Hiring and Sponsoring Aerospace engineers (SOC Code 2126)

Aerospace Engineers, classified under SOC Code 2126, are specialized professionals responsible for designing and developing advanced engineering solutions in the aerospace sector. They play a crucial role in ensuring the safety and efficiency of both aircraft and spacecraft systems. Key responsibilities include:

• Conception and Development: Formulating innovative engineering designs based on product ideas within aerospace engineering.
• Project Management: Organizing and planning projects, coordinating work schedules, and overseeing project timelines to ensure on-time delivery.
• Inspection and Maintenance: Conducting thorough inspection work and planning maintenance control to uphold the integrity of aerospace systems.
• Data Analysis: Analyzing test data and undertaking research to provide informed advice on all aspects of aircraft and spacecraft systems.
• Compliance Assurance: Ensuring that all equipment, operations, and maintenance processes meet stringent design specifications and safety standards.
• Certification of Work: Inspecting completed aircraft maintenance work to certify compliance with aviation standards, ensuring aircraft readiness for operation.

With advancements in technology and an increasing focus on the aerospace industry, the demand for skilled aerospace engineers is on the rise. Organizations, educational institutions, and research facilities are increasingly looking to hire talented professionals, including those from overseas. This guide will assist HR professionals in understanding the nuances of hiring and sponsoring aerospace engineers under the UK's immigration system.

What is SOC Code 3411 for Aerospace engineers?

SOC Code 2126 refers to aerospace engineers who conceive and develop engineering designs for aerospace products. Their responsibilities can include:

• Designing engineering solutions: Creating and developing innovative concepts for aircraft, spacecraft, and their systems.
• Project management: Organizing and planning engineering projects, including arranging work schedules and resource allocation.
• Inspection and maintenance: Carrying out inspections of equipment, ensuring compliance with design specifications and safety standards.
• Data analysis: Analyzing test data and conducting research to inform design decisions and improvements.
• Certification of work: Inspecting completed aircraft maintenance to certify adherence to standards and readiness for operation.
• Technical advice: Providing expertise on all aspects of aerospace systems and supporting compliance with regulatory requirements.

Aerospace engineers play a vital role in the advancement of technology within the aerospace industry, contributing to the safety, efficiency, and innovation of aircraft and spacecraft systems.

Eligibility to Hire Aerospace engineers (SOC Code 3411)

1. Job Requirements

Aerospace engineers seeking employment must exhibit their engineering expertise and meet specific qualifications or experience criteria. These may include:

• Educational Background: A degree in aerospace engineering or a related field is essential.
• Design Skills: Demonstrated ability to conceive and develop engineering designs from product ideas in aerospace engineering.
• Project Management: Experience in organizing and planning projects, including arranging work schedules and managing timelines.
• Inspection and Compliance: Ability to carry out inspection work, ensuring that all equipment and operations comply with design specifications and safety standards.
• Analytical Skills: Proficiency in analyzing test data and undertaking research to advise on various aspects of aircraft, spacecraft, and their systems.
• Certification: Prior experience or qualifications in certifying completed aircraft maintenance work to ensure readiness for operation.

Ensure the job description aligns with SOC Code 2126 and that the engineer’s experience and work meet the expectations for the role.

1. Salary Thresholds
2. Use the Minimum Salary Calculator to ensure your salary offer meets immigration requirements.

Sponsoring Aerospace engineers: A Step-by-Step Guide for HR Professionals

Once you’ve confirmed that the role and candidate meet the eligibility requirements, follow this step-by-step guide to sponsoring Aerospace engineers under SOC Code 2126.

Step 1: Obtain a Sponsor Licence

Before hiring non-UK Aerospace engineers, your company or institution must obtain a sponsor licence. This licence enables you to legally sponsor overseas Aerospace engineers under the Skilled Worker Visa program.

• Sponsor Licence Application: Submit documentation proving that your business is legitimate and has a genuine vacancy. Visit the sponsor licence application guide for more information. 
• Sponsor Licence Fees: Small businesses typically pay £574, while larger institutions pay £1,579. For more information, visit the sponsor licence fees guide. 
• Processing Time: Applications typically take up to 8 weeks, but using the Sponsor Licence Priority Service can reduce the processing time to 10 working days.

Once your sponsor licence is approved, you will receive a sponsor licence number, which allows you to assign Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS).

Step 2: Assign a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)

Once you have your sponsor licence, the next step is to assign a CoS to the Aerospace engineers. This document provides key details about the job and the individual being sponsored.

• Defined vs Undefined CoS: Use a Defined CoS for Aerospace engineers applying from outside the UK, and an Undefined CoS for those already in the UK. Learn more in the Defined & Undefined Certificates of Sponsorship guide. 
• Required Documents: Provide details such as the Aerospace engineers’s portfolio, passport and job offer. Refer to Documents Required for Certificate of Sponsorshipfor a full list of necessary documents.

Step 3: Apply for the Skilled Worker Visa

Once the CoS is issued, the Aerospace engineers can apply for the Skilled Worker Visa.

• Visa Fees: Fees vary depending on the role and visa length—use the visa fees calculator to estimate the costs. 
• Immigration Skills Charge: Employers are required to pay this charge as part of sponsoring non-UK workers. This is separate from visa fees.

Conducting a Right to Work Check for Aerospace engineers

Before the Aerospace engineers begins working, you must conduct a right to work check to ensure they are legally allowed to work in the UK.

• Manual Right to Work Check: Verify original documents such as the Aerospace engineers’s passport and visa. 
• Online Right to Work Check: If the Aerospace engineers holds an eVisa, you can use the UK government’s online system to verify their right-to-work status.

For more details on how to perform these checks, see the right to work check guide.

Post-Hiring Responsibilities and Compliance

1. Record-Keeping and Reporting  
2. • Record-Keeping: Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of the Aerospace engineers’s employment details, salary and contact information. 
   • Reporting Changes: Report any significant changes to the Aerospace engineers’s role—such as promotions or salary increases—via the Sponsor Management System (SMS).
3. Sponsor Licence Duties and Compliance
4. Failure to comply with your sponsor licence duties can result in penalties or sponsor licence revocation, impacting your ability to sponsor future Aerospace engineerss.

How Borderless Can Help with Sponsoring Aerospace engineers

Sponsoring Aerospace engineers under SOC Code 2126 can be a complex process, but Borderless can simplify it for you. We offer comprehensive support to help you manage the entire sponsorship process.

End-to-End Sponsorship Support

At Borderless, we assist with:

• Sponsor Licence Application: Guiding you through the application process and ensuring all required documents are submitted correctly. 
• Certificate of Sponsorship Assignment: Streamlining the CoS process to make hiring easier. 
• Compliance Management: Helping you stay compliant with immigration laws to avoid penalties.

If you need assistance with hiring or sponsoring Aerospace engineers, get in touch for personalised support.

Conclusion

Hiring and sponsoring Aerospace engineers under SOC Code 2126 can be a rewarding way to enrich the cultural landscape of your organisation. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can successfully navigate the sponsorship process while ensuring compliance with UK immigration laws.

For further guidance, Borderless is ready to assist you with all your sponsorship needs. Contact us for expert advice.