For defense and government aerospace roles, an active security clearance is often the first thing a recruiter checks. If you hold an active Secret or Top Secret clearance, put it in your resume header or summary. Even a clearance that can be reinstated is worth mentioning. It eliminates a significant hiring barrier and immediately puts you ahead of non-cleared candidates.

Aerospace engineering covers structures, propulsion, aerodynamics, avionics, systems engineering, and test engineering. Make your primary discipline clear in your summary — 'Aerospace Structures Engineer specializing in FEA and composite materials' is far more targeted than 'experienced aerospace engineer.' Use discipline-specific keywords that match the job descriptions you're targeting.

Academic and early-career engineers often over-index on simulation experience. Wherever possible, show that your computational models were validated against test data or real flight performance. Phrases like 'validated FEA predictions against static test results within 5% error' demonstrate engineering maturity and build credibility with senior hiring managers.