What Are the duties of an Aerospace Engineer in Practical Life (Job)?

[qam47]

Hello Everyone,

First I would like to thank you for allowing me to post in this community and Would like to Give a brief background about me:

BEng (Hons) Degree: Aerospace Engineering from UK
MSc Degree: Advanced methods of Aeronautical Engineering
Basically a Fresh Graduate.

I just recently Completed my degrees and trying to find a Job at the moment, I want to ask that what are the duties of an aerospace engineer in a field (In an Airline and General Aviation) Based on my Degrees. My Degrees are not based on Maintenance side but on designing side. So I know Airbus Boeing etc are relevant to my degree but I want to know what are the duties in any airline? Please if possible be as much as technical that what kind of duties are assigned.

For Example my Masters Degree was based on Aerospace Structures But what I learnt and studied was mostly theoretical. Calculation of stress, life of the wing etc.. How is all this knowledge implemented in real life? Any kind of help will be appreciated. I Really want to understand the "Behind the scene concept" of this Job as I have not worked anywhere yet so I am asking for help from experienced engineers or the one currently working so I make a good impression when I start my very first job.

Kind Regards.

[Genghis the Engineer]

I'm similarly qualified to you, but a couple of decades down my career. I've worked extensively in GA, bounced briefly off the airline world, but also worked a lot in the military environment.

The jobs people like us can do in the aircraft operational side are relatively out of the core, but nonetheless vital.

In GA, I worked in airworthiness approvals - designing or mostly testing and approving aircraft modifications, or investigating in service airworthiness issues.

In the military environment my role was mostly managing aircraft or equipment testing. A lot of fun it was too, I sometimes still regret leaving that job - although for me personally it was pretty inevitable.

In the airline world people like us are most likely to be in areas such as airworthiness oversight, modification approvals - mods come along all the time in the airline world: for example cockpit changes, trim updates, rectification of design defects that have been found in service.


The biggest problem you'll have as a graduate engineer in GA is that very few organisations are geared up for training graduates - the best bet is to get a job as a deputy or assistant to an experienced professional engineer in something like an airworthiness or design function. Those jobs are like hens teeth - but if you are offered one, grab it, it's a fantastic way into the industry.

In the military environment, there's a much more straightforward graduate entry route at places like Boscombe Down, BAeS, Westlands or Qinetiq. Their websites should show the routes in if you hunt around. (Or there's Engineering Office entry for all three of the services.)

The airlines are probably closer to GA in that there's not much of a tendency to recruit fresh graduates, but there are certainly interesting jobs for good CEng or IEng level Engineers. But there are certainly entry level jobs you can try and shoot for, but you'll need to do a lot of hunting to find those elusive graduate jobs in that environment.

(I started in the military environment with one of Qinetiq's predecessor organisations, before moving later into GA where I was already qualified and capable of practicing independently, and then finally moved into the research environment I work in now. I can't honestly see any other order having worked for me.)

[qam47]

Thank you very much for replying.
I did some research about it before entering this field but at that time i was misguided. I always wanted to work in an airline rather OEM therefore I should have chose Maintenance side. And to tell you the truth I was not very keen on research at that time like joining forums etc because I have so much interest in Aviation industry that i was only thinking that I need to get these degrees and I will be fine. Now I am regretting it that I paid around £50,000 for my both degrees and I cant even find a JOB regardless of my outstanding grades. I am fresh graduate have no practical exp thats why I am struggling a bit here in my country. As far as UK goes I was not able to work there because of my visa status.

Anyway I know its very tough now a days to enter in aviation industry as the competition is huge and vacancies are decreasing. But I also know that if I am in for the first time and gain some experience then all my hard work will pay off.

Actually I have specialized in Stress Engineering Field. and Its really hard to find a job of entry level in this field, I wanted to know like how to implement the theory in practical field. For example I know How to Carry out FEM analysis but how does one implement to the existing Aircraft Structure. I have Carried out many projects and assignments to create something new and test it but never worked on an already existing structure. I was specifically asking for airlines because this situation is much similar to that. But again anything will help me, I just want to get the feeling of how the work is done, Want to know how is it different to my studies in University so I have much clear mind when going for interviews, assessment centres etc. I hope you are understanding my point of view.

But as I said Thank you very much for the reply even it really helped me a lot. Looking forward to your reply.

[Genghis the Engineer]

I think that you are probably right about having been led astray a little - you don't say what your nationality is but in general stress engineer jobs are primarily with the OEMs or their structural subcontractors. That does mean primarily Europe or North America - although there are certainly enclaves around, say, Moscow or Bangalore where you'll find quite a few as well.

There are very few stress engineer jobs in the airlines, and fewer still entry level jobs - that is probably not a route you can reasonably aspire to. I suggest that you want to either look to the OEMs in any country that you can get a work permit for (by all means say where you are, there are a few of us who may be able to advise), or look closer to home at structural engineering jobs outside of aviation. Those are likely to be plentiful - you've actually got a fairly rare skillset there that is not just needed in the aircraft industry.

If all else fails, design bridges, use it to pay for a PPL and some private flying, and in the meantime work out how to get where you really want to be.

[qam47]

HI, Thank you for the reply.
Sorry I forgot to tell. My Nationality is Pakistani, However I live in Dubai. And I am trying to find a job in Dubai as there are no job in Pakistan for me.

What you said earlier really scared me that I Have done is not needed in aircraft industry :confused: As I Said I was mislead and spent 50,000 on my degrees. Now I dont know what to do. Actually I wanted to work in an airline industry thats where my interest lies. Furthermore, I have tried my best to get a work permit for Europe and America but still not able to get it because of the recent changes in their rules.

Whats done is done, Can you advise me what to do now? Should I start studying for B1 Licence? I have done Bacholers and Masters do it should be easy for me right? And how long will it take? Looking forward to your kind reply.

Regards

[Genghis the Engineer]

What about people like PAC in Kamra? There's a significant amount if military aircraft development going on in Pakistan, and that industry certainly needs good stressmen.

And, frankly, military aircraft design and development is a lot sexier than most things the airlines will ever do.

I can't honestly think of much going on in Dubai that needs stress engineers for aircraft work.

[Tech_Log]

qam47

Have you considered doing a graduate course with someone like BA (who I work for, not trying to plug them just the place I know !).

I can only speak for BA but the graduate course involves (I think) 4 placements over 2yrs in places like Technical, Structures and Power plant departments plus one 'production' area (i.e. working on places).

Our structures guys look at things like airframe damage and make judgements on whether the plane can fly whilst power plant do similar stuff with engines and technical support do general advice. You could also get into design doing things like drawings and designing new seats etc.
Bascially somewhere in there are guys who do what you've trained to do. If an aircraft is damaged, structures will look at how the repair needs to be carried out, oversee the repair, check stress levels and all that good stuff.

Might be what you're looking for, am sure other airlines have similar departments but as I say I can only speak for BA in that respect.

Any questions just ask.
Safe flying
Tech_Log

[downsetgo]

Hello quam47,

it´s a coincidence I am reading your post.
I am mechanical engineer and I work in a department which does a lot of tructure development (aerostructures) within an engineering supplier in Germany. Main customer is Airbus. We develop a lot of structural components (mostly CFRP) for Airbus directly or for system suppliers of Airbus.
As it sounds to me, this is exactly what you majored in at university.

Although you asked for a job description for an engineer within an airline, I could possibly still have two, three interesting words for you to say.

Just as in automotive industry, in aviation a lot of engineering work is outsourced to engineering suppliers. Common practice. This has nothing to do with manufacturing though, this is done by other suppliers. We have a lot of stress people and we work closely together (Design & Stress). So if you want to do FEM for aircraft structure, this would be a good way. It`s in Germany, not sure how visa requirements are. But just as in Germany, in any european country involved in Airbus there are always several engineering supplier companies right next door.

Following things besides engineering suppliers could be of interest:

- Lufthansa Technik (Lufthansa`s own maintenance, but also much more. e.g. they upgrade production airliners, VIP jets, also develop new materials and processes). It is based in Germany, quite large company. FEM is needed in so many areas.

- EADS generally, this includes Astrium, Eurocopter, Airbus. All renamed recently.

Still, even if you have not studied exactly what you originally aimed for, no reason to get discouraged. Degrees are only a first entry ticket, for many careers it`s not really too important which specialisation in mechanical engineering you have. Give it a try where you think you want to go, even if at afirst glance you think they might not need your skills. You never now. Often they don`t know either what exactly they need.

A master degree in my point of view would help dramatically to open up the field of options of later employment. You have set a very good basis with a bachelor degree. And with a master now or even later with some experience there should be some interesting options. But reducing the search to airlines only will decrease the number of options a lot in my point of view.
But I can understand if it`s the fact of being closer to the aircaft that`s in your mind. Just an assumption. This is a problem with engineering suppliers, in my experience they are too far away from the later product.