Engine Manufacturers
The Companies That Power Flight
If the airframe is the body of an aircraft, the engine is its heart. Two companies dominate commercial aircraft engine manufacturing: GE Aerospace and Rolls-Royce. Between them (including the CFM International joint venture), they power virtually every commercial aircraft flying today.
Engine manufacturing is distinct from airframe work. It's thermodynamics, materials science at extreme temperatures, rotating machinery dynamics, and manufacturing precision measured in thousandths of an inch. The engines on a 787 operate at temperatures exceeding the melting point of the blade material — kept intact only by internal cooling channels and thermal barrier coatings. This is some of the most challenging engineering in aerospace.
Company Profiles
| Detail | GE Aerospace | Rolls-Royce |
|---|---|---|
| HQ | Cincinnati/Evendale, OH | Indianapolis, IN (US) / Derby, UK (global) |
| US Employees | 38,000+ | ~5,500 (3,500 in Indianapolis) |
| Market Share | ~55% commercial (incl. CFM) | Widebody specialist (A350, A330neo, 787) |
| Key Engines | GE9X (777X, most powerful ever), GEnx (787), CFM LEAP (737 MAX/A320neo), F414 (Super Hornet) | Trent XWB (A350 exclusive), Trent 7000 (A330neo exclusive), Trent 1000 (787), UltraFan (next-gen) |
| Internship | 10-12 weeks, $25-45/hr. GPA 3.0+. | 12 weeks summer, co-ops (6 months + 12 weeks). GPA 3.0+. Housing stipend. |
| No-Degree Path | Rutland VT apprenticeship: 3-year Advanced Machinist, 50+ years running, 350 graduates. Lafayette IN: FAA powerplant license. | No equivalent US program |
| New Grad Programs | OMLP (Operations), DTLP (Digital Tech), FMP (Finance) — 2-year rotational | Engineering & Technology (24 months rotational, ~$70K-110K), Project Management (24 months) |
| Unique | GE Virtual Explorer (free 3-hour program via The Forage). SkillBridge + MOLP for veterans. | Virginia Tech international internship: 12 weeks in Derby, England, travel costs covered. |
Breaking In
GE Aerospace is the larger opportunity in the U.S. Apply August-October for summer internships. The Rutland VT apprenticeship (3-year Advanced Machinist, no degree required, GE pays for 14 college courses) is one of the best no-degree paths in aerospace — graduates have been entering the program for 50+ years.
Rolls-Royce has a smaller U.S. footprint but offers something unique: the Virginia Tech international internship partnership sends students to Derby, England for 12 weeks with travel and relocation costs covered. If you're at Virginia Tech, this is an exceptional opportunity that has led to 8 graduate program offers.
For both: Propulsion, thermodynamics, and materials science coursework matter most. If your university offers a propulsion or gas turbine course, take it. If it offers a materials science elective focused on high-temperature materials or composites, take that too.
The GE apprenticeship path: If you're a hands-on person who doesn't want a four-year degree, GE's Rutland VT apprenticeship is worth investigating. Three years of on-the-job training + 14 college courses (paid by GE). Graduates machine the turbine blades that go into jet engines powering 787s and 777s. Starting pay leads to $80K-$100K+ with experience. No college debt.