What is Howard Wolowitz's job in The Big Bang Theory?

Howard Wolowitz’s job in The Big Bang Theory is aerospace engineer.

He works at Caltech’s Department of Applied Physics, where he designs and develops aerospace-related equipment. Unlike Sheldon Cooper and Leonard Hofstadter, Howard does not hold a Ph.D.; his advanced degree is a master’s in engineering from MIT. This difference becomes a recurring joke, especially because Howard is often surrounded by physicists who look down on engineering.

Howard’s work has practical results within the series. He helps design equipment used in space and creates a waste-disposal system for the International Space Station. His technical expertise eventually leads to his selection as an astronaut, and he travels to the International Space Station during the show’s sixth season. After returning to Earth, he continues working as an engineer while balancing family life with Bernadette.

A common mix-up is calling Howard a mechanical engineer because he builds machines, robots, and other hardware. Those skills overlap with mechanical engineering, but the show consistently identifies his profession as aerospace engineering. He is also sometimes described simply as an astronaut, but that was a temporary role rather than his primary occupation.