves recorded from mechanical engineer

Full index of moves from mechanical engineer

Note

How this record was compiled

Both occupations are taken from ESCO, which lists the skills and knowledge each occupation is expected to have and marks every one required or optional. Nothing here is a prediction about hiring, and nothing here knows that a particular employer wants a particular certificate. Treat Table 3 as a starting point for your own research rather than a syllabus. The full method states what these figures can and cannot tell you.