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Career Details : Aerospace Engineers

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Description

Perform a variety of engineering work in designing, constructing, and testing aircraft, missiles, and spacecraft. May conduct basic and applied research to evaluate adaptability of materials and equipment to aircraft design and manufacture. May recommend improvements in testing equipment and techniques.

Experience

Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.

Education

A bachelor's degree is the minimum formal education required for these occupations. However, many also require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).

Training

Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.

Tasks

  • Develops design criteria for aeronautical or aerospace products or systems, including testing methods, production costs, quality standards, and completion dates.
  • Analyzes project requests and proposals and engineering data to determine feasibility, producibility, cost, and production time of aerospace or aeronautical product.
  • Formulates conceptual design of aeronautical or aerospace products or systems to meet customer requirements.
  • Plans and conducts experimental, environmental, operational, and stress tests on models and prototypes of aircraft and aerospace systems and equipment.
  • Directs and coordinates activities of engineering or technical personnel designing, fabricating, modifying, or testing of aircraft or aerospace products.
  • Reviews performance reports and documentation from customers and field engineers and inspects malfunctioning or damaged products to determine problem.
  • Directs research and development programs to improve production methods, parts, and equipment technology and reduce costs.
  • Evaluates and approves selection of vendors by study of past performance and new advertisements.
  • Maintains records of performance reports for future reference.
  • Writes technical reports and other documentation, such as handbooks and bulletins, for use by engineering staff, management, and customers.
  • Plans and coordinates activities concerned with investigating and resolving customers' reports of technical problems with aircraft or aerospace vehicles.
  • Evaluates product data and design from inspections and reports for conformance to engineering principles, customer requirements, and quality standards.
  • Formulates mathematical models or other methods of computer analysis to develop, evaluate, or modify design according to customer engineering requirements.

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    Important Abilities

    General Work Activities

    Important Skills

    Frequent Work Context

    • Consequence of Error
    • Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
    • Importance of Being Sure All Is Done
    • Sitting
    • Responsibility for Outcomes and Results

    Related Majors

    Major Add to MyFSA
    Aeronautical Engineeringadd Aeronautical Engineering to MyFSA
    Aeronautics/Astronauticsadd Aeronautics/Astronautics to MyFSA
    Aerospace Engineeringadd Aerospace Engineering to MyFSA
    Mathematics/Mechanical/Aeronautical Engineeringadd Mathematics/Mechanical/Aeronautical Engineering to MyFSA
    Mechanical/Aerospace Engineeringadd Mechanical/Aerospace Engineering to MyFSA
    Physics/Mechanical/Aerospace Engineeringadd Physics/Mechanical/Aerospace Engineering to MyFSA
    Pre-Mechanical/Aerospace Engineeringadd Pre-Mechanical/Aerospace Engineering to MyFSA
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