In 2026, aerospace and defense hiring remains highly competitive as employers face rising demand for cleared, technical, and mission-critical talent. From aerospace engineers and avionics technicians to systems specialists and security-cleared professionals, hiring teams are still navigating a limited talent pool, longer clearance timelines, and increased competition across commercial aviation, defense, space, and advanced manufacturing.
If you’re struggling to find qualified aerospace engineers, cleared technicians, or flight systems specialists, you're not alone — and you’re not without solutions. This article explores what’s driving today’s hiring challenges in aerospace and defense, and how partnering with experienced aerospace recruiters can help close the gap.
Industry Outlook: What’s Fueling the Aerospace Hiring Surge?
The U.S. aerospace and defense industry continues to grow at speed, fueled by public and private sector investment across commercial aviation, military defense, space exploration, and next-gen avionics. The Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) also points to workforce development as a top priority for sustaining growth, especially in advanced manufacturing and defense innovation.
- According to Statista, the U.S. aerospace and defense manufacturing sector surpassed $900 billion in revenue in 2024, with even more growth projected for 2025.
- The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects steady demand for aerospace engineers, especially in research and development roles tied to defense and space systems.
- CAE’s 2025 Aviation Talent Forecast projects a global demand of over 1.3 million new pilots, technicians, and cabin crew by 2036—creating urgent workforce needs across the pipeline.
Meanwhile, the war for cleared, credentialed, and technically skilled professionals has become one of the fiercest in the labor market. In a 2025 CNBC report, industry leaders pointed to hiring as one of their top operational constraints, even above supply chain disruptions.
In-Demand Roles Shaping the Future of Aerospace
Whether you're a prime defense contractor or a commercial aerospace firm scaling production, these roles are among the most competitive to hire in 2025:
Aerospace Engineers
Design, develop, and test aircraft, spacecraft, satellites, and missile systems. Often require U.S. citizenship and clearance for defense roles.
- Median Salary: $131,120/year
- Job Outlook: +6% growth through 2032
- Market Insight: More than 36% of aerospace engineers work in aerospace product and parts manufacturing, while 16% work for the federal government.
Aircraft and Avionics Equipment Mechanics & Technicians
Maintain, repair, and inspect aircraft systems. Demand is rising due to aging fleets, stricter FAA regulations, and growth in electric/hybrid aircraft technologies.
- Median Salary: $75,460/year
- Job Outlook: +4% growth through 2032
- Market Insight: CAE forecasts a need for 416,000 new aviation maintenance technicians globally by 2034, driven by fleet growth and industry attrition.
Systems and Software Engineers
Support avionics, navigation, satellite systems, and autonomous flight software. Employers seek experience with embedded systems, C++, and simulation platforms.
- Median Salary: ~$120,000/year
- Job Outlook: Strong demand, especially in aerospace, defense, and space tech
- Market Insight: Software engineers with aerospace and AI experience are being offered up to 20–30% above market average in competitive regions.
Security-Cleared Professionals (TS/SCI+)
Roles across engineering, cybersecurity, and program management requiring active security clearance. Clearance timelines (12+ months) make these hires particularly challenging.
- Median Salary: Varies by role — TS/SCI software engineers average $135,000–$160,000/year
- Job Outlook: High demand across defense and government contractors
- Market Insight: As of 2023, only about 2 million people in the U.S. actively hold a federal security clearance—less than 0.6% of the population—making these hires exceptionally competitive.
Commercial & Airline Pilots
Operate aircraft for passenger, cargo, and defense needs. Pilot shortages remain a long-term challenge globally.
- Median Salary: $198,100 /year
- Job Outlook: +5% growth through 2033
- By the Numbers: The FAA’s Pilot & Technician Outlook projects sustained demand for pilots, with more than 600,000 new pilots needed globally by 2041. BLS reports indicate ~16,800 openings projected each year, on average, over the decade (mostly replacement needs from retirements).
🚨 Pro Tip: Many of these professionals—especially those with active clearances or niche technical experience—are not applying through traditional job boards. Hiring teams that rely on inbound applications alone are often too late to compete. 😯
What’s Causing the Aerospace Talent Shortage?
While workforce challenges aren’t new in aerospace, 2025 has escalated the problem, turning a long-standing issue into a major obstacle for growth.
- Aging workforce: Many senior aerospace professionals are nearing retirement, creating critical skill and leadership gaps. The average age of a certified aircraft mechanic in the U.S. is 54, with 40% over 60—signaling a wave of retirements that will strain already thin talent pipelines.
- Technology evolution: AI, automation, and next-gen materials require new skills that few traditional candidates have.
- Security clearance delays: Even qualified candidates can’t start without clearance, a major bottleneck for defense contractors.
- Location challenges: Many top aerospace hubs (Wichita, Huntsville, Tucson) face limited local talent pools, especially for niche or high-clearance roles.
Despite rising demand, Statista data shows U.S. aviation manufacturing employment still hasn’t fully rebounded to pre-pandemic levels, further tightening the market.
Strategic Hiring Tips for Aerospace Employers in 2025
In today’s market, speed isn’t enough. Leading aerospace employers are building smarter, more proactive recruiting strategies. Here’s what’s working in 2025:
→ Prioritizing Speed Without Compromising Quality
- Top candidates are receiving multiple offers within 10–15 days.
- Leading employers are shortening interview cycles and pre-scheduling decision-makers to avoid delays.
- Start pipelining cleared or niche talent before the need becomes urgent.
- Learn how to be proactive in your hiring strategy here.
→ Offering Flexibility in a Traditionally Rigid Industry
- Hybrid or remote flexibility (for non-lab/flight roles) expands access to hard-to-find skills.
- Relocation assistance and travel stipends help attract out-of-market candidates.
→ Leveraging Contract-to-Hire for Cleared or Niche Roles
- “Consult-to-clear” pipelines allow companies to get top talent on board while clearance is in process.
- More organizations are using contract staffing as a bridge to full-time hiring.
- Learn more about contact vs full time hiring here.
→ Investing in Retention as Much as Recruitment
- Upskilling internal talent for technical leadership roles.
- Offering retention bonuses and clearer career paths to keep star engineers from jumping ship.
→ Partnering with Specialized Aerospace Recruiters
- Passive, cleared, or niche candidates aren’t on job boards.
- Recruiters who specialize in aerospace can tap pre-vetted, hard-to-reach talent pools.
→ Leveraging Veteran Talent Pipelines
- Many active security clearance holders come from military backgrounds.
- Veterans bring mission-critical technical skills and hands-on operational experience that translate directly to aerospace roles.
️ ➡️ Explore our Veteran Recruiting Services
Blue Signal’s Aerospace & Defense Recruiting Expertise
At Blue Signal, our Aerospace & Defense recruiting team specializes in connecting employers with top-tier, hard-to-find talent—including cleared engineers, avionics professionals, and systems specialists. We understand the urgency, complexity, and compliance requirements unique to the industry—and we deliver results quickly through pre-vetted candidate pipelines and deep industry knowledge.
Whether you’re hiring for growth or backfilling cleared roles, we act as an extension of your team to keep your workforce mission-ready.
➡️ Explore our Aerospace & Defense Recruiting Services
Aerospace Hiring FAQs
What are the most in-demand aerospace jobs in 2025?
Aerospace engineers, avionics technicians, systems engineers, and security-cleared project managers are among the most sought-after roles.
Why is it so hard to hire in aerospace and defense right now?
Talent shortages are driven by retirements, tech evolution, and strict clearance requirements—shrinking the qualified candidate pool.
How can I hire cleared aerospace professionals faster?
Work with an aerospace recruiting partner who already has access to pre-cleared and pre-vetted candidates. Time is everything in this market.
Is Your Hiring Strategy Ready for Takeoff? ✈️
2025 is a year of massive opportunity in aerospace and defense—but only for organizations that can secure the right talent. From engineers to technicians to cleared specialists, the competition is only going to get steeper.
Whether you’re scaling a satellite program, staffing an avionics upgrade, or replacing key talent, Blue Signal’s aerospace recruiters can help you stay mission-ready with a talent pipeline built for this market.
👉 Need help hiring cleared, credentialed aerospace professionals? Contact us today!
