Aerospace Engineering?

Question

I am studying aerospace engineering currently as an undergraduate student. I just wonder what could I do after graduate?

Answer 1

You could do whatever you want after you graduate; but you would probably make the most money as an aerospace engineer.

Answer 2

Lots of things, not just directly related to aerospace engineering. Let me focus on on aerospace first.

You can work on:
- manned projects sending people to the moon and Mars.
- spacecraft to explore different planets.
- rockets that send payloads/people into space
- commercial satellites for communications, science, intelligence, etc
- missiles for the ballistic shield program or jetfighters and attack helicopters
- jetfighters and attack helicopters
- secret government projects that require top secret clearance (think nighthawk, blackbird, and the B2 bomber)
- state of the art aircraft that do not yet exist (think hypersonic aircraft with scramjet technology)

Specifically as an aerospace engineer you can be work:
- on the Guidance, Navigation, and Control part of the software (my specialty)
- structures usually looking to make them stronger and lighter at the same time
- aerodynamic research including subsonic and hypersonic flight.
- propulsion systems for rockets, aircraft, and spacecraft
- as upper management. I've read that because aerospace engineering is such a well rounded discipline, they have the skills needed to have a basic understanding of what is going on with all other types of engineering.

There is more of course, and all these skills can directly also apply to the automative and commercial aircraft industry. These industries are much more stable then working projects for the government.

Answer 3

I know a number of people who studied aeronautical engineering who realized very quickly that jobs in their field would bore them to tears. Fortunately, the same skills that are needed in engineering are useful in finance -- which tends to be more interesting and more profitable.