The job of an aerospace defense engineer is extremely important because it involves work protecting the United States.
An aerospace defense engineer develops and tests various prototypes for the U.S. military, such as defense systems, missiles or aircraft.
Other job responsibilities for these engineers include creating prototypes of aircraft and missiles, monitoring production costs of these technologies and making sure the quality of the equipment is up to code.
There are several different areas of specialization.
Anaerospace defense design engineer uses CAD, flight simulation software and other specialized programs to create conceptual designs and prototypes of aircraft, missiles and defense systems. Design engineers receive product needs and requirements from clients and coordinate planning with research and structural departments to develop design criteria. Other duties include standardizing specifications, creating testing methods and monitoring production costs.
An aerospace defense test engineer plans and implements operational stress tests for government entities and private contractors. These engineers audit the design process to ensure performance and quality standards. Other duties include developing inspection procedures, analyzing specifications, ensuring compliance with government regulations and adhering to international standards of quality management.
On the other hand, an aerospace defense structural design engineeranalyzes and approves materials to be used by the Department of Defense, aerospace corporations and defense companies. These professionals evaluate product data, design specifications and draft reports to determine feasibility, production costs and project durations. Other duties include using CAD to analyze aircraft structure and optimize design, evaluating loading conditions and preparing technical reports documenting observations, analysis and recommendations.
Additionally, aerospace engineers may perform or write the specifications for destructive and nondestructive testing for strength, functionality, reliability and long-term durability of aircraft and parts.
Aerospace engineers are also often involved in cutting edge new technologies. For example, aerospace innovations are making their way into automobile technology, such as thermoelectric generators, which use heat to make electricity, and hydrogen fuel cells, which take hydrogen gas and mix it with oxygen to generate useful electricity, heat and water.
Another team of aerospace engineers has developed an algorithm that can convert brain waves into flight commands with the hopes of making mind-controlled aircraft a reality.
There’s even aerospace researchers who deliberately set fires on the International Space Station to study cool-burning flames, which could lead to more-efficient car engines that contribute less pollution to the environment.
Want to learn more? Tonex offers nearly four dozen Aerospace & Defense Engineering Training courses. Tonex also offers nearly 400 other systems engineering courses in more than four dozen categories.
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