Have you ever wondered who made the first gun? In the 10th century, the Chinese invented a way to fire lance with a bamboo tube that used gunpowder. That technique got advanced with time and several other types of weapons were created. And fast-forwarding to the 21st century, we have a dedicated career for those who want to learn more about Weapons. Weapons Engineering is a branch of engineering concerned with designing, maintaining, developing, and testing weapons for the military. If you are someone scouting for exciting job opportunities after PCM then keep reading because we are about to unravel an exciting career of a Weapons Engineer for all science students!

Who is a Weapons Engineer?

When you hear the words weapons engineer, the first thing that comes to your mind is someone who designs or manages the weapons. However, the field of weapons engineering holds so much more than you think it does. Not only to design but to test, develop and manage the weapons and the weapons system are the other related things that a weapons engineer does. Developing artillery and weapons for the military or private contractors is the job of a weapons engineer. A Weapon Engineer must have complete knowledge related to the electrical, optical, mechanical, chemical, mechatronics, aerospace, and material engineering fields, as the work of a Weapons Engineer involves all these areas.

Also Read: How to Join an Indian Army after 12th?

Roles and Responsibilities

The day-to-day roles and responsibilities of a Weapons Engineer are mentioned below:

• Designing the new weapons and enhancing the pre-existing designs of the weapons
• Testing the new equipment that is manufactured for military use
• Maintenance of the weapon system to ensure proper functioning
• Removing the faulty or non-working devices and equipment for maintaining the advancements of the new weapons
• Diagnosing various elements of weapons and their system to ensure regularity in working conditions.

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How to Start a Career as a Weapons Engineer? 

If you want to start a career as a Weapons Engineer/Designer, you must have the proper qualifications related to the field. The major required degrees according to the level of education are mentioned below:

Undergraduate Courses

• BE / B Tech in Mechanical Engineering
• BE / B Tech in Production 
• BE / B Tech in Chemical Engineering
• BE / B Tech in Material and Metallurgy Engineering
• BE / B Tech in Electrical Engineering
• BE / B Tech in Air Armament 
• BE / B Tech in Combat Vehicles 
• BE / B Tech in Guided Missiles  
• BE / B Tech in Microwave and Radar  
• BE / B Tech in Guidance and Navigation Control

Postgraduate Courses

• ME / M Tech in Mechanical 
• ME / M Tech in Production 
• ME / M Tech in Chemical 
• ME / M Tech in Material and Metallurgy 
• ME / M Tech in Electrical 
• ME / M Tech in Air Armament
• ME / M Tech in Combat Vehicles 
• ME / M Tech in Guided Missiles  
• ME / M Tech in Microwave and Radar
• ME / M Tech in Guidance and Navigation Control

Doctoral Courses

• Ph.D. in Mechanical
• Ph.D in Production 
• Ph.D in Chemical  
• Ph.D in Material and Metallurgy 
• Ph.D in Electrical 
• Ph.D in Air Armament
• Ph.D in Combat Vehicles 
• Ph.D in Guided Missiles  
• Ph.D in Microwave and Radar 
• Ph.D in Guidance and Navigation Control

Note: This is not an exhaustive list. The courses can vary from one university to another.

Popular Universities for Weapons Engineers

To get a diverse knowledge and practical experience of the subjects, here are the top universities that are the best in helping to kick-start your career as a Weapons Engineer:

1. Cranfield Defense and Security, UK
2. Taylor’s University, Malaysia
3. Naval Postgraduate School, USA
4. Stevens Institute of Technology, USA
5. University of Wolverhampton, UK
6. American Military University, USA
7. United States Naval Academy, USA
8. University of Leeds, UK
9. United States Military Academy
10. The University of Adelaide, Australia

Top Colleges for Weapons Engineering in India

1. Defense Institute of Advanced Technology, Pune
2. Institute of Armament Technology, Pune
3.  Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay
4. Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur
5. Indian Institute of Technology, Madras
6. Manipal Institute of Technology
7. SRM University, Chennai
8. College of Military Engineering, Pune
9. MIT School of Engineering, MIT-ADT University
10. UPES, Dehradun

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Major Areas of Employment

Till now, you have read about the essential roles and courses that are required to start your career. Let’s have a look at some of the major employment scope that you will have after becoming a successful Weapons Engineer:

• Research and Development
• Weapons Maintenance Engineering
• Weapons Engineering
• Product Designing
• Engineering 
• Software Development

Also Read: How to Become a Software Engineer?

The scope of pursuing a career as a Weapons Engineer is immense. Want to kickstart your career abroad in this field? Not sure how to proceed with the application? Then, let the experts at Leverage Edu provide a helping hand. Reach out to our experts through an e-meeting and get assistance right from crafting an SOP to completing the admission formalities!