Joe.
Nobody ever made a fortune with his hands (unless he was an Artist or a Forger).
If you really want to be an Aircraft Engineer and work hands on then I suggest you get your Licences and work in the civilian light aircraft field.
What I suggest you do is follow the Maintainers advice which I suspect will suggest you join the RAF with your Eng. degree under your belt, hope for Pilot and take Engineer if you have to. For the hands on bit, I suggest you take up Gliding or build your own aircraft under the auspices of the PFA.
Mike W