Do you think you might want a job in aerospace engineering? Then read on to hear advice from Marvin Nuss, an aerospace engineer and consultant and former speaker at TIP’s Summer Studies Program.
If you are thinking of going into aerospace engineering one day, did you know that there are lots of things you can do now to make your journey a success? You will need math and science skills, of course, but the rest of my recommendations may surprise you. Click below for some things you can do now, while you are still in elementary and middle school, to prepare for a career in aerospace. With these tips in mind, you will soon be on your way to a career in aerospace engineering. I hope you enjoy the journey and reaching your destination as much as I have over the years.
Math and science
Take as much math and science as you can now, to lay down a foundation in these critical fields and also to free up room in your high school schedule to take calculus and statistics as well as, ideally, two physics or chemistry classes by the end of your senior year. Taking basic math and science classes like Algebra early allows you to take more advanced electives in high school and this, in turn, lets you start college with prerequisites or advanced credits already under your belt – meaning you can try specialty engineering classes as early as your freshman year in college.
Computer skills
Don’t forget you will need advanced computer skills. Computer skills are essential to solving the complicated equations and other challenges aerospace engineering requires. You will also need computer skills to be able to illustrate and present your ideas to others. So loading up on math and science courses early frees you to take some critical electives like computer programming and computer graphics.
Problem solving
Become a problem solver. Engineers are problem solvers – and complex problems, like those in aerospace engineering, must be solved step-by-step. That’s why engineers often solve them by breaking them down into a series of smaller problems. Start honing your problem solving and critical thinking skills now by working thru complicated algebra, science or logic problems step-by-step, showing your work as you go. If you solve the problem incorrectly, go back over your work looking for where you went wrong. If that still doesn’t work, try a different approach for different steps until you find out where you went wrong. Engineers often have to start over or adjust their solutions before they find success.
Writing matters
Do not neglect your English classes. No matter what area of aerospace engineering you go into, you will be required to clearly explain your thoughts and conclusions to others. If you cannot do this, you will never see your ideas become real. So work hard in English to become a good writer. Pay attention to grammar and sentence structure, and know that being clear is better than having a big vocabulary. Engineers are notorious for writing long sentences and using really big words when a simpler word will do. My advice is to be professional, keep your sentences as concise as possible, and choose your thoughts carefully. If you learn early on to explain yourself as clearly as possible it will serve you well over the entire course of your academic and engineering career.
Public speaking
Start practicing public speaking now. The most successful public speakers I know began talking in front of other people in early in life. For example, while growing up on a farm in Kansas, I was in 4-H and each year I had to make at least one presentation to the entire 4-H community. I remember that in 5th grade, I had to demonstrate how I had made a backrest out of cardboard. These presentations helped me become comfortable in front of groups—an important part of any aerospace career. You will often be called on to explain your ideas to your boss, company executives, or team members. So join the debate club, try theater, and share your thoughts in class. Two other good ways to practice public speaking include taking a concept you have learned about in school, then teaching it to your family. If you can learn to break a complicated idea down into a series of simpler sentences that your family can understand, you are developing a truly valuable skill. Another thing you can do is to always include a presentation component in your science fair projects. Don’t just create an exhibit—learn to explain your experiment and your conclusions to people attending the science fair. You will soon become comfortable with oral presentations and answering questions from the crowd.
Hands-on
There is no substitute for hands-on building. Designing and creating any kind of object can teach you so much about engineering, structural requirements, aerodynamics, strength testing, and a lot of other factors that will affect your success in aerospace engineering. So step away from your books, grab some materials, and start designing and creating now. Engineering is all about making your ideas real.
With these tips in mind, you will soon be on your way to a career in aerospace engineering. I hope you enjoy the journey and reaching your destination as much as I have over the years.
Marvin Nuss is an aerospace engineering consultant from Kansas who was a popular speaker at TIP’s Summer Studies Program for nearly twenty years. As the owner of NuSS Sustainment Solutions, he focuses on the airworthiness and sustainment of aircraft structures. He has over forty-two
years of experience in aircraft fatigue, damage tolerance, and continued airworthiness. He worked for the FAA for two decades in operational safety, helping solve structural in-service problems, investigating accidents, and educating aircraft owners, mechanics, and engineers about the effects of aging. Before that, Marv worked as a structural fatigue analyst at Bell Helicopter and McDonnell Aircraft companies. He was involved in several design, in-service, and fatigue test projects on helicopters and fighter aircraft.
Since founding NuSS in 2011, Marv has provided consulting and training services for a variety of private sector, government, and academic organizations on four continents, including the Army, Navy, and Air Force. Marv has a bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Kansas and did graduate study in engineering mechanics at the University of Texas-Arlington.