Job Duties
Aerospace engineers design, develop, and test aircraft, spacecraft, and missiles and supervise the manufacture of these products. They are divided into two categories: aeronautical engineers work with aircraft, and astronautical engineers work with spacecraft. Aerospace engineers design and create machines that are incredibly complex, including aircraft that weigh over half a million pounds to spacecraft that travel over 17,000 miles per hour. They may work with technology relating to aviation, defense systems, and space exploration. They may specialize in structural design, guidance, navigation and control, instrumentation and communication, or production. They sometimes specialize in a certain type of product, like commercial transports, military fighter jets, helicopters, spacecraft, or missiles and rockets. They are often experts in aerodynamics, thermodynamics, celestial mechanics, propulsion, acoustics, or guidance and control systems.
Job Skills
Aerospace engineers need to be able to work effectively as part of a team. They should have the ability to communicate in writing and orally. These communication skills are vital in the field of aerospace engineering because aerospace engineers interact so often with many non-engineering specialists in a wide variety of fields. Aerospace engineers should be analytical, creative, detail-oriented, and inquisitive.
Income
In 2002, aerospace engineers earned a median annual salary of $72,750. Earnings ranged from the lowest 10%, who earned less than $49,640, and the highest 10%, who earned more than $105,060. According to a 2003 survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, bachelor's degree candidates in mechanical engineering received starting offers averaging $48,028, master's degree candidates averaged $61,162, and Ph.D. candidates averaged $68,406. The following are the median annual earnings for the industries employing the highest numbers of aerospace engineers:
- Federal government -- $81,830
- Architectural, engineering, and related services -- $74,890
- Aerospace products and parts manufacturing -- $70,920
Training and Education
A bachelor's degree is required for all entry-level aerospace engineering positions. Most programs include study in the aerospace specialty, as well as courses in mathematics and science. Many programs include a design course, along with a computer or laboratory class. Many colleges offer students the option of earning a 2- or 4-year degree in engineering technology, which include hands-on laboratory courses that prepare students for practical design and production work, as opposed to more theory-based jobs. While graduates of these programs may obtain the same kinds of jobs as graduates with a bachelor's degree in engineering, they are not qualified to register as professional engineers.
Faculty positions and many research and development programs in aerospace engineering require graduate training. Some engineers earn degrees in business administration to enhance their education and give themselves more career options. In fact, many high-level executives in government and business started their careers as engineers. Engineers in the United States are required to be licensed if they offer their services directly to the public. When engineers become licensed, they are designated Professional Engineers (PE). PE requirements include a degree from an engineering program accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET), 4 years of relevant work experience, and successful completion of a State examination. Entry-level engineers usually work under the supervision of experienced engineers, and may advance to become technical specialists or to supervise a staff of engineers and technicians.
Employment
In 2002, aerospace engineers held about 78,000 jobs.
Job Outlook
Between 2002 and 2012, employment of aerospace engineers is expected to decline. This will be largely due to the slowdown in air travel, as well as foreign competition. However, the number of degrees granted in aerospace engineering has declined greatly over the last decade because of a perceived lack of opportunity in the field. This will create favorable job opportunities for aerospace engineers.
For more information on how to pursue this profession, please see our Computer Training and Technology Education directory.
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