What is an Aerodynamics Engineer? Definition, Skills, & Salary

Wondering what is aerodynamic engineering? Are you in the process of getting an aerodynamics degree and want to know your future perspectives regarding the career? Read further!

Regarding the type of jobs in aerodynamics, the contemporary engineering market offers a big variety of great careers to pursue in the field. Performing a job as an aerodynamics engineer can be a tremendous option to build a career while working on various kinds of vehicles, involving aircraft, space, and land.

In case you possess a background in aerospace engineering as well as perfect critical thinking skills, a career as an aerodynamics engineer is for you.

In this article, let’s consider what a profession as an aerodynamics engineer is like, explore a list of steps that can support you to become one, get to know the must-have hard/soft skills, and check their salary variations.

What is an Aerodynamics Engineer’s Definition?

 

 

An aerodynamics engineer is considered an aerospace engineering specialist who makes sure that designs for novel vehicles are innovative, feasible, and secure. Aerodynamics engineers can investigate concepts and designs for a wide range of solutions, such as spacecraft, satellites, aircraft, and land vehicles. Due to their multifaceted nature, these professionals frequently possess many responsibilities that can vary based on their expertise area, the industry they are involved in, and the kinds of projects they commonly work on.

For instance, an aerodynamics engineer who deals with aircraft might accentuate optimizing the performance of vehicles in the air by applying aspects of their design, such as the shape/weight of every vehicle and its components. Meet several expertise areas that can be extremely valuable to aerodynamics engineers:

·   Aerodynamics;

·   Aerophysics;

·   Thermodynamics;

·   Aerothermodynamics.

What Does an Aerodynamics Engineer Do?

Here are a couple of traditional job duties that an aerodynamics engineer typically has:

·   Executing research regarding design and materials for advanced vehicles;

·   Generating and implementing groundbreaking concepts for vehicles;

·   Designing approaches for evaluating vehicle efficiency;

·   Testing novel designs in terms of functionality and performance;

·   Conducting engineering activities during the manufacture of novel vehicles;

·   Arranging evaluation procedures, such as wind tunnel/flight testing once novel vehicles are developed;

·   Collaborating with other engineering teams to construct the vehicles they support designing.

 

How to Become an Aerodynamics Engineer

Check several key steps you can apply to begin your career as an aerodynamics engineer.

Get Proficiency in Math and Science

Much of an aerodynamics engineer's job consists in conducting challenging calculations and performing extremely technical observations. That is why it can come in handy to initiate preparing as early as high school. In case you are sure that you want to obtain a career as an aerodynamics engineer while still in high school, it would be ideal to begin readying yourself by paying specific attention to your Math and Science courses. This can help you acquire the skills that will be useful later in your career.

Discover several high school classes that can bring numerous benefits:

·   Advanced math;

·   Physics;

·   Computer studies;

·   Chemistry.

Acquire a Bachelor's Degree

The minimum educational demand for an aerodynamics engineer is usually a bachelor's degree. Because an aerodynamics engineer deals with aerospace engineering, the majority of ambitious specialists major in aerospace engineering to get training in the essential concepts they might need to succeed as soon as they begin working.

Additionally, they can benefit from courses, such as tech-drawing or computer science, as these can deliver education on more in-depth aspects that relate to the job.

Get a Graduate Degree

Though a graduate degree is frequently optional for an aerodynamics engineer, many students acquire further education to get to know higher-level concepts that can encourage their work. Possessing a graduate degree can often qualify you for higher-paying roles with more enhanced job responsibilities. One of the most widespread choices of graduate degrees for aerodynamics engineers is a master's degree in aerospace engineering.

Consider an Internship

As far as the majority of aerodynamics engineers get training that occurs on the job, it can be very useful for candidates to acquire an internship before they apply for work. This can enrich you with the chance to learn about what the role entails and upgrade your skills while under the control of a proven professional in the industry.

You can reveal truly powerful internships that can prepare you for a career as an aerodynamics engineer by searching online or addressing businesses you would like to join to get to know about potential internship opportunities.

Focus on Experience

The majority of professionals in this role get and optimize their expertise and techniques while working in the industry. It can be common for talents to earn between 4 and 6 years of practical experience in the field before they send their CVs for positions as an aerodynamics engineer. In case you receive an internship, you might ask the business you intern for about joining as a full-time entry-level specialist as an option to enter the industry promptly and gain experience.

Skills Required to Be a Successful Aerodynamics Engineer

To demonstrate high productivity in this profession, you will need a particular set of hard and soft skills, involving:

Hard Skills

·   Perfect in the usage of wind tunnel experimental methods;

·   Proficiency in visualization and CFD meshing;

·   Knowledge of the application of analytical tools;

·   Able to create analytical models, involving performance models;

·   Knowledge of how to execute analytical simulations to identify aerodynamic lift and drag;

·   Proficiency in transonic, subsonic, and supersonic aerodynamics.

Soft Skills

·   Ideal work planning and problem-solving skills;

·   Ability to perform responsibilities efficiently in a team surrounding;

·   Great verbal and written communication skills.

Personality Traits

To become a high-flyer in aerodynamic engineering, you should be ready to survive the ups and downs of this career. You should sincerely love what you do, in case you are going to spend your life on it. The personality traits it takes to be prosperous presuppose:

·   Creative and inventive mind;

·   Extremely deep interest in science and math;

·   Determination and patience;

·   A team-oriented attitude;

·   Taking responsibility for results;

·   Inspiration in activities that includes precision and details.

Who Generates Jobs for Aerodynamics Engineers?

Jobs for aerodynamics engineers are commonly organized on a full-time basis, by the following kinds of businesses:

·   Firms that develop, produce, and release airplanes;

·   Enterprises that design, generate, and market spacecraft as well as aerospace goods;

·   Private/commercial airlines;

·   Space agencies;

·   Businesses that design, produce, and deliver automobiles and other transport;

·   Formula 1 racing businesses;

·   National defense agencies around the globe;

·   Government institutions, such as the Department of Transportation in the US;

·   Public and private investigation/development labs;

·   Various educational institutions (in teaching and/or exploration capacities).

Traditional Salary Level for Aerodynamics Engineers

When it comes to the salary level of aerodynamics engineers, it usually varies depending on the following aspects:

·   Their level of education and experience;

·   The particular responsibilities of their jobs;

·   The scale and kind of their employers;

·   The region in which they perform jobs.

In the United States, the average wage for such engineering professionals in 2022 is nearly 116 thousand US dollars. Such specialists always get an average bonus (for their projects) that is approximately 4 thousand US dollars with the majority of aerodynamics engineers reporting that they enjoy a bonus annually. Aerodynamics engineers earn the most in San Francisco at about 138 thousand US dollars