Engineers in the aerospace industry design and develop vehicles -- as well as the systems and sub-systems integral to their operation (e.g., avionics, propulsion, controls, etc.) -- that operate both within and above the Earth’s atmosphere. The challenges associated with flight offer several different career paths for the early career professional:

Aeronautics
Engineers working in aeronautics design, develop, test and sustain aircraft. The project could be anything from a general aviation aircraft for private pilots, a new commercial jetliner or the next generation military combat fighter. There are also many opportunities to work with rotary aircraft (helicopters), which also includes both commercial and military options. Additional opportunities can be found in an emerging technology area involving the design of unmanned, remote aerial vehicles, an area of increasing military significance.

Astronautics
Engineers working in astronautics design, develop, test and operate vehicles and systems intended for use in space. These projects might include satellites for communications, weather, navigation, or military uses; expendable launch vehicles such as rockets designed to send payloads into space and autonomous or piloted vehicles like the space shuttle orbiter.

Systems
Systems engineers define, create and execute interdisciplinary requirements and processes to meet a project’s needs, quality, cost efficiency and schedule. Engineers working on these aircraft or spacecraft designs typically work for larger firms such as aerospace and airframe manufacturers that develop and integrate an entire vehicle. The complexity of today’s modern aircraft and spacecraft require the integration of many systems that include avionics (airborne electronics), controls, electrical/power, hydraulics, propulsion, fuels, navigational, and environmental. In some cases, engineers involved in these complex designs are working for the "prime contractor," which is the company or firm that assembles and delivers the finished product, or they might be working for a sub-contractor that specializes in one of the system areas mentioned above.

Sub-contractors, firms chosen by the prime contractor to work on an individual segment or piece of the design that makes up part of the larger project, create many of the systems that make up an aircraft and spacecraft. Working on specific areas and pieces of larger projects in this kind of environment offers engineers the opportunity to focus on a particular system that aligns with their interest or training. Hundreds or even thousands of sub-contractors can be associated with a specific aerospace project.