<p>At the moment I am a declared electrical engineering major at Michigan. I will be going into my fourth semester. To the best of my knowledge, if I changed my major to aerospace engineering, I would most definitely have to move across the country. Is this correct? Places like Washington, California, Texas, and Florida? </p>
<p>Do aerospace engineers have the ability to work in other industries? What I really want to know is if I must relocate to where I assume the industry is? In all reality, I do not want to major in aerospace if I must commit right now to moving somewhere far. There are probably hardly any aerospace engineering jobs in Michigan, but what about Chicago? The way I see it, aerospace engineers are confined to working only in the aerospace industry. There would have to be some exceptions, though. Anyone concerned about aerodynamics in any way must need an aerospace engineer?</p>
<p>I am just looking for any insight on career opportunities for aerospace engineers. Also, would pursuing a master's in aerospace engineering make any sense after a bachelor's in electrical engineering? Thanks</p>
<p>Edit:</p>
<p>I just want to have options when I graduate, and I don't know if aerospace engineering will give me many.</p>
<p>It seems like most aerospace jobs are centralized in a few select locations like the ones you mentioned. Don't forget Colorado, there are lots of aerospace opportunities here.</p>
<p>I am studying MechE right now, even though I will probably go into the aerospace field when I graduate. My school has one of the top AE programs, but I felt it would leave me without many options if the aerospace industry goes south (highly unlikely but you never know), so I took the safe route with MechE.</p>
<p>Personally I would stick with your EE degree for undergrad, get a job in the aerospace industry when you graduate and figure out if it is right for you. You might not be working on aerodynamics but you will have a closeup view of what work in that area entails. If you like it you can maybe get a masters in AE. And if you don't like it, there are tons of other jobs for EE's in other industries. Its a win-win situation either way.</p>
<p>My Math teacher told me one of his former students are working in Arizona designing some type of system for aerial bombs. And since a lot of testing is done in New Mexico and Arizona with bombs there might be jobs there also, except the climate is extremely different than Michigan.</p>
<p>You could probably go to the department at your school, and speak to one of the professors, or perhaps even the department coordinator, and ask them where students that have graduated from that program have been placed. You could also ask them what the job market was like for Aero in Michigan, specifically from their program. I'm sure they will be happy to answer your questions, and someone in the department will know these things because they do take an interest in finding out where their graduates are placed. That is the best way to find info about what kind of job you can expect with a degree from their college.</p>
<p>Any of the areas across the country with NASA sites--eg. Huntsville, AL, Mississippi, Texas and many more. Check out NASA's web page for listings of sites across the country--there are many companies located in these areas that contract with NASA and need aero engineers.</p>
<p>who wouldnt want to move to Florida, Texas, California or any of the other wonderfully warm and sunshiny states that the aero industry has picked to base their operations?!</p>
<p>Seems like employment in MI will be difficult in many career areas in the near future, so you just might want to get used to the idea of relocation.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the replies. MCS, I also feel going for EE is the best idea. Thanks for the link.</p>
<p>I will talk to people in the department when I get to campus. I am actually a transfer student this winter, so that is why I have not done so earlier. I am just looking to get as much information as possible before next week.</p>
<p>It's not that I don't want to work in those places, I just want to be able to choose to do so. I want to have the option of working closer to home if I want.</p>
<p>I am not counting on getting a job in Michigan, but I probably wouldn't have too much trouble finding one closer than Florida. I will probably look at Chicago. Only five hours away by car and similar weather.</p>
<p>AE jobs are generally located near NASA sites or military sites. I think NASA also has sites in Alabama and Ohio. Check their website. Also look at major employer location, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, etc.</p>
<p>just for experience huntsville al is great nasa as well as military base, redstone arsenal, plus soon to be a mass expansion in jobs. dont know of a single major employer that does not have a building here plus was rated number one place to live during a recession. sorry for al the facts just a little prideful</p>
<p>One of my buddies that was a Physics/Materials Science double major wound up working for one of the large aerospace companies (I forgot if it was Boeing or Lockheed) in their satellite division in southeast Pennsylvania (actually, the town I was from).</p>
<p>I've also seen a bunch of them in New Jersey, though I'm not sure if they're just corporate offices or actual engineering offices.</p>
<p>^^^
Most of the aerospace engineers currently working are baby boomers currently just years from retirement. I think Lockheed Martin was planning on adding thousands of new engineers over the next decade or so to fill in the gaps left by retirees. With this economy though, that might have changed.</p>
<p>Theres a news article about it, I tried looking for it but didn't have any luck.</p>
<p>i am looking into going to university of colorado-boulder for aerospace. i just want to get out west, thats where all the jobs are at. the best aerospace schools are by far in california.</p>
<p>^^^
wow. you really are new arent you. that is absolutely not true.
East - MIT, GaTech, Purdue, UIUC, UMich, Cornell
West - CalTech, Stanford, Berkeley
now, i'm no math person but...</p>
<p>Stick with EE dude. As you said, aerospace engineers are confined to work in aerospace. EEs can work anywhere.</p>
<p>Don't put too much stock into "a ton of aerospace engineers retiring within the next xx years." Honestly, it is like that in any engineering discipline that has been around for a long time (which probably leaves only CS and CE as the only disciplines that won't be benefiting from mass retirements.)</p>
<p>Sticking with EE isn't a bad thing, it opens many more doors, IMO. I'm also an EE major at Michigan. I'm co-oping at an oil refinery right now. My boss is also an EE. Just to give you an idea of what is possible, my boss worked at GE Aerospace out of college. After deciding that GE doesn't pay enough (and you'll hear from many people that they don't) he decided to move on. Had an offer from NASA as an EE. Decided to go into the oil industry because the money is a lot better. An Aerospace major won't have as many options outside of the industry.</p>
<p>
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i am looking into going to university of colorado-boulder for aerospace. i just want to get out west, thats where all the jobs are at. the best aerospace schools are by far in california.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Many, many jobs are definitely out west in aerospace. However, Houston and around Daytona Beach are also two places with a lot of aerospace jobs. I definitely would not agree with your best aerospace schools assessment either :P. The only school out west I have heard ANYTHING about aerospace-wise is Caltech (not saying I'm particularly knowledgeable, just saying I haven't heard anything about the other good engineering schools in this specific discipline).</p>