How do I get into Aerodynamics Engineering

[ttm12372]

Hey guys and gals,

Im a fresh college graduate (BSME) and I was wondering what it would take for me to get a job in aerodynamics? Also, if you could tell me abit about what you do on a daily basis.

thanks!

 

[40818]

Hi, there could be many routes into an aerodynamics department. Depending upon the level of aerodynamic work you did at uni might mean that a company will take you directly and will teach you what you need to know. If you were to do postgrad work in the field, such as going to Cranfield in the UK then that would put you in a better bargaining position with companies. You would need to have experience of CFD work along with pen/paper type analysis. Youy could also sidetrack into the racing industry such working for companies such as Lotus etc, as teh skills are transferrable.
I cant give you any indication as to what the job entails on a daily basis, as i'm a stress engineer, not a aerodynamics one. But in general what we all do is pretty much the same on a daily basis: Size things and get ball-park answers, create a mathematical computer model (be it FE or CFD etc), then check again to make sure it makes sense. Then use the usual report writing and spreadsheet work.
This daily grind would probably only hold in a general work situation obviously.

 

[keepinitcool]

Well, the two main things are to have wind tunnel experience and CFD experience. You can read the job descriptions for aerodynamicist I linked below (I ran into these two just today). I am not in the field but had the courses in school. The professor I had worked at one of the government labs as a first job that led him into the field. The obvious issue is most places do not have these tools, but if you really want to get in the field most definitely I would say work for a place with a wind tunnel, even if it is a small one (electronics industry uses small one for component cooling tests).

Indycar racing

http://careers.corporate.honda.com/...d.html?req_id=HPD14755&location=all&keywords=

Private jet airplane

http://careers.corporate.honda.com/...d.html?req_id=HAC14716&location=all&keywords=