FOUNDATION TOURS

After Engineer Officer Foundation Training (Aerosystems), you will have the skills and knowledge to lead and manage large teams of highly skilled technicians within a military airworthiness environment. There is a diverse range of employment opportunities for you following training, however, typically you will be responsible for leading an engineering department responsible for providing mission-critical equipment in support of the frontline aircraft. In this role you will be responsible for the optimum performance of the department, which will include making technical decisions, prioritising tasks and ensuring all engineering practices are maintained to the highest standard at all times. Following this tour, you will likely move to a ‘frontline’ role where you will be directly responsible for maintaining the airworthiness of an aircraft type, such as the Junior Engineer on a Typhoon, C17 or Chinook support helicopter squadron.

YOUR CAREER PROSPECTS

Within your first or second tours, you will be promoted to Flight Lieutenant and given extra responsibility. As your career progresses you will have the opportunity to work in a variety of different roles and environments; building on your experience as you progress. For example, following a ‘frontline’ tour where you were directly responsible for the airworthiness of an aircraft platform you may progress into a Project Team responsible for supporting that platform and introducing modifications and enhancements. Following further promotions, you could be responsible for leading that Project Team or being the lead engineer for a platform or station. Throughout your career as an engineer officer and professional engineer, you will hold a great deal of responsibility and your opinion and knowledge will be highly regarded. With the introduction of fourth and fifth generation aircraft our engineers need to remain current with new and evolving technology and therefore there are opportunities to specialise and/or develop your knowledge through further study as you progress through your career.

ONGOING DEVELOPMENT

You will have all the personal development opportunities and career prospects of your civilian counterparts - and possibly more - together with the chance to work around the world, gaining unique engineering experiences in the process. As well as RAF training packages and courses linked to outside professional bodies, we actively support individual study programmes at every level. You could have opportunities to take on Masters’ degree courses, either full-time or part-time in one of 50 paid for courses while you remain on full salary. We have special agreements with the major Professional Engineering Institutions to attain Incorporated Engineer and Chartered Engineer professional status and we will pay for the associated membership fees.

TRANSFERABLE SKILLS

Much of our in-house training is accredited and/or recognised by external awarding bodies.  For engineers, we encourage and have developed a streamlined route with various Professional Engineering Institutes for those looking to obtain their Incorporated Engineer (IEng) and Chartered Engineer (CEng) status.

There are numerous opportunities for both professional and personal development throughout your career; this may be an MSc/MBA from the Defence Academy at Shrivenham, using your Standard or Enhanced Learning Credits for courses which are of benefit to the RAF, or – if your specific role requires – a year’s Master’s degree at a UK university in a specialist topic.  Furthermore, as you are promoted you will receive further leadership and management training to match your responsibilities.