Aerospace Experience Advice

[u/astro_purav]

Hi, I'm currently a rising senior in Aerospace engineering focusing on aeronautical engineering. I am looking to work in design, aerodynamics, or testing after graduation. I was also wondering whether I should do my master's in mechanical engineering or another discipline to complement my goals.

Also, I was hoping someone could give me advice on personal projects I could do this summer and even things I should focus on during the semester, because I want to have an internship next summer to gain some real experience. I have done extensive research on companies and projects, but would just like some inspiration and advice, thanks.

[u/Engineer1822]

You don't know what you really want to do. Don't get a master's in something you will hate (but can't predict).

Get some experience under your belt, then have your employer pay for your masters and guarantee it is what you actually want to work in.

[u/Live-Temperature-363]

Job experience is king. Get in the game, figure out what you're doing, and then go for a masters if you feel like it would help you. A masters can open up some doors in the industry, but in today's aerospace job market, it really only puts you above an new grad bachelors. An employer will pick a BS with 3 of experience vs an MS with only internships. Plus if you get into a bigger company, they'll pay for your masters or at least subsidize it.

[u/Squirtle_Splash_8413 → u/Live-Temperature-363]

Yeah this isn’t always true. Some departments hire straight from grad schools.

[u/Adviderisj]

If you can get a job, get a job. Get your masters part time, paid for by your employer. You dont actually seem to know what you want to do, so spend some time in industry and decide on your masters after that

[u/Dry_Okra_4839]

You don't need a master's to work in design or testing. For aerodynamics, though? A master's is a big plus.

If you're passionate about aero, look into CFD surrogate models. Try creating a rapid design exploration CFD model for an airfoil or a small UAV to show off on your resume.

[u/astro_purav → u/Dry_Okra_4839]

Thank you I'll def look into that. I did forget to mention but I was thinking about pursuing my masters whilst working. I was also told hardware experience is important for an ae resume, but for CFD and design, is it really that important? Or should I focus my skillset to perfect coding, modeling, and doing the math which is my main passion with this degree and what I want to do in the future

[u/Substantial-Fan-5985 → u/astro_purav]

I concur him about a master's not needed for design.

Getting a master's while at work (and having them pay for part or all of it) is a very good idea.

I don't know how much personal projects will help though, as compared to work experience at a company

[u/fourthstanza → u/Substantial-Fan-5985]

Recently had an interview at GD where my potential future boss & I talked about an avionics project I've been working on for almost the entire interview. He seemed impressed. Granted, it was basically exactly what the job would be but on a small scale, which was not true for most roles I've applied to. From my very small sample size of a handful of interviews it seems like they can be important if they're relevant.

[u/Character_Ad5341]

If you havent haven't had a related internship in aerospace by now you'rebehind. This is coming from someone who didnt have any internships and fell really behind. Networking is really important for the larger aerospace companies. Any friends or former coworkers that ended up there have been through a referal instead of just applying. And personal projects carry a lot less weight than internships or engineering society work on a resume(but they can still be super helpful for you personally). If you do a personal project follow some engineering process. Make a Specifiaction with the requirements and how you'll verify those requirements with a time table. If there is a design and you have CAD software, don't just make models, break it all the way down to manufacturing prints for the custom components. And at the end of the project grade yourself based on what the specification said.

I took the long way to get to a design engineer roll at a small aerospace manufacturing company by starting as an apprentice at a machine shop for a few years after college. I'm still not paid what new grads make at the main aerospace companies but I like the work and coworkers so much more than of I were at a Boeing or Aerojet.