Jobs for the Major
How this major affects a job search
It's no secret that any engineering field is going to be a good bet when it comes to employment. Engineering fields are constantly evolving as new scientific and technological breakthroughs are made. That's right, Shmoopers; there are always new jobs to be had. On top of that, aerospace engineering has the second-highest median income, only behind those greasy petroleum engineers.
If you were super proactive and snagged an internship during your college career, chances are you'd have a job lined up and ready to go before you tossed that tasseled cap into the air.
If you're flexible on location, finding a job as an aerospace engineer is a breeze. Willing to move to the Florida coast, Houston, or maybe even DC? Well, then NASA might be a great fit.
How about out in the middle of the Mojave Desert? Ye—wait, no? Oh, well then. Perhaps an experimental flight test engineering job isn't the best fit for you…
Over 40% of students get a Master's degree after graduating. Although some students go to graduate school directly after graduation, many choose to enter the work force directly after college so they can start paying off those sky-high loans.
Getting an early start in the scary adult work force can also be helpful in deciding which area to focus on for graduate school. Another bonus to doing this is that many large aerospace employers have excellent education benefits and will help or fully pay for your graduate school tuition.
Free school? Yes, please.
Common Career Fields
Aerodynamicist: Have you ever spent several patient minutes on a paper airplane, reeled back, and let it loose into the sky…only to have it instantly turn down and plummet straight into the ground? It probably wasn't very aerodynamic. Oh, the shame.
That's what aerodynamicists do…for money. Real money. Okay, maybe they don't use paper, but they do design vehicle bodies that eliminate drag to maximize performance. And it's not limited to just airplanes here either. Think of the Formula 1 racecars that zip through the Italian streets at up to 200MPH. Reaching those speeds would be impossible without a car body that produces enough ground force to keep it from literally flying off the road.
Designer: Design engineers take a concept, along with a long list of product goals, and plan how to make it happen. Skills in 3D modeling systems and an understanding of manufacturing are important for designers, as is a lot of creativity and "out of the box" thinking. Design engineers also try to help companies get greener by reducing product waste.
Flight Test Engineer: Don't worry; they didn't just load three hundred passengers aboard that flight to Orlando without doing a bit of testing on the plane first. Actually, a ton of testing. Sometimes years' worth of complex projects. Flight test engineers are responsible for testing out prototype aircraft, jet engines, and newly built products.
This is a very hands-on job. Due to the dangerous nature of many projects (rockets may occasionally explode), this work is done in pretty isolated locations. Long hours and high stress are common, but it's probably one of the coolest job fields to get into.
Manufacturing Engineer: These engineers get their hands dirty by working closely with the skilled machinists and fabricators that actually build aircraft. They take ideas for kooky flyin' machines and turn them into reality.
This field often crosses over with mechanical and industrial engineering majors, but knowledge of aircraft structures and commonly used materials sets aerospace students apart in the aircraft industry. For those who had a fondness for model planes as children, this job could be a dream come true.
Mission Control Specialist: This is Houston, ground control…you know, the people who talk to Major Tom. The International Space Station, manned space flights, and satellite launches all need Mission Control Specialists to support them. You'd most likely be working as part of a team, maybe called thermal control, attitude dynamics (we're not talking about grumpy astronauts here), or propulsion. It's a pretty cool job. Even David Bowie fantasized about being part of Mission Control.
Structural Analyst: Be it by constructing the airframe of a 747 or the launch structure for a rocket test stand, structural analysts help ensure that stuff works. It's nice when things don't rip apart mid-flight, no? Structural analysts use their fancy college learnin' to assess the strength and durability of materials against the forces that are exerted upon them. Computer programs are highly utilized in this field to cut down on costs. Get comfy in your office chair and decorate your cubical nicely, because this is what we'd call a "desk job."
Systems Engineer: Aerospace products are some of the most complicated systems to be designed and built, and it's a systems engineer that ensures the proper integration and long-term success of the product. They ensure that everything works and will keep working together properly. This has a very general job description and engineers of different disciplines are all qualified to do it, depending on what the system is. These positions are often less number-crunching and more project management.
Current unemployment of the major
3.6%Percentage of majors who get a higher degree after college
41%Stats obtained from this source.