SOUTH AFRICA · SALARY IN RANDS

Aerospace Engineers salary in South Africa

About R666,738 a year, before tax. That is about R55,561 a month. Then the work, the skills, and a free assessment if you want to know whether it fits.

  • Aeronautical Engineer
  • Aerospace Engineer
  • Aerospace Stress Engineer
  • Avionics Engineer
  • Design Engineer
  • Flight Controls Engineer
  • Flight Test Engineer
  • Structural Analysis Engineer

What do Aerospace Engineers do?

Aerospace Engineers are specialized engineers who design, analyze, and test aircraft, spacecraft, and related systems and equipment. They apply the principles of engineering, physics, and material science to develop innovative solutions for challenges in aerodynamics, structural design, propulsion, and avionics. These professionals work on a variety of projects, from commercial aircraft and military jets to satellites and space exploration vessels. Their work often involves extensive mathematics and highly technical computer-aided design (CAD) tools to ensure safety, efficiency, and reliability in flight operations. Aerospace Engineers may also engage in research and development to push the boundaries of what's possible in air and space travel, often collaborating with scientists, technicians, and project managers to bring their concepts to life.

What the work actually is

  • Formulate mathematical models or other methods of computer analysis to develop, evaluate, or modify design, according to customer engineering requirements.
  • Plan or conduct experimental, environmental, operational, or stress tests on models or prototypes of aircraft or aerospace systems or equipment.
  • Formulate conceptual design of aeronautical or aerospace products or systems to meet customer requirements or conform to environmental regulations.
  • Plan or coordinate investigation and resolution of customers' reports of technical problems with aircraft or aerospace vehicles.
  • Write technical reports or other documentation, such as handbooks or bulletins, for use by engineering staff, management, or customers.

Skills employers expect

Skills

  • Critical Thinking Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
  • Reading Comprehension Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
  • Science Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
  • Active Listening Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
  • Complex Problem Solving Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

Abilities

  • Written Comprehension The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
  • Deductive Reasoning The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
  • Inductive Reasoning The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
  • Information Ordering The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
  • Problem Sensitivity The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.

Knowledge

  • Engineering and Technology Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
  • Mathematics Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
  • Design Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
  • Physics Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub-atomic structures and processes.
  • Computers and Electronics Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

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How people get into it

Education of new hires

Bachelor's degree
Master's degree
Associate's degree

A normal week

  • Working with Computers
  • Processing Information
  • Analyzing Data or Information
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems
  • Getting Information

Tools used on the job

Technology

  • Analytical or scientific software MathWorks Simulink · The MathWorks MATLAB · Universal Technical Systems TK Solver · Wolfram Research Mathematica
  • Presentation software Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Development environment software C · Microsoft Visual Basic · Microsoft Visual Studio · National Instruments LabVIEW
  • Computer aided design CAD software Autodesk AutoCAD · Dassault Systemes CATIA · Dassault Systemes SolidWorks · PTC Creo Parametric
  • Object or component oriented development software C# · C++ · Oracle Java · Perl

Tools

  • Aircraft flight simulators or trainers Flight simulators
  • High end computer servers Cluster computers · Parallel computers
  • Vibration testers Axial flow research fans · Vibration isolation tables
  • Aerospace cockpit display panels Electronic flight instrument systems EFIS
  • Signal generators Power microwave generators

Who it suits

Investigative

Work involves studying and researching non-living objects, living organisms, disease or other forms of impairment, or human behavior. Investigative occupations are often associated with physical, life, medical, or social sciences, and can be found in the fields of humanities, mathematics/statistics, information technology, or health care service.

Realistic

Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, transportation, machine operation, agriculture, animal services, physical or manual labor, athletics, or protective services.

Conventional

Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or human resources.

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Questions people ask

How much do Aerospace Engineers earn in South Africa?

The average Aerospace Engineers salary in South Africa is about R666,738 a year, before tax. A typical range is R496,073 to R864,292 a year.

What do Aerospace Engineers do?

Formulate mathematical models or other methods of computer analysis to develop, evaluate, or modify design, according to customer engineering requirements, Plan or conduct experimental, environmental, operational, or stress tests on models or prototypes of aircraft or aerospace systems or equipment and Formulate conceptual design of aeronautical or aerospace products or systems to meet customer requirements or conform to environmental regulations.

How do I know if this career fits me?

Take the free Assessify career assessment. It matches your answers to careers and shows the South African salary next to each one.