What do Aerospace Engineers do?

Aerospace Engineering is a specialised branch of Mechanical Engineering. It is concerned with the design, construction, production and maintenance of vehicles and objects intended for use in and beyond the atmosphere. Aerospace Engineering is a growing field with applications in areas as diverse as aircraft, satellites, rockets, space stations and hot air balloons.

Aerospace engineers address problems specific to the aerospace industry. These problems relate to how a vehicle moves, how high and fast it can go, how it holds together under the forces it experiences and how it is kept on course.

Aerospace engineers analyse and solve these problems using their knowledge of mechanics and dynamics, materials and welds, thermodynamics, vibrations, guidance, control and modelling techniques. The three main areas that aerospace engineers may work in are design and manufacture, research and development and airworthiness operations.

Within these areas aerospace engineers may use their skills to:

• Investigate faulty engines or other components
• Test new materials, engines, body shapes and structures that may improve the performance of vehicles Design
• Develop guidance and control systems
• Develop repair systems
• Develop improved air conditioning or fuel systems
• Estimate performance of entire vehicles (analyse and reduce testflight data)
• Prepare technical or commercial information

Where will you work?

Aerospace engineers can find work in:

• Government aerospace laboratories or research centres
• Airline maintenance and operations
• Satellite operations
• Defence - aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), rockets etc
• Aerospace design and manufacture in general

In addition, Aerospace engineers having been provided with a sound Mechanical Engineering knowledge base, may also find jobs in all aeras of Mechanical Engineering such as the automotive industry, or in other industries where they may work in energy production and conservation,lightweight materials or new manufacturing techniques.

Personal attributes of an Aerospace Engineer

• Strong interest in mathematics and science
• Strong social awareness and concern for the quality of life
• A desire to put ideas into action
• Curiosity about how things work and how to make them better
• A good academic background with above average year 12 results in Mathematics I and II and Physics
• Ability and determination to succeed and to continue self-education upon completion of your studies
• Good communication skills
• Tertiary Entrance Ranking high enough to gain selection within the competitive quota