How to Become an Aerospace Engineer?

Aerospace Engineering is an ideal field for those interested in learning how to make aircraft and spacecraft. Ever wonder about how an aeroplane or a spacecraft is built? Engineers design, develop, construct and further test different types of aircraft and spacecraft to make sure they are perfect for space missions and flights. To start a career in aerospace engineering, you need to pursue both bachelor’s and master’s degree qualifications to explore the best career opportunities at reputed institutions like NASA, and ISRO, amongst others. Here is a complete career map on how to become an aeronautical engineer!

Aerospace Engineer

As an aerospace engineer, one must possess a diverse skill set. Firstly, critical thinking abilities are paramount when designing and analyzing complex aircraft systems. Additionally, attention to detail is crucial, as even the smallest oversight could have substantial consequences. Moreover, effective communication skills enable collaboration with multidisciplinary teams, fostering innovation and problem-solving. Furthermore, adaptability is essential, given the dynamic nature of the aerospace industry. Engineers must stay up-to-date with cutting-edge technologies, always seeking improvements. Lastly, a passion for exploration and a drive to push boundaries are common traits among aerospace engineers, as they strive to revolutionize air and space travel, enhancing humanity’s understanding of the universe

What Does an Aerospace Engineer Do?

To put it simply, an Aerospace Engineer mainly works on the designing, development, quality testing as well as instrumentation and construction of spacecraft, aircraft, missiles, and satellites. To become an Aerospace Engineer, you need to acquire an undergraduate degree in Aeronautical Engineering and then further build on your expertise with a master’s degree in a specialization in these fields. Further, this lucrative career path is both intellectually stimulating and financially rewarding as you will get to work with space and aircraft organizations. They build prototypes and designs and then further do quality testing to ensure that their designs adhere to ethical, environmental, and safety standards.

Work of an Aerospace Engineer

Similarly, Aerospace engineers spend most of their time in an office, working with complex computer equipment and sophisticated software. An Aerospace Engineer may be required to work in a manufacturing setting at times to oversee the building and execution of a design. Aerospace engineers work full-time and on set schedules. However, managing larger projects may need working excessive hours, especially when deadlines are approaching.

Skills Required to Become an Aerospace Engineer

Here are the most essential skills you need to become an aeronautical engineer:

• Excellent and Detailed Knowledge of Spacecraft and Aircraft Design and Technology
• Team player as well as a team leader
• Detail-oriented
• Creative and innovative thinking
• Exceptional time management and project management
• Analytical Thinking Skills

Aerospace Engineering Courses 

Since formal education is a core part of pursuing this technical career, you need to pursue a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering or Aeronautical Engineering. Here are the top Aerospace Engineering courses for those wanting to become an Aerospace Engineer:

• Bachelor of Engineering Honours (Aeronautical)
• BEng Aero. Engineering 
• Bachelor of Engineering (Aero. Engineering) (Honours)
• BSc (Hons) Aviation Engineering
• BS in Engineering in Aero. Engineering
• Master of Professional Engineering (Aero. Engineering)
• MSc in Aero. Engineering
• Master of Science in Aeronautical Engineering

Aerospace Engineering Syllabus

The Aerospace Engineering degree is essentially a BTech curriculum that takes four academic years to complete. Any AeronauticalEngineering course will cover the following topics/subjects:

Aerodynamics	Flight Mechanics
Aerospace Propulsion	Incompressible Fluid Mechanics
Aerospace Structural Mechanics	Introduction to Aerospace Engineering
Aircraft Design	Spaceflight Mechanics
Aircraft Propulsion	Thermodynamics and Propulsion

Academic Eligibility

So, if you are planning to pursue any of these courses, here are the major eligibility requirements you need to fulfil:

• The applicant must pass 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics or 3 years engineering degree (preferably in aero./aeronautical engineering) from any recognized Board/University at the time of admission.
• In addition with, if you want to study these courses in India, you have to qualify for any of these entrance exams like JEE, AIEEE, Indian Institute of Aeronautics Entrance Exam, etc. for bachelor’s degree programs and GATE for master’s degree programs.
• If you plan to pursue a degree in this field abroad, you will have to provide GRE scores along with language proficiency scores of IELTS/TOEFL/PTE as well as an SOP and LORs.

Top Colleges & Universities

Finding the right university for your chosen degree is an important decision since you need the best industry exposure and opportunities to become a successful aerospace engineer. Also, these are the top Aerospace Engineering colleges and universities in the world:

• Massachusetts Institute of Technology 
• Stanford University
• California Institute of Technology
• Georgia Institute of Technology
• University of Michigan– Ann Arbor
• The University of Illinois- Urbana Champaign
• University of Texas-Austin
• Princeton University
• Texas A&M University
• University of Colorado
• Cornell University
• Air Force Institute of Technology
• Case Western Reserve University
• North Carolina State University
• Ohio State University
• New York University

Jobs & Salary

While this is a lucrative profile, there are numerous rewarding opportunities in this field that you can choose from. Moreover, here are the most popular Aerospace Engineering jobs:

Job Role	Salary per Annum
Aircraft Engineers	9 Lakhs
Thermal Design Engineer	12.6 Lakhs
Aircraft Production Manager	20 Lakhs
Aerospace Design Checker	4.3 Lakhs
CAD technician	4.8 Lakhs
Design Engineer	5 Lakhs
Maintenance Engineer	3.2 Lakhs
Manufacturing systems engineer	3.9 Lakhs
Materials engineer	1.5 Lakhs
Mechanical engineer	3 Lakhs

So, there are some fields which can never go out of demand and this field is one of them. The possibilities here are endless in terms of the work as well as the pay scale. The average salary for an Aeronautical engineer may vary from country to country but on average you can earn in the range of Rs 10 lakh p.a- 20 lakh p.a as a fresher. As you start going up the ladder, your salary also tends to increase with your position and experience.

Top Recruiters

The organizations listed below recruit aeronautical engineers in a variety of positions.

• Indian Space Research Organisations (ISRO)
• Hindustan Aeronautical Limited (HAL)
• National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL)
• Defence Research And Development Organisation (DRDO)

Private companies that hire Aeronautical Engineers for their aircraft-related projects are Airbus, Boeing, Goodrich, and GE.

FAQs

Thus, we hope that this blog provided you with all the essential information on how to become an aeronautical engineer. Confused about choosing the right course to begin your career in Aerospace Engineering? Our Leverage Edu experts are here to help you find the best course and university as per your interests and preferences. Sign up for a free session with us today!