<p>How's the job outlook for aerospace engineers...specifically those working on the structural aspect...I hear it's cyclic, is this so, and will it always be so?</p>
<p>I think that Aerospace will hit a definite downturn soon. I predict that defense related spending will plunge in the next administration.</p>
<p>Defense spending will probably go down just a bit, but remember, you have to restock that arsenal after any war ;).</p>
<p>Also, recall that a great deal of aerospace engineers will be retiring soon -- check out the Aviation Week article "The Disappearing Aerospace Engineer" -- and that will lead to a surplus of positions. Even if the total number of positions is cut, there will still be fewer engineers (in Aerospace specifically) graduating than retiring for the foreseeable future.</p>
<p>They definitely have job prospects outside of the aerospace industry. I heard of 1 aero working for a factory, working on their machines or the design of the facility itself, basically ME-type jobs.</p>
<p>I agree with karthikkito.</p>
<p>BTW, how are job outlooks for international students ? I've heard a few people stating that its difficult for intls. to get jobs in the Aerospace industry easily.</p>
<p>Any views on this ? Would I need a PhD, or would an MBA or MS suffice ? I don't plan on getting myself a job after a BS degree.</p>
<p>Aerospace is intimately connected to Defense, and therefore you need a security clearance (or the ability to get one) for many jobs. And you need to be a citizen for the clearance..thus it is true that opps are limited for foreign nationals</p>
<p>pyro-</p>
<p>There are many many successful Foreign Born engineers/scientists working here in this country and I tell you what- they are top qualities, and most highly sought-after. </p>
<p>OBTW, you definitely need advanced degrees (PHD) to get employed here. This is the usual steps:</p>
<ol>
<li> after bs=> get a phD</li>
<li> after a phD => get a greencard: this can be done via a sponsorship thru employee (school (post-doc) or company)</li>
<li> five years after greencard => apply for the US citizenship via naturalization</li>
<li> after citizenship => you can get a clearance up to TS.</li>
</ol>
<p>After step 2, you can get a tenure track professorship
After step 4, you can get into top defense industry or government research centers, including NASA/AFRL/NRL/ARL</p>
<p>Wow,, do international students really need to get a PHD to get a job??? Is even a master's degree not enough?.</p>
<p>Boston is right. Many aero things fall under ITAR regulations which mean you have to be a citizen. Yay government jobs.</p>
<p>Wow. At that rate, he will be OLD by the time he gets clearance...</p>
<p>well, where theres a will, there is a way.</p>
<p>A more expedient method is to fall in love and marry a girl who has a US citizenship, preferably while youre in school. Usually you will get a citizenship within 3 years.</p>
<p>So, start honing your mating skill NOW ;)</p>
<p>That said, there are positions in many commercial aviation divisions that don't require citizenship. If I'm not mistaken, GE doesn't require citizenship to work on commercial engines (as they're exported to most countries anyways...).</p>
<p>Bump...I like this thread....I would like to get some more opinions :P</p>
<p>Rabban....pls....I have a life....I just cant keep studying all the time.</p>
<p>And I don't think my family would be that <em>ahem</em> pleased if I marry a girl who has a US citizenship. :D</p>
<p>Slower than average job growth says</p>
<p><a href="http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos027.htm%5B/url%5D">http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos027.htm</a></p>
<p>
[quote]
Aerospace engineers are expected to have slower-than-average growth in employment over the projection period. Although increases in the number and scope of military aerospace projects likely will generate new jobs, increased efficiency will limit the number of new jobs in the design and production of commercial aircraft. Even with slow growth, the employment outlook for aerospace engineers through 2014 appears favorable: the number of degrees granted in aerospace engineering declined for many years because of a perceived lack of opportunities in this field, and, although this trend is reversing, new graduates continue to be needed to replace aerospace engineers who retire or leave the occupation for other reasons.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>
[quote]
Slower than average job growth says
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Job growth refers to the creation of new positions. Why would a field where the incoming number is lower than the outgoing create NEW positions? After all, that simply increases the demand for the graduates even further, driving their salaries up as companies compete even harder. Since it's a factor that the companies control, they're not going to work it against their favor.</p>