Aerospace Project Engineer

Becoming an aerospace project engineer is for those people who have good problem solving skills and have excellent mathematical skills. Candidates must possess the knowledge on using a computer and different software’s such as CAD and CAM.

Aerospace project engineers must display good communication skills as well as technical knowledge about the industry. They must also be able to plan and manage different projects while pertaining to a budget.

Aerospace project engineers must also be able to keep up to date on new technologies and be able to work in a team environment. Aerospace project engineers should also have updated knowledge about engineering licenses updates.

There are two categories that fall under aerospace project engineering. The first is aerospace engineering, which deals with aircrafts that are meant to fly within earth’s atmosphere, while the second is astronautical engineers who deal with aircrafts that are used to travel in space.

Aerospace project engineers act like specialized mechanical engineers, and work in design teams to research and build avionic systems such as navigation equipment etc. to cater to the customer’s specifications.

Aerospace project engineers typically work on every part of the aircraft, working in teams to come up with the top design to meet the needs of the customer. Once a design has been declared, a prototype is constructed through instructions from the aerospace project engineer.

The prototype will then be tested and analyzed to see if any changes to the design need to be made to enhance performance. Even while the aircraft is in production, the aerospace project engineers will continue working on the design; fixing defects and designing upgrades for the aircrafts.

Aerospace project engineers also schedule and oversee the maintenance of aircrafts, along with writing technical reports and formulas. They must also give presentations to their managers and customers.

Aerospace project engineers need to obtain a Bachelor of Science degree from an accredited university. The degree should be in a field related to aerospace sciences, avionics, aeronautical engineering or air transport engineering.

Internships are also useful methods to gain positions in companies. Even though finding an internship may be difficult, it is a useful option for those who want to improve their resume.

In the United Kingdom, starting salaries for aerospace project engineers are between £20,000 and £25,000. With a little experience, the salary is increased to between £28,000 and £40,000, while salary for senior engineers ranges from £45,000 to £60,000 per annum.

In the United States, salary for aerospace project engineers who are just starting out is approximately $56,000, while the median salary was nearly $95,000. The top aerospace project engineers earned roughly over $137,000 per year.

In India, the salary for aerospace project engineers is Rs 213,276 - Rs 1,304,295, which includes the basic salary as well as any bonuses that may be given to them.

There are also many benefits such as retirement plans and medical benefits offered to these engineers.

Generally, aerospace engineers up to 40 hours every week, but may need to put in longer hours and work on weekends when there are tight deadlines that need to be met. Aerospace project engineers work in both offices as well as production hangers for the aircrafts.

There is some travel involved when aerospace project engineers have to travel to other cities or countries, or even circle around the earth, to inspect or test various aircrafts. The work is also very stressful because engineers work with large budgets and have to answer to the management and their clients if anything goes wrong.

There are many advantages to becoming an aerospace project engineer. Firstly the salary is good and there are many benefits offered. Moreover aerospace project engineers have the opportunity to work with new technologies and projects which any common man is not able to do.

Aerospace project engineers also fly on aircrafts regularly which may be to another city or may be to circle the earth. The thrill of working on such projects is not present in many other jobs. Aerospace project engineers have the opportunity to work on something unique.

The biggest downside to becoming an aerospace project engineer is the amount of stress involved on the job. Because the engineers work with large budgets, there is enormous pressure present to perform the job correctly without any errors.

Moreover, the large amount of travel on the job and the long working hours ensure that very little time is left for any personal enjoyment with friends or family.

During the Cold War, Aerospace project engineers were negatively affected by budget cuts, however recently there is high demand for these engineers. The UK aerospace industry employs approximately 300,000 people throughout the country.

The most commonly available opportunities are related to aircraft parts manufacturing, aircraft making, space shuttles, satellite construction and maintenance as well as research and development.

This industry is expected to expand in the future, as well as industries which benefit from aerospace technology (Electronics etc.) and thus the demand for aerospace project engineers is expected to grow.
There are also numerous opportunities for advancement.

In England, the major locations are in the south-east, south-west and eastern England. Throughout the world, opportunities are available with major airlines, in their engineering divisions. Toulouse and Seattle are commercial airline manufacturing hubs, and so there are several lucrative opportunities available there.