How to Become a Aerospace Engineer

Aerospace engineering jobs are responsible for designing aircraft, satellites, spacecraft, and missiles. Designing, manufacturing, and testing aerospace products are the basic jobs of aerospace engineers. Aeronautical engineers make proposals for projects which are technically and financially viable. 

• Aerospace engineers design, repair, and improve air and spacecraft, elements, materials, safety regulations, and manufacturing processes with the help of scientific methods.

• The role of Aerospace engineer is to research and analyse the information to develop designs for the aircraft and solve problems.

• Designing and assembling computer systems, control panels, propulsion systems, and guiding systems, are also some of the areas they look into.

• They create design proposals, reports, and also other technical documents.

• Assisting in projects and providing technical advice is also a part of their job as aerospace engineers.

Types of a Aerospace Engineer

There can be types of aerospace engineers or careers related to it. We have provided below some of the most common types of an aerospace engineer in India such as operations technician,  architectural and engineering managers, computer hardware engineers, and many other careers related to it are discussed below. 

Operations Technicians: An operations technician Maintains the equipment that is used for developing, and testing aircraft, and spacecraft. He or she uses computer-based devices to process work efficiently and also on time. 

Architectural and Engineering Managers: Architectural and engineering managers plan, direct, and also give inputs in production for architectural and engineering companies. The individual is required to supervise a number of activities such as activities related to construction, production, and operations. They are often involved in testing, quality check, and assurance at manufacturing factories as well.

Computer Hardware Engineers: The primary responsibility of a computer hardware engineer is to research, design, create, and test the computer equipment that might be used for space flight or is used in space vehicles.He or she ensures that all the computer hardware works perfectly and that there are no glitches. He or she also makes sure that memory devices, processors, and circuit boards are compatible with each other.

Electrical and Electronics Engineering Technicians: Helping in designing and developing computer systems, equipment, monitoring devices, and other electronic equipment are some of the basic jobs of electrical and electronics engineering technicians. They are also involved in manufacturing equipment for automation.

Industrial Engineers: An industrial engineer's main responsibility is to check and maintain the overall equipment effectiveness systems and the stability of the manufacturing systems. He or she is also responsible for conducting equipment and assembly line audits to ensure that everything runs smoothly. 

Materials engineers: Materials engineers develop, and process computer chips, and aircraft wings. They are often involved in the research and development of materials that are optimal for building a spacecraft or the components that are used in them. They keep experimenting in order to find an alloy that can be used for space crafts. 

Also read: Career as flight engineer

Aerospace engineers and technicians work in several places such as laboratories, manufacturing and industrial plants, and offices. Individuals who opt for a career as aerospace engineers generally work in offices, where they have access to computer software and other tools necessary for analysing projects and designing solutions. Aerospace engineer jobs may vary depending on their skills and experience. 

The workspace of aerospace engineers is specifically designed according to their work profile. These days aerospace engineers go through a lot of data, hence they tend to spend a lot of time analysing that data. This is usually done in a laboratory or in an office setup. Time spent on the field has also increased significantly. 

Does Aerospace Engineer require travelling?

Likely

In careers as aerospace engineers, individuals may travel but not as much as mechanical engineers or civil engineers do. Aerospace engineers do technical work in the field and for a particular reason, they often visit fields. For instance, aerospace inspectors mainly do this kind of fieldwork to review products or to ensure employee training, design specifications, and safe operating conditions.

Employment Shifts

Full Time

Like every other job, aerospace engineer jobs need a specific type of commitment regarding work culture or shift timing. This job can not be done from home and it requires seriousness and undivided attention. The aerospace engineering job requires candidates to be on their feet. Previously we have just mentioned seriousness but it also requires particular qualities.

Employment Nature

Permanent

Aerospace engineering or more specifically the aviation industry not only influences recreation and defence but also shipping and trade. Individuals who opt for a career as aerospace engineers generally work for government agencies, defence systems, and scientific services. In most cases, aerospace engineers work in the office environment with computer systems. The aerospace engineer is required to visit the field to test the air vehicles that he or she has designed. 

Work Place

Office, Laboratory, Industrial Plant

The workplace may vary depending on the roles and responsibilities of aerospace engineers. In a career as an aerospace engineer, an individual may work in a manufacturing setting, office, or laboratory where the mechanism and instrument used in missiles or aircraft are tested. 

Presence in Geographical Area

Urban

Offices of aerospace engineering are mainly located in urban areas like Pune, Bengaluru, and also in other metropolitan cities. But it is also noted that most engineers go out of India for better job opportunities. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration hires numerous scientists and aeronautical engineers. Though the number of jobs is less compared to other industries, it is one of the finest courses in the engineering domain.

Time Pressure

Likely

Most aerospace engineers are required to work for a typical nine hours per day. They usually spend most of their working time in offices and aeronautical laboratories. In a career as an aerospace engineer, individuals might be required to work for long periods during the end time of the project to ensure and verify their work. Apart from this, there can be a certain amount of time pressure.

Overtime Details

Individuals who opt for a career as an aerospace engineer work for nine hours per day. The working hours exclusively depend on the role and responsibilities of an engineer. Aerospace engineers with a considerable amount of experience are required to work for long hours usually than normal working hours.

Weekly Hours of Work

Min 45 Hours

Aerospace engineers may need to extend their shift or work time due to many reasons and on several occasions. The work hours primarily depend on which sector the aerospace engineers are working in and on their commitment to their work. Aerospace engineers need to work nine hours a day. The shift time or the work culture is high-paced and dynamic too. 

In a career as an aerospace engineer, individuals may work overtime while trying to meet the deadline like in any other profession. He or she might work day, evening, or night shifts in manufacturing companies. Individuals who opt for a career as aerospace engineer may work for more than forty hours a week when it is required and there are many circumstances where the job may get extended. 

To pursue any career, one is required to develop a certain set of skills to work effectively. Similarly, aerospace engineers are required to be good at both technical and soft skills. Below we have described major skills that are required to become an aerospace engineer. 

Critical Thinking: Aerospace engineers should be able to think logically to identify strengths and weaknesses and find solutions, conclusions, or approaches to the problems. In a career as an aerospace engineer, individuals need to think outside of the box to bring out the best solutions for problems.

Scientific Skills: Individuals who opt for a career as an aerospace engineer must possess strong science skills. He or she must be able to understand the minute details of the subjects, whether it is chemistry or physics. Physics is one of the core subjects of aerospace engineering.

Communication Skills: Aerospace engineers are required to be good at communicating skills to work effectively and complete the project successfully. They must be able to communicate solutions, prepare documentation and reports, and collaborate with teams. 

Problem-Solving Ability: Individuals who opt for a career as aerospace engineer must possess problem-solving ability and they should stay with the spirit of finding a solution to every problem. As an aerospace engineer one might face a lot of unexpected situations at a moment’s notice, this is where the problem-solving ability of aerospace engineers comes in.

Time management: Like every other profession, Aerospace engineering jobs demand effective time management. It is important for professionals to complete the task in the scheduled time. There will be a lot of tasks to be completed in a single day, hence it is important to possess exceptional time management skills. Not only professionally, in order to have a work-life balance, but time management can also be extremely useful. 

Leadership Skills: An aerospace engineer should work well in a team and should know how to supervise and lead the team effectively. Quality management is something that all astronomers, as well as aeronautical engineers, should strive for. In a career as an aerospace engineer, individuals should know how to manage adverse conditions in the absence of higher authority.

We have mentioned below the certifications that individuals may opt for who want to establish a career as Aerospace Engineer.

• Master's Certification in External Aerodynamics Simulations

• Aircraft Stability and Control

• Understanding and Applying Structural Dynamics: Dynamics & Aerospace Structures

• Aircraft Stability and Control

• Understanding and Applying Structural Dynamics: Dynamics & Aerospace Structures

• Introduction to Aerospace Engineering

The aerospace engineering scope is huge in the aviation management industry. It is pretty new and these days it is developing in India. This particular industry requires a huge investment and the prominent Indian government companies are Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), and National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL), Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). 

It is estimated that the Indian aerospace and defence (A&D) market is projected to reach nearly 70 billion dollars by the end of 2030. Moreover India is aiming to have a 44 billion dollar space economy by the end of 2033. As far as the future of jobs in aerospace engineering is concerned, it looks strong. 

In the aerospace industry, there are plenty of innovations taking place and companies need people who are competent and visionaries. The future of aerospace engineering career looks strong as companies are looking into new technologies, which will make aerial vehicles more efficient. Therefore in hindsight, the market growth of aerospace engineering is immense.