To become an aeronautic engineer means entering a branch of engineering that involves the manufacture of aircraft. In most cases, however, such a professional is referred to using the general term "aerospace engineer," which includes engineers who work with spacecrafts and defense systems. Aeronautic engineers also test their work and perform research to make improvements. To become an aeronautic engineer involves attending either college or graduate school to earn a degree in aerospace engineering.
A person must first determine the type of program he or she would like to apply for to become an aeronautic engineer. A bachelor of science in aerospace engineering is designed for entry-level positions in the field, while its master's equivalent offers a higher level of education and, consequently, more earning potential. Either program can be found in four-year institutions across the world. Examples of colleges and universities with such programs include Tohoku University in Japan, Linkoping University in Sweden, the University of Southampton in the United Kingdom, and Georgia Institute of Technology in the United States.
The bachelor’s degree program in aerospace engineering usually takes four years to complete. In some undergraduate programs, the first two years are dedicated to fulfilling general education requirements in subject areas such as mathematics, the humanities and basic sciences. The last two years typically focus on engineering courses. Although the graduate program takes half as long to finish and eschews general education requirements, it comprises more advanced versions of the courses found in the curriculum of its undergraduate counterpart.
There are many different courses that relate to the field. For example, a student might learn about aerodynamics, which concerns the movement of air and its relationship to moving objects. Other subject areas include aircraft and spacecraft design and construction, and astrodynamics, which concerns the movement of spacecrafts. Training to become an aeronautic engineer requires more than just technical expertise, however, as student should also learn how to work in a team-oriented environment and hone communication and manufacturing cost analysis techniques, among other skills.
Upon graduation, an aspiring aeronautic engineer is most likely to work with aerospace products and parts manufacturing. Possible employers include research and development (R&D) departments of private companies, as well as federal government sectors. An example of an aeronautic engineer employer is National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the U.S. federal government agency dedicated to aeronautics research as part of the country's space program.
