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Technically Challenging: Engineering Design Careers

Engineering covers a multitude of career options and skill levels. Should you fancy yourself as an aeronautical or automotive engineer, you're probably hoping to stretch yourself technically and logically. Great Britain is renowned for its aeronautical engineering excellence, and its aerospace industry turns over many billions of pounds every year. In addition, the auto industry also has a global influence, not least from a design and development point of view.

Getting The Right Qualifications

There are many internationally recognised British university degree courses that train students to a very high level in both auto and aero engineering. Graduates can also follow on and take a PhD or MSc if they wish. It's also possible to find other engineering diplomas and fitting vocational courses. Most degree courses last from between three and five years, depending on whether the student is working towards BEng or MEng, and whether a year in industry is opted for.

There may also be options for part-time study in some educational establishments. Equally, it's also possible for some students to arrange sponsorship (for example from the Army) if they're prepared to commit to them after training. It really is good advice to do your research thoroughly, as there are such a lot of alternatives to consider.

The Automotive Industry

Automotive engineering has come a long way in the last hundred years. Today, it incorporates elements not only of mechanical and electrical engineering, but also electronic, safety and software engineering. With new technologies such as ultra low emissions, active suspensions, composite material structures and electric vehicles, there is much to challenge the thought processes of the student.

In the life cycle of a vehicle, design engineering comes first, followed by development engineering and then manufacturing engineering. Design engineers obviously come up with the vehicle's design, but they also have to check each component part. We have development engineers next, who are rather like systems engineers. They liaise with designers with regard to technical specifications and so on. Determining how to make the automobile is the job of the manufacturing engineers.

Auto engineering courses are very in-depth, and mastering the detail will take time and experience. The various elements of your training will ensure you become proficient in core automotive subjects like engine design and vehicle dynamics. One of the most crucial areas of auto engineering is safety engineering. All aspects of a vehicle are stringently tested in both partial and full vehicle crashes and simulations.

It's one thing for a component or system to work in isolation, but quite another for it to work in harmony with everything else on the vehicle. That's why automotive engineering students need to learn about the work of development engineers.

This can also involve understanding tradeoffs, a process which ensures that all the vehicle attributes are delivered at an acceptable level. The final vehicle must also meet government regulations, which are becoming increasingly environmentally relevant.

The manufacturing process takes over once all the design and development work has been done. Engineers involved in this stage of the build use statistics and process controls to ensure every stage of the manufacture meets rigorous quality standards. This work includes project management of tools, machines, people and safety procedures.

Aeronautical-Engineering

Aero engineering is all about turning ideas into reality by applying scientific principles to produce sophisticated flight products. Those who study aeronautical engineering should be able to challenge conventional thinking. The aerospace industry needs people who are technical, analytical and lateral, who can also work well with others. You could also choose a career in motor racing, as aircraft engineering is the basis for Formula One design.

Modern aeroplanes have to undergo many severe conditions in order to safely negotiate the skies. As such, aircraft vehicles are usually the product of many aerospace engineering technologies, for example avionics, propulsion and aerodynamics. The aeronautical engineer will choose his or her speciality.

Students will use software to learn about design and the layout of essential aeronautical systems. All studies will focus on analytical concepts. Analytical subjects like thermodynamics are usually taught through lectures and tutorials. The behaviour of fluid can now be tested with computerised simulations, reducing the time and expense spent on wind tunnel testing. (However students will still carry out experiments using jet engines, large structural testing machines and wind tunnels).

Both Auto and Aero engineering students will benefit from a good deal of practical application. All academic programmes will involve a mixture of group and individual assignments to design and build actual machines or components. Engineering degrees will also allow students to learn various other subjects and skills. Things like oral communication, leadership skills and teamwork might be on the list.

Aero and auto engineering degrees not only provide the opportunity to develop technical expertise, they also put graduates into the top sector for employment opportunities. Refer to the Engineering Council for details on becoming a Chartered Engineer (CEng) or an Incorporated Engineer (IEng).