Spacecraft, military and commercial aircraft, and related components are all designed aerospace design engineers. A bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, or a related engineering discipline is usually required to work as an aerospace design engineer. You’ll typically take courses in aerodynamics, structures, stability and control, propulsion, and performance while studying to become an aerospace design engineer. To learn these technical areas successfully, you’ll need a strong foundation in math and science. Taking advanced or college-level math and science courses while still in high school will help you gain acceptance into a program for aerospace engineering.
Because many engineering programs begin with calculus in the first term, acceptance into a program typically requires good grades in algebra, geometry, and trigonometry in high school. Completion of high school courses such as physics, chemistry, and biology are frequently required for admission. Strong English, history, and social studies grades are also required for admission.
It’s important to consider whether you want to design spacecraft or aircraft when choosing a college program to become an aerospace design engineer. Some programs concentrate on aeronautical engineering, or aircraft development, while others concentrate on astronautical engineering, or spacecraft development. Other aerospace engineering programs will focus on both of these topics. It’s crucial to inquire about internships to ensure that the degree program provides them. During college, pursuing an internship with a government agency or aerospace contractor will assist you in becoming a design engineer providing you with experience and possibly job connections.
Joining professional engineering and aerospace organizations is also a good idea. Many professional organizations have student chapters that can provide insight into the field, research assistance, educational opportunities, mentoring, and networking. Some even offer financial assistance in the form of scholarships. Such organizations frequently have chapters at colleges and universities that offer aerospace engineering programs. If you live in the United States, the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and the American Society of Mechanical Engineering are two engineering organizations you could join to help you achieve your goal of becoming an aerospace design engineer.
Because design engineers use a variety of software and computer applications to create aircraft and space hardware, they must have a strong understanding of computers. When working as a design engineer, it’s important to have strong conceptual and three-dimensional visualization skills. A career as a design engineer will also benefit you if you have strong creative, analytical, and problem-solving abilities. Skills in written and oral communication will aid you in producing technical design documents, working in groups, and more.