I think you must have looked up at the stars, dreaming of the day when you will fly among them. Maybe your early dream has grown into a fierce interest that has inspired you to learn more about aerospace engineering.
Therefore, if you’re wondering if a career in aerospace engineering is worthwhile, you’ve come to the right place. The short answer to this is unquestionably yes. If you’re willing to put in the necessary time and effort, a career in aerospace engineering can be truly amazing.
No doubt that the aerospace industry has always contributed to the economy of the world, no wonder there is always a high demand for professionals in this field. In fact, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment of aerospace engineers is to grow 6 percent from 2022 to 2032, faster than the average for all occupations.
Based solely on your bachelor’s degree, you have a very good chance of finding employment in aerospace engineering practically right away after graduation, according to the numbers.
It is, nevertheless, not inexpensive, and both the industry and certain other challenging engineering programs are highly competitive. Yes, there are still plenty of easy engineering courses available, and the Midwest is home to some highly intriguing engineering colleges.
In aerospace engineering, there are some ups and downs you need to take note of, and lots of beauties of becoming one, and we’ll be covering all of them in this post. But first, we would love to explain in detail what exactly an aerospace engineer does, so you’ll know what you’re getting yourself into.
What are the Daily Tasks and Responsibilities of an Aerospace Engineer?
- To begin with, an aerospace engineer is responsible for designing the initial blueprints for aircraft, spacecraft, or components, and this can be done with the help of complex computer-aided design (CAD) software.
- With the help of different Finite element analyses (FEAs) like Patran, Nastran, etc, they can accurately conduct simulations and analysis, and even develop and test different prototypes to ensure the products are safe and effective.
- Due to the need for safety, they also have to conduct lots of tests on components and systems, to ensure the pass performance and safety standards.
- Any issue(s) that arises during development or even testing, they have to resolve it/them. They can still collaborate with other engineers, scientists, and business professionals to do this and other activities.
- There is still a need to prepare technical reports to communicate the results of the work to colleagues, clients, and regulatory bodies.
- Some of them, due to their experience in the field, contribute to research and development to improve existing technologies.
It’s important to remember that engineers working in the aerospace industry typically have specialized knowledge in fields like structures, composite materials, guidance and control, aircraft propulsion, aerodynamics and fluid mechanics, and spacecraft engineering.
After going over some of the duties of an aerospace engineer, let’s go over some essential information, including advantages and disadvantages, about pursuing a career in aerospace engineering.
Things to Know About Aerospace Engineering
Becoming an aerospace engineer is exciting, but you also need to consider the practical side of things. For this reason, we’ll go over the benefits and drawbacks of advancing your aerospace engineering career.
Pros of Aerospace Engineering
1. Future of Aerospace Engineering
Let’s start by discussing the profession’s future. As we previously stated, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment of aerospace engineers will increase by 6% between 2022 and 2032, outpacing the average growth rate for all occupations. The primary reason for this demand is the increased popularity of air travel, particularly in light of the global movement toward more ecologically friendly aircraft.
Additionally, the need for qualified aerospace engineers is growing as a result of the achievements made in space by companies like SpaceX, Blue Origin, ABL Space Systems, and others, which are expanding both public and private space programs.
The future of aerospace engineering is promising if you have the right skills and passion for it.
2. Competitive Salary
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) states that aerospace engineers typically make $126,880 year. This can vary based on your location, years of experience, degree of education, and other factors, so your actual income may be more or less than this.
Therefore, if you have more years of experience and maybe focus on the research and development side of aerospace engineering, you could make as much as $176,280. You could also make as little as $78,170.
Additionally, depending on your role and employment status, you may be eligible for benefits like insurance coverage and retirement planning services.
3. Pioneering New Technologies
It’s no longer news that aerospace engineers are among those that are at the forefront of innovation, at least SpaceX has exposed that. The kind of aircraft, and spacecraft that can be created in the future are boundless, and better and more sophisticated softwares to perform complex simulations, and analyze performance will be created alongside.
Aerospace engineers have the privilege of pushing boundaries in their experiments. You see there are lots of fun things to learn, and if you love using your creativity to build technical solutions then an aerospace career is meant for you.
4. Challenging and Rewarding
Aerospace engineering requires years of intense study and complex problem-solving, as well as rigorous mathematics, physics, and engineering principles. Despite this, the field achieves many astounding feats. It is impossible to quantify the satisfaction you get from watching your creation become a spacecraft, airplane, or other technological marvel.
Although there are difficulties involved in becoming an aerospace engineer, these difficulties also lead to amazing rewards.
5. Global Impact
Can you briefly envision a world without satellites, space travel, or airplanes? It would seem as though something is missing. (Even though it still looks like a lot is missing in our world, that’s by the way, I believe you got my point).
Another indication that a career in aerospace engineering is worthwhile is its worldwide influence, which comes from how it improves travel times, promotes tourism, and helps explore new continents. Drones can now transport packages and even medical supplies, which have the potential to save lives, with ease.
I hope you keep in mind that satellites enable us to have internet access, GPS navigation, and international phone calls.
6. Diverse Options
The truth is you can’t build an entire aircraft or spacecraft alone, aerospace engineering allows you to specialize in a particular area. Whether it’s Aerodynamics and Fluid Mechanics. Structural Dynamics and Aeroelasticity, Guidance and Control, Composite Materials, Aircraft Propulsion, Aircraft Control, Spacecraft Engineering, etc.
You can also choose to focus on a particular industry such as Commercial Aviation, Defense and Aerospace, Research and Development, Space Exploration, etc.
Now we’ve mentioned the good side of choosing an aerospace engineering career, let’s see some disadvantages.
Cons of Aerospace Engineering
7. Demand and Stressful
The academic route necessitates extensive study time and rigorous computation in the fields of engineering, physics, and mathematics. You should even prepare for late-night studying.
There is no place for error when handling the lives of so many people, as it could have disastrous results.
As an aeronautical engineer, you should also anticipate experiencing stress, particularly when attempting to fulfill critical project deadlines. This brings up the following drawback.
8. Work-life Balance
Depending on the project, position, and company you are working for, you should expect long hours of work. Also, since they always push to meet deadlines, it usually lead to overtime work, and this can lead to poor work-life balance.
9. Significant Time on Computers
Since sophisticated software is now used for many modern designs, software is also used to collect a lot of data during testing. Additionally, you must use a computer to document and create presentations for communication.
When you’re not working in the field, all of these force you to spend all of your time in front of a computer, which can cause musculoskeletal problems, eye strain, and decreased physical activity.
It’s important to remember that an aerospace engineer’s computer time varies depending on their area of expertise and project stage.
Finally:
We think we have the answer to your question, “Is a career in aerospace engineering good?” Now it’s up to you. Our purpose is not to present an idyllic picture of life, but rather to inform you that if you have a strong interest in science, technology, and aviation, a career in aerospace engineering may be ideal for you.
The choice is entirely yours; don’t be reluctant to consult an expert if necessary.
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