Air Engineer Officer

Service:Fleet Air Arm
Branch:Engineering
Level:Officer
Technology
Aircraft
Engineering
Management
Aviation personnel walking along a flight deck with a helicopter in the background
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High demand role

This is a highly competitive role with a potential long lead time to join.

You may wish to consider joining the Royal Navy as a Weapon Engineer Officer or a Marine Engineer Officer.

Marine Engineer Officer Weapon Engineer Officer

At a glance

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£27,000

Your minimum salary from day one

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£33,000

Your approximate salary after about two years

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6 weeks

of paid holiday every year

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£27,000

Joining bonus

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Extra pay

For every day spent at sea

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Travel

All around the world

What you’ll do

When you join the Royal Navy as an Air Engineer Officer, you’ll lead the people who ensure our aircraft are ready to take off at a moment’s notice. A team of highly-trained aviation engineers will look to you for advice, guidance and support on a daily basis as they tackle a range of complex problems, in challenging environments, all over the world. 

You’ll use your knowledge and expertise to guarantee the safety of our pilots and the reliability of our aircraft. Without you, our planes and helicopters stay grounded, and our reach is reduced.

If you have questions, talk to us

call us 0345 607 55 55

Your role

  • Lead a team of specialist Air Engineering Technicians. They’ll rely on you to mentor them, and in return, you’ll get to see them develop into the engineers of the future.
  • Collaborate with fellow industry specialists to develop new aviation solutions, from concept, to testing, manufacture and application.
  • Take overall responsibility for maintaining, updating, fitting and testing our planes and helicopters, at Royal Naval Air Stations (RNAS), and on board ships all over the world.
  • Work with some of the most advanced propulsion, weapons, navigation and control systems in existence, using your in-depth knowledge to find innovative solutions, often under extreme pressure.

What you’ll get

Skills for life

Qualifications you'll gain 

  • Become an internationally recognised Chartered Engineer – we’ll support your professional registration. 

Opportunities open to you  

  • There are also many opportunities to get involved in post graduate study, for example, you might work towards an MSc in Military Aerospace, Airworthiness and Cyberspace operations. 

Skills you'll develop

  • Learn how to lead people in a highly pressurised environment.
  • Build your team-working skills, working as a valued member of our management team.
  • Gain an in-depth understanding of avionics and mechanical engineering –  from the rotor system of a helicopter, to the weapons of a fighter jet.
 

Career progression

Day one

Start phase one training, learn basic military skills

Professional training

Develop your engineering, leadership and management skills

First year

Learn management theory, develop your own style of leadership

First promotion

Become Sub-Lieutenant, further training, increased responsibility

Second promotion

Become Lieutenant, lead a department, report directly to command

What you'll need

Eligibility

  • You’ll need to be aged between 18 and 39
  • All Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) degrees will be considered
  • You’ll need a minimum of 96 UCAS points or Scottish equivalent). At least 64 points should be in maths and an engineering-based science. These can be accrued from either GCE A/AS levels (or equivalent) or National Diplomas (e.g., BTEC).
  • You’ll need at least 5 GCSEs at grades A*-C (9-4) (or Scottish equivalent), which must include English and Mathematics
  • A British/British Dual National who has lived in the UK continuously for the 5 years prior to applying
  • Minimum height of 145cm
  • A Body Mass Index (BMI) between 18 and 28 (between 17 and 27 if under 18)
  • Pass the Naval Swimming Test
     

Skills and interests

  • An ability to thrive on responsibility and lead from the front
  • Confidence making key decisions in high-pressure situations
  • A passion for cutting-edge engineering
  • An aptitude for solving problems
Check Eligibility

Starting your career

Joining process

Once you’ve confirmed your eligibility, the joining process is as follows:

  • Submit an application

    Once you’ve registered your interest and have satisfied the basic eligibility criteria, you will be sent an online application form

  • Defence Aptitude Assessment (DAA)

    You’ll be tested on: Verbal Reasoning, Numerical Reasoning, Work Rate, Spatial Reasoning, Electrical Comprehension and Mechanical Comprehension.
    To prepare, you can practise the DAA

  • Interview

    A formal interview to talk through your suitability for the role

  • Medical and eye tests

    These are quite comprehensive and must be completed by one of our Ministry of Defence-approved doctors

  • Pre-Joining Fitness Test (PJFT)

    This involves completing a 2.4km run on a treadmill within a certain time, at a fitness centre near you

  • Interview

    You’ll have a short interview to assess your suitability for a career in the Royal Navy, and to ensure you’re ready for the Admiralty Interview Board (AIB)

  • Admiralty Interview Board (AIB)

    This stage is unique to officers and takes place in two parts. A Pre Recorded Interview (PRI) is an online assessment which assesses your motivation to join the Royal Navy as an officer and your awareness of the Royal Navy. The Group Planning Exercise (GPE) is the second stage of the AIB and is an online competency based assessment which will take place on a separate day to the PRI. It will be conducted in a virtual group environment and you will be assessed on your contribution to the team based on your individual performance

more about the joining process

Find out more

Initial training

You’ll spend 30 weeks training at Britannia Royal Naval College (BRNC) in Dartmouth, focusing on: military skills, maritime skills and initial fleet time. The military skills phase includes learning leadership and teamwork skills, and the principles of command and management. You will put this into practice during several exercises on Dartmoor.

Aim to get yourself as fit as you can before you arrive. You’ll be doing a lot of physical exercise, and you’ll find it much easier if you’re already in good shape.

There's also a swimming test, so if you can't swim, make sure you learn by the time you join us.

more about initial training

Find out more

Professional training

Your professional training starts with 12 weeks at sea. After that, you’ll begin a 12-month systems engineering and management course at Royal Naval Air Engineering and Survival School (RNAESS) at HMS Sultan part of the Defence College of Aeronautical Engineering, focussing on:

  • Learning the principles of flight
  • Gaining an understanding of aircraft systems and components, including avionics, engines and weapon systems
  • Practicing aircraft maintenance management in a simulated squadron environment
  • Taking your experience in the simulated environment to an operational Royal Naval Air Station (RNAS), where you’ll spend three months
  • Gaining a detailed understanding of squadron operations and earning your Certificate of Competency to be a practising Air Engineer Officer

more about professional training

Find out more

Request your application
Register your interest
Call 0345 607 55 55
Find your local AFCO

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