How to Become an Aerospace Engineer

Aerospace engineering can be a rewarding career option for students who have a passion for all things relating to flight, be it flight within the earth’s atmosphere (aeronautics) or space flight (astronautics). But just how do you become an aerospace engineer? What will a program in aerospace engineering entail in terms of coursework and study? What are the employment options like for this career path? This article will address some of these common questions and help provide guidance on how to become an aerospace engineer.

Initial Steps

During your high school years, you can start taking some initial steps that will help you prepare for your aerospace engineering career. High school is an ideal time to experience different subjects and get a feel for what it is like to learn those subjects as well as to assess how you feel about what you are learning. If you are interested in heading towards a course of study in aerospace engineering, here are several ideas to consider while prior to thinking about college.

Build a Foundation in the Sciences and Math

Someone who is serious about a career as an aerospace engineer should not be shying away from taking classes in science and mathematics while in high school. Classes in Biology, Chemistry, and Physics will help you become grounded with an introductory understanding of the sciences, which are going to be covered in greater depth during an undergraduate program in aerospace engineering. Similarly, mathematics classes like geometry, trigonometry, algebra, and calculus will give you the fundamentals that are needed to succeed in an aerospace engineering career. Computer science classes that teach programming skills should also be part of your learning experience prior to college, as you will need to work extensively with software programs of all types from specialized analysis programs to design tools to project management applications.

Learn to Collaborate, Participate, and Communicate

Participate in science fairs and seek out other opportunities to collaborate with fellow students whenever possible. Learning to operate within a team of like-minded colleagues is part of what it means to work as an aerospace engineer. Even if your personality tends towards more of an introvert, learning to communicate effectively within a team environment will be a skill that pays dividends throughout your career.

And while on the subject of communication, hone your skills in both written and verbal presentation. Engineers need to have the ability to communicate to both fellow engineers and other non-engineers. Sometimes, that entails creating specifications or other documentation in written form — other times it may mean speaking to a team or group of colleagues. Developing the ability to tailor your message to the audience and learning how to present complex concepts in terms that others can comprehend is just as valuable a skill to have as a deep technical knowledge base.

Get in Touch with How You Are Enjoying Learning

While in high school, pay attention to not only what you are learning, but how you are enjoying what you are learning. If you are struggling with the complexities of subjects such as math and science, then perhaps studying aerospace engineering may not be the best career path for you. Seek out the resources that your school guidance department offers to help you understand more about the profession that interests you, but also more about who you are as a person. Career success and happiness is easier to achieve when your interests and abilities align with the expectation of that career path.

Attend a Summer Camp

Many universities offer summer camps aimed at students which offer opportunities to learn more about technology programs and experience engineering labs and design/build activities. The Engineering Education Service Center (EESC) provides a resource to identify summer camp programs.

Seek out Networking Opportunities

An interesting way to learn more about what the day-to-day world of an aerospace engineer is like is to seek out opportunities to meet with or connect with engineers working in the profession. If you are located near companies or organizations that employ aerospace engineers, you may try contacting those companies to see if they offer any career guidance days for students considering a study program in engineering. Your school guidance office, as well as contacts of your family and friends, may lead to an opportunity to learn from someone in the profession. Professional organizations such as the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) can also be a good source of information about careers in aerospace engineering.

What You Will Study While Training to Become an Aerospace Engineer

Once you apply to and have been accepted at a university, you will begin your formal training to become an aerospace engineer. Besides building on your fundamentals from high school such as more advanced physics and mathematics courses, undergraduate programs in aerospace engineering cover a range of additional subjects that prepare students to become familiar with the challenges of the profession and to develop mastery of the principals of aeronautics and astronautics. These courses typically include requirements and electives in disciplines such as these:

• Single Variable Calculus
• Vector Calculus
• Linear Algebra
• Differential Calculus
• Probability and Statistics
• Solid Mechanics
• Thermodynamics
• Electricity & Magnetism
• Programming Methodologies
• Feedback Control
• Fluids Engineering
• Atmospheric Flight
• Air and Space Propulsion
• Design of Lightweight structures
• Space Flight
• Robotics
• Applied Aerodynamics
• Flight Mechanics & Controls
• Flight Instrumentation
• GPS Systems
• Aircraft Design
• Spacecraft Design

The academic requirements for a program in aerospace engineering vary from university to university, and the degree programs themselves may be identified differently within the School of Engineering. For instance, one university may offer a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering, while others may issue a Bachelor of Science in Engineering with a sub notation of the concentration in Aeronautics and Astronautics. The course work is academically challenging and rigorous, but students who have prepared themselves and know what to expect will also find the program rewarding and an outlet for creative design.

Employment options for Aerospace Engineers

Aerospace engineers are employed in government, defense, research facilities, and commercial companies to design, build, and test aircraft, missiles, spacecraft, satellites, and other airborne systems. Companies such as NASA, JPL, Boeing, Lockheed-Martin, Northrup-Grumman, Airbus, General Dynamics, Raytheon, and BAE Systems all hire aerospace engineers to develop systems for space, national defense, or commercial aviation. Companies such as Space X and Blue Origin are part of more recent use of commercial companies pioneering space and space exploration, often in partnership with NASA.

According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH) published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the employment opportunities for aerospace engineers are projected to grow at a 2% CAGR over the 10-year period from 2018–2028. This is lower than the projected growth for the engineering profession across all specializations (5%) and the growth projection across all occupations (also 5%).

Internships

While pursuing a degree program, internship opportunities are a great way to gain experience which can supplement classroom training. Internships are also great to add to your resume when you are seeking that initial full-time job after graduation. This post from Reddit lists over 100 aerospace companies, many of whom have summer intern programs available.

Earnings of Aerospace Engineers

Aerospace engineering is a well-paying profession, and according to data from Statista, scores 10th among the top 20 highest paying bachelor degree programs in the U.S., based on mid-career pay comparisons (see Figure 1). Mid-career earning for aeronautics and aerospace bachelor degree recipients was $131,600.

Figure 1 — Highest Paying Bachelor’s Degree Programs in the U.S.

Figure 1 — Highest Paying Bachelor’s Degree Programs in the U.S.

Image/data credit: Statista.com

Within the engineering specialties, aerospace engineers rank in the 6th position of all architecture and engineering majors based on data from a 2013 study (see Figure 2), with a median annual income of $90,000.

Figure 2 — Comparison of Median Income of Architecture and Engineering Majors

Figure 2 — Comparison of Median Income of Architecture and Engineering Majors

Image/data credit: Statista.com

Summary

This article briefly summarized how to become an aerospace engineer, what to expect from an academic program in that field of study, and the employment and earnings opportunities for the occupation. To learn more about the other types of engineering roles that exist, see our related article on the types of engineers.