Nature of career
Aerospace Engineers design, test, develop, and help manufacture commercial and military aircraft, spacecraft, and missiles. They develop new technologies for commercial aviation, defense systems, and space exploration, often specializing in areas like structural design, guidance, navigation and control instrumentation and communication, or production methods. They also may specialize in a particular type of aerospace product, such as commercial transports, helicopters, spacecraft, or rockets. Aerospace engineers may be experts in aerodynamics, propulsion, thermodynamics, structures, celestial mechanic, acoustics, or guidance and control systems.
Working conditions
Most engineers work in labs, plants, or construction sites. Some may frequently work out doors, while some may work in offices their whole lives. Often, some travel to construction sites and plants. They usually work an average 40 hour week, but sometimes deadlines add extra time and pressure to the job.
Job outlook
The job outlook for aerospace engineers is not looking very good in the near future. The number of graduates are projected to exceed the amount of job opportunities. The demand for military aircraft and systems has declined recently, though research and development of new systems has remained about the same. The civilian companies are demanding less because of smaller orders and increased foreign competition. Many companies have begun laying off workers and restructuring their firms. Most job opportunities will come from the need to replace those leaving the field.
Earnings
The starting salaries for the engineers with a bachelors degree is significantly higher than in other fields. The starting salary for an Aerospace engineer is about $30,860. The average salary is around $55,000 per year.
Related Careers
The related careers of an aerospace engineer are computer scientists, mathematicians, engineering and science technicians, and architects. These careers are different mainly because none of them have to do with flight and the physics of flight. They are similar to some of the areas an aeronautical engineer might specify in, but they don't have anything to do with the physics of flight.
Education Required
The basic requirement to be any form of engineer is a basic engineering degree from an accredited. No extra schooling is required. With an engineering degree you can switch from one field to another. A basic engineering degree helps in staffing of firms in various areas and the adjustment to the more active engineering fields or the engineering fields in high demand.
Additional Information
Aerospace engineers study flight and anything to do with the physics of flight. A degree in Aerospace Engineering does not always go by itself however. It frequently will go with another degree, such as business, and can function as a background for extra information.
Colleges
Most colleges offer basic engineering degrees. However, there are very few that offer aerospace engineering as a specialized degree. Georgia Tech, which is a big engineering school, and MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), are two prestigious engineering colleges. Both offer degrees in aerospace engineering.