Aerospace Engineers
Additional Information
Duties
Engineers in the aerospace industry often perform the following tasks:
- Direct and coordinate the design, manufacturing, and testing of aviation and aerospace goods.
- Identify the feasibility of proposed initiatives in terms of both their technical and financial aspects.
- Make sure that planned activities are safe and satisfy the stated objectives.
- Products must fulfill engineering principles, consumer needs and environmental restrictions when they are designed.
- Set up acceptance criteria for the design techniques, quality standards, post-delivery support, and project completion deadlines that are acceptable to all parties involved.
- Ensure the quality of projects.
- Examine faulty or damaged items to find out what's wrong and how to fix it.
Aviation, military systems, and spacecraft may benefit from innovative technology developed by aerospace engineers. Aerodynamic fluid flow; structural design; guidance, navigation and control; instrumentation; robotics; and propulsion are just some of the areas in which they specialize.
Commercial and military planes and helicopters; remotely piloted aircraft and rotorcraft; spacecraft, such as launch vehicles and satellites; and military missiles and rockets can all be designed by aerospace engineers.
An aeronautical engineer may specialize in a variety of areas, including aerodynamics, thermodynamics (including heat transfer), materials science and physics (including motion control), as well as acoustics (including sound propagation).
Aeronautical or astronautical engineering is the most common area of specialization for aerospace engineers.
Engineers in the aeronautics field deal with planes. Aviation and propulsion system design is their primary focus, but they also examine airplanes and materials for their aerodynamic properties. This branch of science deals with all aspects of flying in the atmosphere.
Spacecraft science and technology, as well as how spacecraft operate both on Earth and in outer space, are the focus of the work of aerospace engineers. Small satellites like CubeSats and classic big satellites are all part of this effort.
Environmental and operational challenges in the design of airplanes and spacecraft are unique to aeronautical and astronautical engineering. Physics is a common denominator across the two areas, which is why they are so intertwined.
Education
Aerospace engineers often need a bachelor's degree in engineering or a related field. Aerospace engineering students should take chemistry, physics, advanced math, and computer programming and languages while still in high school.
Along with basic engineering concepts, propulsion, stability, and control, structures, mechanics, and aerodynamics (the study of how air interacts with moving things).
Some schools and universities work with local businesses to provide hands-on learning opportunities for students. Students can gain valuable work experience and education through co-ops and internships.
In five years, a student can earn a bachelor's and master's degree from various colleges. A master's degree or higher is required to teach at a university or conduct research and development. The ABET oversees the accreditation of aerospace engineering programs.
Important traits
Analytical skills and the ability to come up with alternative solutions when a design piece fails to meet specifications is a must.
Business acumen. Aeronautical engineers must follow many federal regulations. Meeting these demands frequently necessitates knowledge of both business and legal principles. Skills in project management or systems engineering may also be useful.
Analytical skills Engineers in the aerospace industry must be able to create designs that meet regulatory requirements and diagnose design flaws. They must be able to ask the right questions and respond appropriately.
Mathematical aptitude Aerospace engineers use calculus and trigonometry to analyze, design, and troubleshoot.
Thinking outside the box. Aerospace engineers use their training and expertise to improve designs and solve problems.
Writing ability Aerospace engineers must be able to write papers that properly describe their concepts and produce documentation for future reference.
Certification and Licensing
Aerospace engineering licensure is not as common or required for entry-level engineers as other engineering licensure. Passing the National Board Certification Examination is required to become a PE (NBCE).
Professional engineers are called "licensed engineers" (PEs). A PE can supervise engineers, approve projects, and provide direct public services. Most states require:
- Engineering and Technology Accreditation Board.
- Passing the FE exam.
- 4 years of relevant work experience.
- Achieving a passing PE rating.
The first FE test requires a bachelor's degree. Engineers who pass this test are usually referred to as interns or EITs (EIs). The second test for EITs and EIs with work experience is Principles and Practice of Engineering.
State-issued permits are not interchangeable. Most states will accept a license from another state as long as the standards meet or exceed their own. Several states require engineers to complete continuing education courses to keep their licenses.
Pay
The median annual wage for aerospace engineers was $134,830 in May 2024. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $85,350, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $205,850.
Job Projections
Employment of aerospace engineers is projected to grow 6 percent from 2023 to 2033, faster than the average for all occupations.