Non-Structural Aerospace Careers? 1

[wheatshocker]

Hi all, this is my first post here. I am going to be a senior next year in my aerospace program (Wichita State) and I still am not sure which field I would like to go down, although I really don't care much for solids. I have some general career questions for you guys if you'd care to answer any of them.

1) What other areas (besides structures) in aerospace do you foresee becoming high in demand for the future?
2)Are there any opportunities for the aerodynamics engineer outside of the universities?
3) how is the market for dynamics and controls engineers?
4) for controls engineering, is there a lot of competition from electrical engineers for these jobs? (i.e. are they equally or better qualified)
Thanks!

 

[MechanicalChef]

WSU, eh? I can't really anwer your question about the market. But I can say that across town down at the intersection of Oliver and MacArthur, we do a lot of work that isn't stress/structures. R&D is kind of tough to break into as a new-hire, but it does give you a feel for a diverse range of engineering disciplines.

 

[monkeydog]

If you are a US Citizen you can break into just about whatever you have an interest in for the Govt contractors (boeing, lockheed martin, etc). There is a projected shortage of engineers in the US and those guys are going to need people that can gain security clearances.

 

[Swedix]

Since you're in a dedicated aerospace program, you'll have a good base to do quite a lot in aerospace. I've seen a number of people coming from mechanical programs with aerospace options, and they usually have a lot of basic airplane knowledge missing.

1) Technical advances are moving towards more and more integrated analyses, and typically the flight simulation (we use MatrixX, but are going to Matlab Simulink). Obviously, separate analyses are still performed, as running a CFD module within the simulation would be sill right now (maybe in 20 years, if More's law holds up). In the physical realm, more electric aircraft are going to drive us towards more integrated solutions too. So, I'd say knowing controls will be in high demand (also consider UAV application)
2 )Certainly, but mostly within aerospace. Though I've heard that hard drive manufactures perform aerodynamic analyses, as I understand. Be prepared to run lots of CFD codes.
3) Typically, aircraft dynamics/ S&C and the control systems analyses are handled by separate groups. The distinction being the whole aircraft analyses, or individual system performance.
3b) I'm assuming that you didn't mean Loads & Dynamics. We look at the flexible body dynamics, and call any rigid aircraft motion static (quasi-static really). L&D acts as an interface from the aero/S&C/weights to the Stress group. Also included is the Flutter (aeroelastic stability) of the dynamics. Within L&D, we have aero, controls and solid mechanics specialists (myself mostly in the solid mechanics camp, and specializing in landing gear)
4) I guess that depends which control, but generally I'd say no. EE's have problems seeing anything other than electrons

It sounds like you are leaning towards controls, which is probably a good idea, especially since the applications outside aerospace are good. But as a past grad student at WSU, and KU BS grad ('90), my experience was that WSU was not that strong in the controls department. If you can take it as an elective, there was a good ME course, the book was "Computer Aided Analysis of Mechanical Systems." I'd recommend studying both control theory and the mechanical aspects of systems.

Also if you can get into the Co-op program, that's a good foot in the door. Learjet, where I started working in aerospace, should have some co-op openings. I know the last co-op in the performance group just too a job at company C.

The last important consideration. Where do you want to live? Something I never considered much as a student. but if your specialty is only suited for OEMs, that limits your choices somewhat. If you like Wichita (god help you), then you've no worries. I had to escape to Canada (Montreal).

 

[wheatshocker]

Thanks alot for the input. I am actually going to take an aeroelasticity class next sem., which I hope will give me an overall aspect of how aero,s&c,and structures all come together. I think that sounds like an area that I could definitely be interested in. By the way, nice to hear from another former WSU student!

 

[plasgears]

A good subspecialty for an aero is electrical eng. You may want to heavy up on electrical courses.