Career Information

What Mechanical and Aerospace Engineers Do

"Aerospace engineers design, develop, and test aircraft, spacecraft, and missiles and supervise the manufacture of these products. Those who work with aircraft are called aeronautical engineers, and those working specifically with spacecraft are astronautical engineers. Aerospace engineers develop new technologies for use in aviation, defense systems, and space exploration, often specializing in areas such as structural design, guidance, navigation and control, instrumentation and communication, or production methods. They also may specialize in a particular type of aerospace product, such as commercial aircraft, military fighter jets, helicopters, spacecraft, or missiles and rockets, and may become experts in aerodynamics, thermodynamics, celestial mechanics, propulsion, acoustics, or guidance and control systems."

"Mechanical engineers research, develop, design, manufacture, and test tools, engines, machines, and other mechanical devices. They work on power-producing machines such as electric generators, internal combustion engines, and steam and gas turbines, as well as power-using machines such as refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment, machine tools, material handling systems, elevators and escalators, industrial production equipment, and robots used in manufacturing. Mechanical engineers also design tools that other engineers need for their work. Mechanical engineering is one of the broadest engineering disciplines. Mechanical engineers may work in production operations in manufacturing or agriculture, maintenance, or technical sales; many are administrators or managers."

- US Department of Labor Occupational Outlook Handbook

Description of the engineering occupation from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Career Information for Mechanical Engineering from Sloan Career Cornerstone Center

• Profiles of Mechanical Engineers (includes video profiles)
  (click on "Online Profile" adjacent to each individual to view videos)
• Description of Mechanical Engineering Field
• Overview of the Mechanical Engineering Field
• Preparation
• Earnings       
• Employment
• Day in the Life of a Mechanical Engineer
• Professional Development
• Career Path Forecast
• Professional Organizations

Career Information for Aerospace Engineering from Sloan Career Cornerstone Center

• Profiles of Aerospace Engineers (includes video profiles)
  (click on "Online Profile" adjacent to each individual to view videos       
• Preparation - Pursuing the Aerospace Engineering Degree       
• Day in the Life of a Aerospace Engineer       
• Earnings       
• Employment       
• Career Path Forecast       
• Professional Organizations