How Many Jobs are Available in Aerospace: Aerospace is a term used to collectively refer to the atmosphere and outer space. Aerospace activity is very diverse, with various commercial, industrial, and military applications. Aerospace engineering consists of aeronautics and astronautics. Aerospace organizations research, design, manufacture, operate or maintain aircraft and spacecraft.

How Many Jobs are Available in Aerospace

Thinking of pursuing a degree in aerospace engineering? Aerospace engineering isn’t just a career for astronauts, even though that is one possible outcome. You will study subjects like propulsion, structure, thermodynamics, and avionics. Here are a handful of careers you can pursue after you graduate as an aerospace engineer.

Jobs are Available in Aerospace

Aerospace Engineer

An aerospace engineer designs, tests, and manages the manufacturing of aircraft, spacecraft, satellites, and missiles. They also test prototypes to make sure they function properly according to design and develop new technologies to be used in space exploration, aviation, and defense systems.

Aerospace engineers can specialize in a specific type of aerospace product, such as missiles and rockets, military fighter jets, spacecraft, helicopters, or commercial aircraft. Or they may choose to specialize in specific areas, such as instrumentation and communication, navigation and control, structural design, guidance, or production methods.

They work mostly in analysis and design, manufacturing, industries that perform research and development, and the federal government.

Aerospace engineers design, analyze, test, troubleshoot, and develop advanced technology in defense systems, spacecraft, and aviation. They establish the standards for quality control and design processes, identify issues for products that are not working correctly, and try to find solutions to fix those issues.

Aerospace engineers may choose to specialize in areas such as aerodynamic fluid flow, structural design, guidance/navigation and control, instrumentation and communication, robotics, or propulsion and combustion.

They can specialize in designing different types of aerospace products, such as commercial and military airplanes and helicopters, remotely piloted aircraft and rotorcraft, spacecraft, including launch vehicles and satellites, and military missiles and rockets.

responsibilities

Assess proposals and design requirements
Determine if projects are technically and financially feasible
Go over budgets, timescales, and specifications with clients
Do theoretical and practical research
Evaluate designs to confirm that products meet engineering principles
Ensure designs meet customer requirements
Direct, coordinate, produce and implement design, manufacture, and test procedures
Measure and improve performance of aircraft, systems, and components
Assist in assembling aircraft
Test, evaluate, modify and re-test products
Determine if proposed projects will result in safe aircraft and parts
Ensure that projects meet quality standards
Inspect malfunctioning or damaged products
Identify sources of problems and possible solutions
Provide technical advice
Analyze and interpret data
Work towards completion dates and deadlines

Academic researchers

As an academic researcher you’ll apply your expertise and skills developed through study and research. You’ll aim to publish papers on your work in peer-reviewed, well-respected journals and will write reports, books or chapters of books on your specialist area of knowledge.

You’re also likely to be involved in the teaching and supervision of university students and speaking at conferences.

A significant amount of your time will be spent on planning research, attending meetings with colleagues and contributing to the strategic direction of your department or group.

Responsibilities

carry out original, high-level individual and collaborative research
organise your own time and budget effectively, including for off-site and overseas visits
analyse large sets of data and information, drawing relevant conclusions
work to deadlines as required by fund or grant holder
prepare and deliver presentations at national and international conferences to large audiences
prepare and write high quality papers for submission to peer-reviewed journals and conference proceedings
participate in group meetings with other researchers and support staff
apply for sources of external funding in addition to that provided by your employer
undertake thorough and comprehensive literature reviews
teach undergraduate and postgraduate students
develop knowledge and skills relating to the latest techniques and applications relevant to your area of interest and deliver training in research techniques and methods to colleagues and students

Mechanical engineer

As a mechanical engineer you’ll provide efficient solutions to the development of processes and products, ranging from small component designs to extremely large plants, machinery or vehicles. You’ll work on all stages of a product, from research and development to design and manufacture, through to installation and final commissioning.

Most industries rely on a form of mechanical systems, and mechanical engineering is thought to be one of the most diverse of all engineering disciplines. Due to this, there are employment opportunities across several sectors.

Responsibilities

develop and use new materials and technologies
manage people, projects and resources – this will depend on your role
develop, test and evaluate theoretical designs
discuss and solve complex problems with manufacturing departments, sub-contractors, suppliers and customers
make sure a product can be made reliably and will perform consistently in specified operating environments
manage projects using engineering principles and techniques
plan and design new production processes
produce details of specifications and outline designs
recommend modifications following prototype test results
use research, analytical, conceptual and planning skills, particularly those in mathematical modelling and computer-aided design
consider the implications of issues such as cost, safety and time constraints
work with other professionals, within and outside the engineering sector
monitor and commission plant and systems.

Military Aerospace engineer

Even though the Military acquires aerospace equipment from commercial sources, it relies on its own cadre of engineers to fulfill aerospace missions. Aerospace engineers direct research, oversee equipment production, and supervise all phases related to the development and evaluation of aircraft and aircraft subsystems.

Aerospace engineers direct research programs and design military aircraft and aerospace equipment. They serve as aviation technical specialists in air warfare research projects and supervise aircraft design projects from development to evaluation of experimental equipment. They formulate policies and coordinate procurement programs for aircraft and aircraft subsystems, and serve as engineering and technical management liaisons across military branches, contracting organizations, and other government agencies.

Maintenance engineer

As a maintenance engineer, you’ll be responsible for the continuous running of equipment and machinery in industrial settings. Using computerised systems, you’ll oversee routine maintenance and organise repairs. You’ll also be involved with control and monitoring devices and occasionally in the manufacture of items that will help in maintenance.

Your role is vital to the efficiency, development and progress of manufacturing and processing industries. Working with other professionals, you’ll improve production facilities, reduce the incidence of costly breakdowns and develop strategies to improve overall reliability and safety of plant, personnel and production processes.

Responsibilities

design maintenance strategies, procedures and methods
carry out routine maintenance work and respond to equipment faults
diagnose breakdown problems
fit new parts and make sure equipment is working correctly
carry out quality inspections on jobs
liaise with client departments, customers and other engineering and production colleagues
arrange specialist procurement of fixtures, fittings or components
control maintenance tools, stores and equipment
monitor and control maintenance costs
deal with emergencies, unplanned problems and repairs
improve health and safety policies and procedures
work with specialist equipment, such as programmable logic controllers (PLC), which control machinery on factory assembly lines
write maintenance strategies to help with installation and commissioning guidelines
ensure there is continuous cover of the machinery and equipment in case of breakdowns.

Mission or Payload Specialist

These positions are as crew members on space missions, currently to the moon or to a space station. Mission specialists help with data collection, experimentation, and other work critical to a space mission. Payload specialists accompany a piece of equipment in order to properly install or use it in the mission. Both of these positions may be for a limited time, such as for one space mission only, and are usually filled by researchers or other experts in the field.

Design engineer

As a design engineer you’re involved in the initial concept, design, development and management of projects in a range of sectors such as construction and the built environment, materials, software, components, machinery and vehicles.

To succeed you’ll need strong technical knowledge, as well as problem solving, communication, leadership and project management skills.

Depending on their specialist area, design engineers may also be known as CAD engineers, consulting engineers and product design engineers.

Responsibilities

liaise with clients to identify their requirements
investigate and undertake analysis on how to improve existing projects or components
summarise scientific and engineering principles in an easy to understand manner
write technical reports to summarise findings
cover the concept, specification, tender and development of new projects or components
design the aesthetics, materials and functionality of components
use CAD, CAN and CAM systems to design and visualise projects
undertake model making, prototyping and product testing
identify new systems and processes to drive quality, efficiency and save costs
undertake complex calculations
communicate effectively with the clients, colleagues and contractors involved in a project
lead a team of engineers
plan effectively to ensure projects are delivered on time, to standard and to budget.

CAD technician/draughtsperson

A CAD technician, also known as a draughtsperson, uses CAD software to create technical drawings and plans – also known as draughting – for products and parts used in the engineering, construction and manufacturing industries.

You’ll work with architects and design engineers to understand the requirements of their initial designs and turn them into accurate and detailed technical drawings in 2D and 3D models. These drawings are used at all stages of a project, from estimating cost and feasibility to creating the blueprints for manufacturing and instructions for installation.

Responsibilities

create high-quality detailed technical drawings and plans based on designs supplied by architects and designers and make modifications to existing drawings
use a variety of CAD software programmes to create designs in 2D and 3D models
liaise with architects, engineers and designers to understand their design requirements and provide technical advice to manufacturing and construction technicians
provide accurate, detailed and to scale drawings
ensure drawings are compliant with industry and health and safety standards and protocols
calculate costs and apply knowledge of materials and engineering principles to check feasibility of manufacture and construction of the product
conduct site visits and surveys when required
present working drawings for use in all stages of the project, tender, manufacture/construction and installation
produce installation and manufacturing documentation
maintain accurate records.

How Many Jobs are Available in Aerospace