Aerospace
What is Aerospace?
Aerospace engineering is the primary field of engineering concerned with the design, development, testing, and production of aircraft, spacecraft, and related systems and equipment. The field has traditionally focused on problems related to atmospheric and space flight, with two major and overlapping branches: aeronautical engineering and astronautical engineering. (Source)
$431b
Global Market Size
(by 2025)
(by 2025)
$286b
VC funding into Aerospace start-ups since 2014
71k
Aerospace Engineering jobs in 2023
$131k
Average annual salary of Aerospace professionals
Aerospace Pathways
Questions to Consider
- Are you fascinated by aircraft and launch vehicles?
- Are you comfortable working in a quickly evolving, always changing industry?
- Would you be comfortable working in a lab/research setting for many hours at a time?
- Would you do well working in collaborative groups composed of other professionals from different technical and nontechnical backgrounds?
Top Aerospace Careers
- Aerospace Engineer: An aerospace engineer designs, tests, and manages the manufacturing of aircraft, spacecraft, satellites, and missiles. They also test prototypes to make sure they function properly according to design, and develop new technologies to be used in space exploration, aviation, and defense systems. (Source)
- Propulsion Engineer: Propulsion Engineers develop and improve propulsion systems for aircraft and spacecraft. There is a lot of research and development in new kinds of propulsion, such as hybrid rockets, plasma propulsion for interplanetary space travel, and lightweight micro thruster technologies in small satellites. (Source)
- Electrical Engineer (for spacecraft): An Electrical Engineer in the aerospace industry typically works on the design, development, buildup, testing, and integration of electrical power systems for space vehicles and other advanced engineering projects.
Top Aerospace Companies
- Boeing
- Northrup Grumman
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
- SpaceX
- Virgin Galactic
- Blue Origin
Related College Majors
- Aerospace Engineering
- Computer science
- Software engineering
- Mechanical engineering
- Physics or applied physics
Next Frontier Industry Roadmap:
Aerospace
Want to start a career in Aerospace but don't know where to begin? Start here!
- Do your research
Make sure you're well-versed in the basics. What is Aerospace? What's driving it? Who are the innovators? What types of Aerospace jobs exist? What are the major Aerospace companies? If you're interested in a specific company, be sure to learn about its culture and values. This can make a huge difference in your job search!
2. Hone your "soft" skills
- Problem-solving: When aerospace engineers must reduce fuel consumption, improve safety credentials, and reduce production costs, these skills help them meet the demands. (Source)
- Teamwork: There are many engineering tasks that you will do alone. Writing code is a good example. Individuals can’t complete large engineering projects alone, however. Instead, they require teams and, by extension, teamwork. As a result, teamwork is usually a non-negotiable soft skill in aerospace engineering. In other words, employers want you to be just as committed to successfully achieving team and company goals as you are to personal goals. (Source)
3. Learn the essentials
Most aerospace employers will require at least a Bachelor's degree. You should also:
- Have a strong foundation in advanced mathematics, such as linear algebra and Calculus, as well as chemistry and physics
- Be proficient in programming languages such as C++ and MATLAB
- Know how to use computer-aided design (CAD) software platforms such as SolidWorks
4. Build your portfolio
Be sure to include any relevant experience or projects you've completed, including internships, coursework, participation in robotics/rocketry clubs, or even submissions to science fairs. Include CAD models, prototypes, or any other visuals that demonstrate your skills and expertise.
Also make sure your LinkedIn profile is up-to-date with your latest experiences and accomplishments and optimized using our Base 11 LinkedIn Optimization Guide.
Also make sure your LinkedIn profile is up-to-date with your latest experiences and accomplishments and optimized using our Base 11 LinkedIn Optimization Guide.
5. Gain hands-on experience
Start looking for internships as early as your freshman year of college! Many companies, organizations, and government facilities have spots for freshmen. Once you get your foot in the door of a company, you may find it’s a pipeline to a full-time position. Some top aerospace organizations that are really competitive are NASA Pathways (a co-op deal), SpaceX, Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Aerospace Corporation, NASA JPL, and several smaller contracting companies. (Source)
6. Engage your community
Cultivate your network with a Base 11 community of like-minded individuals that you can connect with today using the community feature built right into this platform! We have a thriving community of students, early-career adults, and professionals on our discussion forums who can share insights, give advice, and help you on your STEM journey.
A Day in the Life of an
Aerospace Engineer
Coming Soon: experience what a day in the life of an aerospace engineering professional is like!
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Additional Resources
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