The Path to Getting a Great Aerospace Engineering Job

 

One of the most exciting sectors of engineering is without a doubt aerospace engineering. From designing aircrafts to building jets that soar through the air, the field is a great choice for people who are highly technical, analytical and sometimes creative.

 

Interested in entering the field of aerospace engineering? The journey to get there is a long one with many steps but is one that pays off in the end! From education to employment, here is our sure-fire route to landing the aerospace engineering job of your dreams.

 

Lay the Foundation in High School

 

Working in the aerospace engineering field requires having fairly advanced mathematical and scientific knowledge. You can begin to lay the groundwork of getting an aerospace engineering job in high school by enrolling in advanced math and science courses. Earning a high GPA overall, participating in extracurricular activities (related to aerospace engineering and beyond) and honing your analytical skills will all make you a prime candidate for the country’s best aerospace engineering post secondary programs.

 

Get the Right Education

 

Make sure the university or college that you choose is Accreditation Board of Engineering and Technology (ABET) accredited, because many employers will only want to hire students from schools that are. In addition to acing your engineering courses, it’s wise to stay on top of your writing, communication, and critical thinking courses, because these kinds of skills will prove useful in many aerospace engineering workplace scenarios (such as working with a team). After completing a Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, you will have to earn a Master’s or Doctorate degree in the field from an accredited school.

Develop Your Soft Skills

 

There are certain personality traits that will go a long way to help the professional success of an individual. For aerospace engineering, or engineering in general, some of the most important soft skills include:

 

  • Communication: you will often be communicating and coordinating with workers from all different departments and being able to do so clearly and concisely is critical
  • Creativity: whether you are designing improvements on aircrafts or coming up with solutions to problems that may arise, having a creative or problem solving mind is essential
  • Adaptability: this skill shows that you are comfortable transitioning between shifting priorities and that you can make good decisions at the drop of a hat
  • Leadership: depending on the role you are in, leadership qualities are important; they show that you are capable of educating, mentoring and making executive decisions for a group, which is not something that everyone is able to do

 

Working on these skills for yourself, but also making a conscious effort to demonstrate them to professionals that you interact with, is important in order to get into the headspace of a successful aerospace engineer.

 

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Gain Valuable Experience

 

Once you have your graduate degree in aerospace engineering, it’s time to gain some hands-on experience to round you out as the ideal candidate for employers. After graduating with flying colors, completing an internship or apprenticeship with an engineering company is a great way to gain valuable experience from seasoned professionals. It also gives you a chance to test-drive different areas of aerospace engineering and help you decide which area you would like to focus on when applying to higher level jobs. If you want to go one step further, reach out to one of your seniors and see if they would be interested in mentoring you. Learning from a professional on a more intimate level can provide lots of valuable insight into the field.

 

Working in entry-level jobs that are related to aerospace engineering, such as a technician, will help to lay the groundwork for a more senior role. Entry-level engineers often don’t need to be licensed to gain low-level jobs, but you will eventually need to obtain your Professional Engineering (PE) license and your Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) license in order to move up the ranks.

 

Network with Industry Professionals

 

Like any industry, communicating with your peers not only helps expand your knowledge and scope of the profession, but it can often provide you with employment leads. There is no such thing as too much networking! Doing things like attending industry events and engaging on social media sites like LinkedIn can do wonders for expanding your professional network. The American Institute for Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) is another great resource for connecting with industry professionals, accessing relevant publications and reading about industry news.

 

Contact a Dunhill Recruiter

 

If your network comes up empty (which it sometimes will), it may be time to turn to the job search professionals! The world of aerospace engineering can be competitive. But, if you work with a recruiter that has all of the right industry resources and contacts, finding your dream job will be that much easier.

 

Maybe the perfect job is with an employer that you hadn’t considered or in a city that you don’t live in. Dunhill takes these factors into consideration and we use our expertise to place candidates in the best possible position every time.

 

Currently, Dunhill Staffing Systems is working in collaboration with the world’s leading aerospace employer, recruiting for a wide range of positions across the country!

 

Whether you are interested in an entry-level position, such as this one in Smithfield, Pennsylvania or a more senior role, such as this one in Sylmar, California, we are dedicated to matching top-notch aerospace engineering professionals with their ideal position. Reach out today to see what we have for you!