Career in Aerospace Engineering
If flying machines (aircraft, spacecraft, satellites, and missiles) thrill you, taking challenges is something you enjoy the most, then aerospace engineering may turn out to be the right career option for you. The studies in aerospace sciences, engineering & technology gives you the opportunities to work on rigorous mathematical and computational problems as well as, with sophisticated machines to solve the space mysteries and use the existing ones for technological and humanitarian benefits.
The universities, colleges and institutes of higher education offers diploma and degree programmes in Aerospace Science, Engineering and Technology. With boost in space programmes the career opportunities for aerospace engineers are growing.
Role of an Aerospace Engineer
They formulate new engineering techniques to be used in spacecraft, defense systems and aviation and avionics. Aerospace Engineers are skilled in areas like aerodynamic fluid flow; structural design; guidance, navigation, and control; instrumentation and communication, robotics, or propulsion and combustion. They also receive training in designing different types of aerospace machinery, for example commercial aircrafts, helicopters, warplanes spacecraft, satellites, launch vehicles, rockets and missiles. The work of an Aerospace Engineer is multidisciplinary. An Aerospace Engineer on work may be involved with the following types of activities-
- Involve in estimation of aerospace projects and proposals for technical feasibility and commercial aspects.
- Helping with design, building and testing of aircrafts, spacecraft and other aerospace machinery.
- Design assessments to make sure that the product comply with the engineering standards, environmental requirements and users demand.
- To oversee total quality control of aircrafts, spaceships and space machinery to ensure that the end product meets the quality standards.
- Inspection of faulty machinery to find the source of problems and solution.
Skills Required for an Aerospace Engineers
Academic requirements: Academically you need minimum bachelor’s degree i.e. B.E/B.Tech/B.S or equivalent from a recognized institute to start career as an aerospace engineer. The bachelor’s degree in engineering is a 4year program offered to those candidates who have completed K-12 standard of education with physics, chemistry and mathematics. Working with rigorous mathematical and computational formulae and understanding the dynamics of physics are some necessary trait to enroll in a bachelor’s program in aerospace engineering.
To join postgraduate degree programs like MS, M.Tech and Ph.D etc universities ask for score in standardized test followed by essay test and personality interview. Minimum qualification to join masters level program and higher is graduate qualification in aerospace engineering and related discipline.
Personal Skills: To be successful in career one needs to possess the following personality traits:
Analytical skill requirements- Aerospace Engineer must possess sound analytical skills to understand the working circumstances of the aerospace machinery and its design, to suggest alternatives for different environments.
Business Skills Requirements- Aerospace Engineer must be good in numbers to predetermine what a project will cost and how a company or government will benefit from it.
Critical Thinking Abilities- Aerospace Engineer must be able to think under what circumstances designs, materials and end product or project may fail and what should be alternative options in case of a glitch or failure.
Team Worker- Aerospace Engineer works in team, he / she must need to be a good team worker, able to learn and make others learn in work environment.
Writing Skills- Aerospace Engineer works in a team with other professionals like mechanical engineer, computer engineer, electrical engineer etc. They should have good writing skills to write clear papers and make designs which other team workers could fully understand.