Article concept in collaboration with: Kayvon Barad (guest writer)
Back in 1999, I faced a major challenge. I had just joined a newly established modelling and simulation team at a large aerospace company, tasked with the development of a new long-range variant of one of our best-selling twin-aisle aircraft. My role was to create an emulation of the Flight Warning System (FWS), which displays all cockpit alerts, for our in-development braking and steering control system (BSCS). This emulation aimed to enable virtual testing early in the design lifecycle—long before the costly ground and flight testing phases.
Only a few obstacles lay in my path: the FWS logic diagrams were in an unfamiliar tool I couldn’t decode, the BSCS operated on avionics hardware I had no way to interface with, and I had no graphical icons for the display other than a few reference photos. Perhaps the biggest hurdle? I had zero software programming experience, save for a single module in my Electronic Engineering degree, where we spent two days creating a sliding puzzle game. Oh and the internet was a slightly basic back in the late nineties - certainly no YouTube tutorials!
But I had one thing going for me—belief! I had this unshakeable feeling that, even without an obvious way forward, if I absorbed the “problem statement” through intense research and gave my mind time to mull it over as I continued with life, a solution would surface. When I’d revisit the thought after a break, I’d often find myself presented with a fully formed, detailed solution.
For the fellow coders curious about my approach, here’s what I put together sitting alone in the backroom of the Test Rig Building for hours on end (blissful):
Software Training: Enrolled in courses for C, C++[1.], and Matlab/Simulink[2.] to gain the skills I needed.
Icon Creation: Drew the Flight Warning System (FWS) icons using GIMP[3.] (yes, it’s actually called that).
Logic Conversion: Wrote a Matlab translator to convert the graphical FWS logic into Simulink, enabling C-code autogeneration.
Interface Connection: Reused a colleague’s code to pull data from the hardware interface card in the emulator PC, which was connected to the BSCS avionics computer.
Interface Application: Used Microsoft Visual Studio 6[4.] to develop a multi-document interface application where each window displayed an FWS screen. This app processed the aircraft data in real-time, presenting it to the test engineer—mission accomplished!
At the time I had no idea I was autistic. I've long felt a sense of difference—not in the sense of uniqueness, but rather in feeling unlike my peers. I could concentrate for hours on a topic and have endless idea but then struggle with the rules of basic chit-chat in the office - watching other graduates discuss effortlessly their weekend pursuits.
If I re-process my previous story and ways of working to me now known autistic traits then I can clear see some of the hallmark characteristics:
Intense Focus and Deep Research: The need to immerse oneself in the “problem statement” through intense research reflects a common autistic trait—many autistic individuals often dive deeply into subjects of interest, sometimes achieving levels of expertise in niche areas. This approach of absorbing every detail can create a comprehensive understanding, which becomes invaluable for solving complex problems.
Pattern Recognition and Subconscious Processing: Giving the brain time to “mull it over” or process the problem in the background taps into a unique way of thinking. Many autistic people describe having moments where solutions or patterns reveal themselves after time away from a problem, suggesting an innate ability to unconsciously process complex information and recognise patterns.
Trust in Internal Logic and Individual Thinking Process: The "unerring feeling" or confidence that a solution will surface, even without knowing exactly how at the outset, shows a sense of self-reliance and trust in one’s own thought processes. Autistic individuals often develop unique methods to navigate problem-solving, rooted in their individual logic or intuition.
Delayed Solution and Big Picture Emergence: The tendency to revisit a problem after a break and see a “top-level solution” may reflect an ability to see the big picture after detailed analysis. Autistic individuals often have strong systems thinking skills, where complex problems or structures can “click” once enough data is gathered and time is given for processing.
Equally, I should acknowledge my confidence to know a solution will appear is often the opposite of what many neurodivergents will experience. Let's consider some of the alternative traits that could emerge from a similar challenge:
Self-Doubt and Perfectionism: While some may feel a natural confidence in their thinking process, others struggle with self-doubt or a need for perfection. This might lead to constant second-guessing and hesitancy, especially in unfamiliar situations. Instead of relying on their intuition, they might need external validation or detailed instructions before feeling ready to move forward.
Difficulty Trusting “Intuitive” Thinking: For some, the idea of leaving a problem to subconsciously process might feel uncertain or even frustrating. They might feel the need to consciously and continuously work through every step, rather than trusting a solution to emerge naturally. This can sometimes lead to a sense of “getting stuck” or overworking a problem without taking breaks that could help the subconscious process kick in.
Fear of Failure and Risk Aversion: Belief in one’s ability to solve a problem without an immediate solution can be hard to hold onto for those who experience a strong fear of failure. Some may avoid tackling challenging tasks altogether, especially if previous experiences have led them to expect criticism or disappointment. In these cases, a lack of confidence can cause them to avoid projects they’d likely excel at if given the right support.
Relying on External Resources Over Self-Trust: Rather than trusting their unique thought processes, some autistic individuals might over-rely on set methods, manuals, or others' expertise. This can be due to a mix of low confidence in their own perspective and a preference for clear, predictable information. While this approach has its strengths, it can also limit creative problem-solving.
This contrast highlights the diversity within neurodivergent thinking styles—while some may thrive with a self-guided, intuitive approach, others might excel with structured guidance or external validation. Recognising and accommodating these differences can be empowering, as it shows that the neurodivergent community embodies a wide range of skills, strengths, and approaches.
Access to Work
Before we explore the different type of careers that neurodivergents gravitate towards its essential to recognise that certain barriers prevent atypicals finding employment, or being underemployed as explained in the article: Beyond the Interview: Rethinking the Employment Process for Neurodiverse Talent. This is further supported by the UK’s Autism Strategy report[5.] that highlights outdated practices often hinder access to meaningful employment, underscoring the need for change.
Quoting from the UK Office of National Statistics[6.]:
"Around half of disabled people aged 16 to 64 years (53.5%) in the UK were in employment compared with around 8 in 10 (81.6%) for non-disabled people (July to September 2021); disabled people with severe or specific learning difficulties, autism and mental illness had the lowest employment rates."
By rethinking how we evaluate and support candidates, we open the door to a more inclusive workforce—one that truly benefits from the strengths of neurodiverse individuals.
Before moving on to types and examples of roles I want. to revisit the title of this article. An obvious statement to make is that everyone of any diversity would naturally gravitate towards a career that suits their strengths, personality, and preferences. But for neurodivergent individuals, this alignment can be especially significant because their unique ways of thinking and processing information often bring pronounced strengths (and sometimes challenges) that make certain careers particularly suitable or fulfilling. It can also be a restricting factors, a neurodivergent might have a passion for clothing fashion but find, due to social communication difficulties, not possible to work in high end retail - of course only and example and every neurodivergent is unique in this respect.
Let's discuss in turn vocation roles, specialist roles and innovation/creativity roles. Just to note that the examples of roles are purely qualitative views from reading through recruitment sites[7.], online articles[8.][9.][10.][11.] and social media outlets[12.] relating to neurodivergent traits; I found very few scientific papers examining this question in detail.
Vocational Roles: Jobs with Emotional Attachment to Outcomes
the argument is made that atypicals often have deep-rooted desire to make a difference in the world and will seek careers driven by a strong emotional commitment to the results or impacts of the work. These “vocations” require an intrinsic sense of purpose and personal investment that many neurodivergent individuals feel naturally drawn to, making them meaningful career choices.
Examples of Vocational Roles: Social work, disability advocate, counselling, non-profit work, animal welfare and care, agricultural/horticultural work, environmental related work.
Key Traits: Intense dedication, resilience in the face of challenges, a heightened sense of purpose.
Why Neurodivergent Individuals Excel: Neurodivergent individuals may feel an intense emotional connection to these roles, as many value authenticity and a direct sense of impact in their work. This attachment can enhance job satisfaction and resilience in facing vocational challenges.
Specialist Roles: Jobs Beyond the Typical Skill Set
Perhaps the most stereotyped role for neurodivergents - the “specialist” roles requiring focused, often highly complex skills particularly in IT-based tools. Neurodivergent individuals may excel in these roles due to unique ways of processing information, extraordinary attention to detail, or a focus on mastery that may be difficult to sustain for neurotypical individuals.
Examples of Specialist Roles: Data analysis, meteorologist, cybersecurity, archivist, librarian, historian, languages/translation, technical writing, forensic science, research-focused roles.
Key Traits: Attention to detail, deep focus, resilience, persistence in mastering niche areas.
Why Neurodivergent Individuals Excel: For neurodivergent individuals who thrive in specialism, the depth of their knowledge and ability to manage complex tasks can be both a strength and a comfort zone, enabling them to pursue mastery in fields that can’t be effectively managed by typical skill sets alone.
Exceptional Traits: Jobs Requiring Mental Extremes
Discuss how certain roles demand elevated levels of specific traits like empathy, resilience, integrity, focus, and the ability to detach or remain formal. Some neurodivergent individuals exhibit these qualities in atypical degrees, which makes them well-suited for roles that benefit from these mental extremes.
Examples of Roles Requiring Exceptional Traits: Crisis management, mediation, healthcare, ethics compliance, in-depth research positions with prolonged focus needs.
Key Traits: High empathy (mediation), resilience (in crisis management), integrity (in compliance roles), focus (in deep-research roles).
Why Neurodivergent Individuals Excel: Neurodivergent individuals who embody these traits in high degrees may find fulfilment and success in careers that actively rely on these mental extremes, offering both personal satisfaction and unique value to their organisations.
Divergent Thinking Roles: Jobs Requiring Innovation and Creativity
Roles that rely on “thinking outside the box” to discover new solutions, understand existing problems in new ways, or create entirely new approaches. Many neurodivergent individuals excel in creativity, invention, and unconventional problem-solving, often leading to innovations and progress. This is where I see myself working for an aerospace engineering company - we obviously have all type of roles in such a large company but there is a clear higher proportion of neurodivergents in engineering - I welcome any quantitative research in this area to provide real-world statistics. My personal observation i that it is a multiple of two or three times higher depending on the flavour of neurodivergence.
Examples of Divergent Thinking Roles: Product design, engineering, innovation management, filmmaking/special effects, creative writing, marketing strategy, software development and the job I wished I had: video-game designer.
Key Traits: Creative thinking, lateral problem-solving, openness to experimentation.
Why Neurodivergent Individuals Excel: Neurodivergent minds often excel in seeing connections that may be less obvious to others, allowing them to approach problems with a fresh perspective. This makes them particularly well-suited for roles where new solutions are not only valued but necessary.
Self Employed
For ultimate freedom is the option of freelancing and self-employment, offering the opportunity to take control of one's schedule and work environment, which can be particularly beneficial for those neurodivergents that have the means and skills to do so.
Examples of Self-Employed Roles: business owner in area of special interest, freelance journalist or writer.
Key Traits: Passion for special interest, need to set own business integrity and environment, strong sense of independence and autonomy.
Why Neurodivergent Individuals Excel: Self-employment presents unique hurdles, but neurodivergent people often have a high tolerance for working through challenging conditions, particularly when motivated by personal interest or strong goals.
Conclusion
In summary, neurodivergent individuals are drawn to careers that align with their unique ways of thinking, processing, and feeling. From highly specialised roles to creative and vocational paths, they gravitate towards fields where their distinctive traits—such as deep focus, empathy, creativity, and resilience—become powerful assets. By embracing these diverse strengths and creating inclusive workplaces that recognise different ways of working, organisations can not only offer neurodivergent people more fulfilling opportunities but also benefit from the fresh perspectives and exceptional abilities they bring - surely a win-win scenario for all in a more inclusive world.
Through my own career I can see the shifting landscape and attitudes towards neurodivergent employment that is filled with potential, yet challenges still remain. Many neurodivergent individuals still face significant obstacles in finding roles that truly leverage their talents and often find themselves unemployed or underemployed in role roles that do not recognise or utilise their unique talents.
As society continues to evolve in its understanding and acceptance of neurodiversity, fostering more inclusive hiring practices and work environments is essential. Supporting a diverse workforce means valuing the richness that different cognitive styles bring to innovation, empathy, and resilience, ultimately benefiting both individuals and the larger community. We are at the beginning of the road of enlightenment and recognition - next steps is the need for action.
Reference
https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/careers-in-autism-field
https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/topics/employment/employing-autistic-people/employers
https://www.thriveautismcoaching.com/post/10-best-jobs-for-autistic-adults
https://psychcentral.com/autism/jobs-for-autistic-people#career-paths
https://www.reddit.com/r/aspergirls/comments/14kd2t9/which_jobs_are_best_for_autistic_people/
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