Careers in Aerospace Engineering

If you want a high-flying career after graduating with your engineering degree, a career in aerospace engineering may be the right choice for you. Even if you did not major in aerospace engineering, many opportunities are available for graduates in associated fields such as computing, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, information systems, systems analysis, and design engineering.

A Brief History of Aerospace Engineering The term "aerospace engineering" was virtually unheard of before the Wright brothers demonstrated the feasibility of powered flight in 1903. This demonstration fueled widespread interest in civil and military circles in the limitless possibilities of utilizing air and space flight technology for the advancement of humanity's interests. Currently, careers in aerospace engineering involve the design, testing, and development of a wide variety of airborne systems such as aircraft, airships, spacecraft, and missiles. Most aeronautical engineering companies offer generous salaries, promising career paths, and excellent benefits. A Complex Group of Disciplines As a result of recent developments in space engineering, individuals who specialize in this branch of aerospace are now known as astronautical engineers. The field of aerospace engineering includes a complicated variety of engineering fields. A cursory glance at the list below will reveal the intricate web of interactions that make up the aerospace engineering industry:

• Analytical engineering: Engineers in this sector analyze experimental data and predict their implications for major projects. For example, analytical engineers may look at a mathematical model that analyzes the effects of stress on an airframe at high altitudes and make computations based on this model.
• Fluid dynamics: Engineers in this sector analyze the flow of fluids under a variety of conditions to examine how they will behave in flight.
• Design: Engineers in this sector consider a variety of creative ideas to create components and subcomponents to be used in the design of projects such as missiles and fighter aircraft.
• Flight testing: Engineers in this sector plan flight tests and collect and analyze data from flight tests to analyze the reasons for their success or failure.
• Manufacturing: Engineers in this sector specialize in producing efficient and cost-effective components according to master production plans. A typical manufacturing project would be the fabrication of an aircraft’s fuselage.

Academic Prospects Graduates who want to join this exciting industry need to have skills related to science and engineering, statistics, mathematics, physics, and information technology. They also must be able to think creatively and critically, work as team members, and work independently. Many companies, like Boeing, also look for candidates with aspirations to continue learning throughout their lives and exceptional communication skills. Aeronautical engineering companies require engineers to work on large-scale projects involving software architecture, component and system design, aerodynamics, thermodynamics, guidance and control systems, propulsion, and acoustics. A variety of universities in the United States, including Purdue University, the University of Michigan, the University of Arizona, and the University of Minnesota, among others, offer excellent aerospace engineering programs. Salary Information The average earnings of engineers are among the highest in the United States. According to a 2005 survey conducted by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, those with bachelor’s degrees in aeronautical engineering earned starting salaries of around $60,000 per year. Those holding master’s degrees took home salaries of around $63,000 per year, while those with doctoral qualifications in the same category earned around $72,500 per year. Summary Various engineering career opportunities are available with aerospace companies, scientific and academic institutions, research and defense organizations, and other employers. You can contact such employers directly as well as search for available opportunities via the Internet. Additionally, many aerospace companies advertise engineering jobs in professional flight journals and magazines.