What does an Aerospace Engineer do??
What does an Aerospace Engineer do??
With a degree in aerospace engineering, you will meet the qualifications for many different positions. The following engineering fields are only a sampling of available job descriptions and are nowhere near complete. However, they do provide the reader with some insight into basic operations.
There are three basic members of the aerospace team: the engineer, the scientist, and the technician. The following describes positions for aerospace engineers and scientists, and the role of the technician.
THE AEROSPACE ENGINEER
The aerospace engineer is often a specialist in one of the many areas such as propulsion, aerodynamics, fluids, flight mechanics, heat transfer, structures, cost analysis, reliability, survivability, maintainability, operations research, marketing, or airspace management. Aerospace engineers have also applied their knowledge to related fields such as automated mass transportation, bioengineering, medical systems, environmental engineering, communications, and many more. In such applications, specialists in advanced technology are needed to do the job, and the aerospace engineer is the one to do it.
Analytical
Analytical engineers combine knowledge of mathematical theory and an understanding of fundamental engineering to analyze data from a wide range of research. Stress analysts determine the loads to which various components of the product will be subjected under certain conditions and calculate the distribution of these loads. Analysts also determine the allowable stresses throughout the structure. Aerospace structures are often analyzed with the aid of computers. Complex codes are developed from mathematical models using a finite element mode (FEM).
Computational Fluid Dynamics
Computational fluid dynamics engineers use high-speed computers to numerically solve the nonlinear equations governing fluid motion. This mathematical modeling of flow around an object can save large amounts of time and money, as well as alleviate the potential risk involved with experimental testing. With the rapid advancements in computer technology, the potential uses of CFD are greatly increasing.
Design
The design field offers some of the best opportunities for advancement to an engineer with new and creative ideas. It may be said that all specialists are advisors to the design engineer. Design engineers determine the structure, arrangement, and function of a component or the entire design to meet the specifications dictated by the aerodynamics or astrodynamics, structural, weights, and production engineers. The modern designer will use the computer as well as the drawing board to create designs. CAD/CAM or computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing is a tool that now plays an important role in the design process.
Materials and Processes
The materials engineer tests and evaluates materials, conventional or composite, used in aerospace structures. Material properties such as tensile strength, material density, and rigidity must be considered under the environmental conditions to which the materials will be subjected. The effects of temperature and fatigue are of particular importance.
Systems Software
Systems engineers perform the requirements, analysis, and definition of the overall system and its subsystem. To do this, systems engineers must use an overall knowledge of engineering and mathematics, while interfacing with both the customer and the other engineering disciplines involved in the project.
Aerospace system is controlled by computers, which require programming. The software programs are designed and tested by software engineers.
Manufacturing
Manufacturing engineers plan the tooling, construction, and assembly of the product as dictated by the design specifications. Machine tools, design dies, and fixtures are developed to produce individual parts for components or vehicles. Manufacturing engineers work closely with design engineers to secure designs that can be economically manufactured.
Cost Analysis
Before a proposal is initiated and funded for development, it is very important to provide an accurate analysis of all costs involved. An engineer dedicated to cost analysis may determine whether his or her company receives a contract. Which company can supply the best product for the lowest price? How close was this to their projected costs?
-Ilities
When developing a product, the customer’s needs are always one of the top priorities. The user/buyer is concerned with the reliability, maintainability, vulnerability, survivability, and overall supportability of the final product. It is up to an engineer to consider all of these factors during all stages of development.
Flight Test
The flight test engineer uses a wide range of theories, concepts, and equations to analyze and reduce flight test data. From this data, the engineer determines how well design specifications were met in such areas as propulsion, aerodynamics, structures, stability and control, performance, and vehicle systems. Specific duties may include planning the flight test, conducting the flight test program, reviewing the flight test results, reducing and analyzing the flight test data, and preparing flight reports.
Marketing
Sales engineers inform potential buyers of product performance. They act as liaisons between the customer and industry and insure that the product is delivered according to specification. A knowledge of competitive aerospace products is needed as well as an understanding of sales contract preparation. Sales engineers also determine future needs as far ahead of time as possible and prepare reports to this effect to guide production.
Field Service
Company representatives provide maintenance and service information to customers after the product is delivered. This helps ensure optimum use of the product. Company representatives work closely with manufacturing and engineering to overcome operational difficulties. Field service duties require technical know-how and the ability to deal with people.
Management
Supervision is essential in any type of job. Engineers with experience and leadership qualities may find that they have the ability to deal with human problems, business decisions, and technical activities.
THE SCIENTIST
While engineers apply skills to solving specific problems with known facts, scientists probe the unknown. They seek to know "why" rather than "how," – and attempt to present the rules upon which engineers may build. Scientists may choose to work in one of several environments:
Industrial Research and Development
In an aerospace organization, scientists are the key to research and development. They direct the discovery of new products and processes.
Private and Government Laboratories
The goal of scientists in a private or government laboratory is to broaden the state of the art by deriving new theories. Their work may take the form of pure research. They may, however, develop or extend theory to explain specific problems.
Academic Research
If a scientist has the ability to convey knowledge in a clear and concise manner, teaching in a college or university may be a choice. The academic environment provides the perfect setting for the purest form of research. By combining research and education, a scientist not only advances the state of the science, but also encourages others to take on this rewarding task. Research is an intellectual process combining mental discipline, personal insight, analysis of observation, and prediction of future phenomenon. Those who have a deep curiosity about the unknowns of the universe and have the patience for systematic observation may have an aptitude for aerospace science.
THE TECHNICIAN
Technicians support the aerospace engineers and scientists. They are usually people who are primarily hardware-oriented and who may have obtained as much as four years of undergraduate college work. The technician is the third member of the aerospace team.
Source: http://www.aiaa.org/content.cfm?pageid=214#WHAT
With a degree in aerospace engineering, you will meet the qualifications for many different positions. The following engineering fields are only a sampling of available job descriptions and are nowhere near complete. However, they do provide the reader with some insight into basic operations.
There are three basic members of the aerospace team: the engineer, the scientist, and the technician. The following describes positions for aerospace engineers and scientists, and the role of the technician.
THE AEROSPACE ENGINEER
The aerospace engineer is often a specialist in one of the many areas such as propulsion, aerodynamics, fluids, flight mechanics, heat transfer, structures, cost analysis, reliability, survivability, maintainability, operations research, marketing, or airspace management. Aerospace engineers have also applied their knowledge to related fields such as automated mass transportation, bioengineering, medical systems, environmental engineering, communications, and many more. In such applications, specialists in advanced technology are needed to do the job, and the aerospace engineer is the one to do it.
Analytical
Analytical engineers combine knowledge of mathematical theory and an understanding of fundamental engineering to analyze data from a wide range of research. Stress analysts determine the loads to which various components of the product will be subjected under certain conditions and calculate the distribution of these loads. Analysts also determine the allowable stresses throughout the structure. Aerospace structures are often analyzed with the aid of computers. Complex codes are developed from mathematical models using a finite element mode (FEM).
Computational Fluid Dynamics
Computational fluid dynamics engineers use high-speed computers to numerically solve the nonlinear equations governing fluid motion. This mathematical modeling of flow around an object can save large amounts of time and money, as well as alleviate the potential risk involved with experimental testing. With the rapid advancements in computer technology, the potential uses of CFD are greatly increasing.
Design
The design field offers some of the best opportunities for advancement to an engineer with new and creative ideas. It may be said that all specialists are advisors to the design engineer. Design engineers determine the structure, arrangement, and function of a component or the entire design to meet the specifications dictated by the aerodynamics or astrodynamics, structural, weights, and production engineers. The modern designer will use the computer as well as the drawing board to create designs. CAD/CAM or computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing is a tool that now plays an important role in the design process.
Materials and Processes
The materials engineer tests and evaluates materials, conventional or composite, used in aerospace structures. Material properties such as tensile strength, material density, and rigidity must be considered under the environmental conditions to which the materials will be subjected. The effects of temperature and fatigue are of particular importance.
Systems Software
Systems engineers perform the requirements, analysis, and definition of the overall system and its subsystem. To do this, systems engineers must use an overall knowledge of engineering and mathematics, while interfacing with both the customer and the other engineering disciplines involved in the project.
Aerospace system is controlled by computers, which require programming. The software programs are designed and tested by software engineers.
Manufacturing
Manufacturing engineers plan the tooling, construction, and assembly of the product as dictated by the design specifications. Machine tools, design dies, and fixtures are developed to produce individual parts for components or vehicles. Manufacturing engineers work closely with design engineers to secure designs that can be economically manufactured.
Cost Analysis
Before a proposal is initiated and funded for development, it is very important to provide an accurate analysis of all costs involved. An engineer dedicated to cost analysis may determine whether his or her company receives a contract. Which company can supply the best product for the lowest price? How close was this to their projected costs?
-Ilities
When developing a product, the customer’s needs are always one of the top priorities. The user/buyer is concerned with the reliability, maintainability, vulnerability, survivability, and overall supportability of the final product. It is up to an engineer to consider all of these factors during all stages of development.
Flight Test
The flight test engineer uses a wide range of theories, concepts, and equations to analyze and reduce flight test data. From this data, the engineer determines how well design specifications were met in such areas as propulsion, aerodynamics, structures, stability and control, performance, and vehicle systems. Specific duties may include planning the flight test, conducting the flight test program, reviewing the flight test results, reducing and analyzing the flight test data, and preparing flight reports.
Marketing
Sales engineers inform potential buyers of product performance. They act as liaisons between the customer and industry and insure that the product is delivered according to specification. A knowledge of competitive aerospace products is needed as well as an understanding of sales contract preparation. Sales engineers also determine future needs as far ahead of time as possible and prepare reports to this effect to guide production.
Field Service
Company representatives provide maintenance and service information to customers after the product is delivered. This helps ensure optimum use of the product. Company representatives work closely with manufacturing and engineering to overcome operational difficulties. Field service duties require technical know-how and the ability to deal with people.
Management
Supervision is essential in any type of job. Engineers with experience and leadership qualities may find that they have the ability to deal with human problems, business decisions, and technical activities.
THE SCIENTIST
While engineers apply skills to solving specific problems with known facts, scientists probe the unknown. They seek to know "why" rather than "how," – and attempt to present the rules upon which engineers may build. Scientists may choose to work in one of several environments:
Industrial Research and Development
In an aerospace organization, scientists are the key to research and development. They direct the discovery of new products and processes.
Private and Government Laboratories
The goal of scientists in a private or government laboratory is to broaden the state of the art by deriving new theories. Their work may take the form of pure research. They may, however, develop or extend theory to explain specific problems.
Academic Research
If a scientist has the ability to convey knowledge in a clear and concise manner, teaching in a college or university may be a choice. The academic environment provides the perfect setting for the purest form of research. By combining research and education, a scientist not only advances the state of the science, but also encourages others to take on this rewarding task. Research is an intellectual process combining mental discipline, personal insight, analysis of observation, and prediction of future phenomenon. Those who have a deep curiosity about the unknowns of the universe and have the patience for systematic observation may have an aptitude for aerospace science.
THE TECHNICIAN
Technicians support the aerospace engineers and scientists. They are usually people who are primarily hardware-oriented and who may have obtained as much as four years of undergraduate college work. The technician is the third member of the aerospace team.
Source: http://www.aiaa.org/content.cfm?pageid=214#WHAT
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