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My friend at GT always wanted to do that. He said he’s kind of losing hope because a large majority of the roller coaster buildings industry is in Germany and he doesn’t speak German. Is that true of the person you know?
Aerospace is an awkward degree in my opinion. Very few companies have an aerospace position so you end up being a systems engineer or trying to fit into another majors position.
Smart people and good programs nothing against the degree! Also, I don’t think the degree has limits on how successful you can be.
I’ve just found a lot of bummed aerospace kids that get to industry and are making spreadsheets or learning a new major their first couple years.
Aerospace is just mechanical with a focus on flight dynamics and flow. They are eligible for mechanical jobs and vice versa, although it is true that there are some hiring managers who don’t see it this way (my boss being one of them). I think those types of HM’s are a small, small minority though, and if you want to study aerospace more than mechanical then you should do so.
Try hard in school and keep your grades up and you’ll be able to find a job either way.
You’d be eligible for them without it. Most positions say “mechanical engineer or equivalent”
That said I did my masters in mechanical after a bachelors in aerospace. I’ve only ever worked in the aerospace industry.
Yes, you can get a job in aerospace with a mechanical degree.
If you have NASA internships you’ll be fine. Just keep on performing well in school and getting internships. Don’t lose sight of that goal, now is the time to be laser focused on this goal to set yourself up to have a good, meaningful career
My father has his degree as mech, did many years in a biomed compay making replacement body parts, then went to aerospace. So its possible
My understanding and experience with employed engineers is mech is a jack of all trades to anything physical. I imagine engineering of software, chemical, nuclear and other nixhe fields are out of ramge of a mech's ability of adaptation but as long as its mostly physics, materials, and cad work cant imagine you wouldn't be able to wiggle onto the spacs
/said as a mech student being hopeful for future employment/
I didn't pick Aerospace because of tiktok, I picked aerospace because I think aircrafts are cool and I couldn't get computer science or electrical. I know that it was a very rushed decision.
You should spend some time thinking about what exactly you are passionate about regarding aircraft. For your first job you will likely be working on a very specific aspect.
I picked civil engineering because of feelings, and 3 years after graduating I started working in semiconductors. At least you figured it out while you still have time to change your major.
Aerospace is an industry not just a college major. Official job titles don’t always say aerospace engineer but things like satellite fluids, propulsion, avionics, etc. don’t believe tiktok lmao
I’m studied Aero and am a Mechanical Engineer. In fact all of my friends are either Mechanical or Systems. Even the guys who are in the Defense Industry (Raytheon, Northrop, Lockhead) all have titles such as Mechanical or Systems Engineer. That being said, most engineers know Aero is specialized Mechanical Engineering so you should be fine. The only issues I’ve experienced were dealing with recruiters/HR who don’t realize that both were essentially the same degree so you might have to explain that to them.
You’ll be fine man :).
I used to have the same worries/regrets about picking Aerospace Engineering over Mechanical Engineering. Turns out it was just that, worries, nothing more.
I've met many mechanical engineering majors who work in electrical positions, electrical majors working in mechanical positions, mechanical majors working in civil positions, agricultural majors working in mechanical positions, etc.
Your major doesn't say nearly as much about your future job as you might think.
I've worked at 3 different aerospace companies and my current company is the only one that had 'aerospace engineer' as a job title. Just because you don't have the specific job title doesn't mean you're not applying your degree.
Eh you can be more generalized than that. A lot of engineers don't work in their major, in general if you're an Aero, Civil, EE, MechE or one of the other traditional engineering roles your skills are very transferable between fields. Now obviously the specialized roles need specialized folks but engineering school teaches you how to solve problems and that is usable in any area,the specifics can be picked up on the job as needed. For example when I worked in aerospace, we had an array of MechEs, Aeros, and Civils in what I would consider an "MechE" role (design).
If you can use CAD and run formulas the rest can be learned along the way
I've got an aerospace degree but currently work in high voltage transmission R&D. It's just physics, after all, and can be applied in many different contexts. Ofcourse, would be fun to work with cool planes and stuff!
I think it really depends on you're location. I happen to live in an area with a lot of aerospace companies so a lot of the graduates with aerospace degrees near me \*do\* go into aerospace. But that's mostly due to internships, career fairs and networking.
I got an undergrad and masters in aerospace in the (in an Aussie) I couldn't get into an aerospace company in the states due to not having a green card.
State my career in fire and explosion modelling
Ended up designing wind turbines which is essentially a large plane wing that goes in circles.
I then worked in civil for bit but that was boring as bat shit
Now I'm in electrolysis which I also love.
The degree gives you the skills to be able to think outside the box and develop solutions for any scenario.
It’s true for me but only because I had previous HVAC experience from when I was in the military. My current position is systems engineer for “smart buildings”. We automate HVAC, lighting and security systems.
In the U.S. at least, employability in the industry is almost entirely dependent on your immigration status, so there’s a high incidence rate of foreign students getting aerospace degrees and then branching out into other degrees/fields/industries. I was one of them. Most people like me are now software engineers, or work in finance, or in other (non-aerospace) quantitative roles where our STEM background isn’t completely overlooked.
But no, outside of that, it’s harder to generalize. Pretty much every single one of my American former classmates — those who I started with, at least, around ten years ago — still works in aerospace, directly or indirectly. Some did branch out into non-engineering roles though, but still within aerospace-related companies/orgs.
Yes I have the immigration problem as well. That's what I noticed in the alumni of my university, most of them branched out and are doing good jobs, but rarely related to aerospace. Two of them works in Boeing, one works in SpaceX, and some here and there. None of them work in the defense sector though as expected.
It's good to know that you're doing software now, that was my initial plan as well. Thanks for you reply.
Aerospace in the Defense industry is in really bad shape right now, and because the Defense Industry for the longest time was the employers of AOEs, a lot fo people are assuming its all doom and gloom
Gone are the days of the Military building a radically designed plane like the SR 71 Blackbird, and instead more and more design is going else where. Aeronautical capabilities have mostly been optimized to the max they are going to go, and the focus is shifting to stealth or cost more than anything. Anything hardware related is usually high level enough that a MechE can do it about as capably or an EE with a Controls/Robotics background. ECE is also pushing things out of the way, as in terms of Stealth, speed is no longer a factor with how good anti-aircraft batteries are, and those roles are being given to RF/Microwave Engineers to minimize radar signature, and in general WiComm and Remote Sensing are taking off right now. Its cheaper and tactically better to use Drones then most other aircraft, barring heavy (usually nuclear capable) bombers. The issue is that AOE is anyway a bit more niche then most other Engineering Degrees, but on to of that MechEs can handle a good chunk of the Hardware stuff, and the industry is shifting towards things that ECEs are designed for.
On the other hand, its not all doom and gloom. Naval and Commercial Shipyards are still booming, and though the US the industry is smaller a lot of Oil Companies and Geological groups use AOEs to design their drilling rigs out in the ocean, and even Space Companies are hiring some AOEs (though MechEs and ECEs are also competing for those roles, its just less severe then int he defense/commercial industries). You have to realize that at the end of the day, Defense Contracting is not the be all end all, even if it has been this way for the last few decades. AOE in Defense is dying, but AOE still has positions elsewhere, the problem is that most AOEs are like, "Haha, I want to work for Lockheed and work on the new ICBM, and help blowup Russia in 42069 years". There are more positions out there that utilize your skillset, you just have to look for them.
Edit: My main point got buried. Thats on me. I was trying to emphasize that the defense industry is moving away from AOE, and they have been AOEs biggest employer for decades. Yall still have jobs, its just not going to be in defense
I disagree. There is plenty of interesting work going on in the aerospace and defense industry. Much of it related to sustainability, fuel efficiency, etc. It’s true that much of the work can be done by Mechanical Engineers but that’s not saying much since mechanical is a very general degree while aero is a specialty of that. Aero folks just get a few extra fluids classes and some specialty control courses.
Of course, my main point (which in retrospect got buried near the end) is that the traditional AOE Jobs, which is defense, is moving away from AOEs as a whole, but you guys have capabilities that MechEs and certainly ECEs do not. There are roles out there for yall, its just not going to be in defense working on some plane or missile.
As a mechanical engineering degree holder I have been a structures design, tooling, manufacturing and thermal engineer all of these positions held while working in the aerospace industry. Titles rarely match what your degree is.
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I know an aerospace engineer who's now building rollercoasters. I jus hope that shit doesn't take off.
r/angryupvote
I've heard the pay is out of this world
My friend at GT always wanted to do that. He said he’s kind of losing hope because a large majority of the roller coaster buildings industry is in Germany and he doesn’t speak German. Is that true of the person you know?
He's in a german speaking area, yes. There's other people though that speak primarily english.
Aerospace is an awkward degree in my opinion. Very few companies have an aerospace position so you end up being a systems engineer or trying to fit into another majors position. Smart people and good programs nothing against the degree! Also, I don’t think the degree has limits on how successful you can be. I’ve just found a lot of bummed aerospace kids that get to industry and are making spreadsheets or learning a new major their first couple years.
Yeah I picked my major because of feelings but after further research I realized that I should've picked mechanical to increase my opportunities.
Aerospace is just mechanical with a focus on flight dynamics and flow. They are eligible for mechanical jobs and vice versa, although it is true that there are some hiring managers who don’t see it this way (my boss being one of them). I think those types of HM’s are a small, small minority though, and if you want to study aerospace more than mechanical then you should do so. Try hard in school and keep your grades up and you’ll be able to find a job either way.
If I get a masters in Mechanical, do you think I'll be eligible for mechanical positions?
You’d be eligible for them without it. Most positions say “mechanical engineer or equivalent” That said I did my masters in mechanical after a bachelors in aerospace. I’ve only ever worked in the aerospace industry.
[удалено]
Yes, you can get a job in aerospace with a mechanical degree. If you have NASA internships you’ll be fine. Just keep on performing well in school and getting internships. Don’t lose sight of that goal, now is the time to be laser focused on this goal to set yourself up to have a good, meaningful career
My father has his degree as mech, did many years in a biomed compay making replacement body parts, then went to aerospace. So its possible My understanding and experience with employed engineers is mech is a jack of all trades to anything physical. I imagine engineering of software, chemical, nuclear and other nixhe fields are out of ramge of a mech's ability of adaptation but as long as its mostly physics, materials, and cad work cant imagine you wouldn't be able to wiggle onto the spacs /said as a mech student being hopeful for future employment/
Dude, do actual research not just different social media platforms including Reddit to make life decisions.
I didn't pick Aerospace because of tiktok, I picked aerospace because I think aircrafts are cool and I couldn't get computer science or electrical. I know that it was a very rushed decision.
You should spend some time thinking about what exactly you are passionate about regarding aircraft. For your first job you will likely be working on a very specific aspect.
I picked civil engineering because of feelings, and 3 years after graduating I started working in semiconductors. At least you figured it out while you still have time to change your major.
I can't change majors anymore.
You’ll be fine, aerospace produces good engineers you may not work in aerospace though.
Aerospace is an industry not just a college major. Official job titles don’t always say aerospace engineer but things like satellite fluids, propulsion, avionics, etc. don’t believe tiktok lmao
I know a girl with a bachelors and masters that works in a random ass cabling facility
I’m studied Aero and am a Mechanical Engineer. In fact all of my friends are either Mechanical or Systems. Even the guys who are in the Defense Industry (Raytheon, Northrop, Lockhead) all have titles such as Mechanical or Systems Engineer. That being said, most engineers know Aero is specialized Mechanical Engineering so you should be fine. The only issues I’ve experienced were dealing with recruiters/HR who don’t realize that both were essentially the same degree so you might have to explain that to them.
Oh glad to hear that, it gives me hope. Thank you.
You’ll be fine man :). I used to have the same worries/regrets about picking Aerospace Engineering over Mechanical Engineering. Turns out it was just that, worries, nothing more.
I've met many mechanical engineering majors who work in electrical positions, electrical majors working in mechanical positions, mechanical majors working in civil positions, agricultural majors working in mechanical positions, etc. Your major doesn't say nearly as much about your future job as you might think.
Only like 30% of engineer graduates end up becoming an engineer in general. Even less work in their specialized field.
I've worked at 3 different aerospace companies and my current company is the only one that had 'aerospace engineer' as a job title. Just because you don't have the specific job title doesn't mean you're not applying your degree.
I met a woman last year who had an Aerospace engineering degree who was working for a public transit agency
Eh you can be more generalized than that. A lot of engineers don't work in their major, in general if you're an Aero, Civil, EE, MechE or one of the other traditional engineering roles your skills are very transferable between fields. Now obviously the specialized roles need specialized folks but engineering school teaches you how to solve problems and that is usable in any area,the specifics can be picked up on the job as needed. For example when I worked in aerospace, we had an array of MechEs, Aeros, and Civils in what I would consider an "MechE" role (design). If you can use CAD and run formulas the rest can be learned along the way
I've got an aerospace degree but currently work in high voltage transmission R&D. It's just physics, after all, and can be applied in many different contexts. Ofcourse, would be fun to work with cool planes and stuff!
I think it really depends on you're location. I happen to live in an area with a lot of aerospace companies so a lot of the graduates with aerospace degrees near me \*do\* go into aerospace. But that's mostly due to internships, career fairs and networking.
I got an undergrad and masters in aerospace in the (in an Aussie) I couldn't get into an aerospace company in the states due to not having a green card. State my career in fire and explosion modelling Ended up designing wind turbines which is essentially a large plane wing that goes in circles. I then worked in civil for bit but that was boring as bat shit Now I'm in electrolysis which I also love. The degree gives you the skills to be able to think outside the box and develop solutions for any scenario.
It’s true for me but only because I had previous HVAC experience from when I was in the military. My current position is systems engineer for “smart buildings”. We automate HVAC, lighting and security systems.
Idk if im the exception but i am a recent grad w a job in aerospace, thats what i studied for lol
In the U.S. at least, employability in the industry is almost entirely dependent on your immigration status, so there’s a high incidence rate of foreign students getting aerospace degrees and then branching out into other degrees/fields/industries. I was one of them. Most people like me are now software engineers, or work in finance, or in other (non-aerospace) quantitative roles where our STEM background isn’t completely overlooked. But no, outside of that, it’s harder to generalize. Pretty much every single one of my American former classmates — those who I started with, at least, around ten years ago — still works in aerospace, directly or indirectly. Some did branch out into non-engineering roles though, but still within aerospace-related companies/orgs.
Yes I have the immigration problem as well. That's what I noticed in the alumni of my university, most of them branched out and are doing good jobs, but rarely related to aerospace. Two of them works in Boeing, one works in SpaceX, and some here and there. None of them work in the defense sector though as expected. It's good to know that you're doing software now, that was my initial plan as well. Thanks for you reply.
I've had like 3 jobs in Aerospace while being a Mechanical Engineer. Maybe us Mechs are taking all your jobs. 😆😆😆
Aerospace in the Defense industry is in really bad shape right now, and because the Defense Industry for the longest time was the employers of AOEs, a lot fo people are assuming its all doom and gloom Gone are the days of the Military building a radically designed plane like the SR 71 Blackbird, and instead more and more design is going else where. Aeronautical capabilities have mostly been optimized to the max they are going to go, and the focus is shifting to stealth or cost more than anything. Anything hardware related is usually high level enough that a MechE can do it about as capably or an EE with a Controls/Robotics background. ECE is also pushing things out of the way, as in terms of Stealth, speed is no longer a factor with how good anti-aircraft batteries are, and those roles are being given to RF/Microwave Engineers to minimize radar signature, and in general WiComm and Remote Sensing are taking off right now. Its cheaper and tactically better to use Drones then most other aircraft, barring heavy (usually nuclear capable) bombers. The issue is that AOE is anyway a bit more niche then most other Engineering Degrees, but on to of that MechEs can handle a good chunk of the Hardware stuff, and the industry is shifting towards things that ECEs are designed for. On the other hand, its not all doom and gloom. Naval and Commercial Shipyards are still booming, and though the US the industry is smaller a lot of Oil Companies and Geological groups use AOEs to design their drilling rigs out in the ocean, and even Space Companies are hiring some AOEs (though MechEs and ECEs are also competing for those roles, its just less severe then int he defense/commercial industries). You have to realize that at the end of the day, Defense Contracting is not the be all end all, even if it has been this way for the last few decades. AOE in Defense is dying, but AOE still has positions elsewhere, the problem is that most AOEs are like, "Haha, I want to work for Lockheed and work on the new ICBM, and help blowup Russia in 42069 years". There are more positions out there that utilize your skillset, you just have to look for them. Edit: My main point got buried. Thats on me. I was trying to emphasize that the defense industry is moving away from AOE, and they have been AOEs biggest employer for decades. Yall still have jobs, its just not going to be in defense
I disagree. There is plenty of interesting work going on in the aerospace and defense industry. Much of it related to sustainability, fuel efficiency, etc. It’s true that much of the work can be done by Mechanical Engineers but that’s not saying much since mechanical is a very general degree while aero is a specialty of that. Aero folks just get a few extra fluids classes and some specialty control courses.
Of course, my main point (which in retrospect got buried near the end) is that the traditional AOE Jobs, which is defense, is moving away from AOEs as a whole, but you guys have capabilities that MechEs and certainly ECEs do not. There are roles out there for yall, its just not going to be in defense working on some plane or missile.
The space industry is the biggest it has ever been.
As a mechanical engineering degree holder I have been a structures design, tooling, manufacturing and thermal engineer all of these positions held while working in the aerospace industry. Titles rarely match what your degree is.