CareerChangeIdea.co.uk

Technical and Exciting Careers With Electronic Engineering

The word Engineer covers a very wide range of disciplines. It's likely that you're looking for a chance to contribute technically and creatively if you want to get into either aero engineering or auto engineering. The aerospace industry in the UK is world-class, and is one of the most diverse and technically advanced industries to be employed in today. With regard to the automotive sector Britain also plays a significant role here, with several hundred thousand people being involved in the industry.

Highly Regarded Training

There are a good number of universities in the UK offering BEng and MEng Degrees in Automotive Engineering and Aeronautical Engineering, several with international reputations. Engineering graduates can also choose to take post-graduate qualifications. Diplomas and other vocational certifications are also available from some colleges. BEng and MEng courses at university usually follow the same structure for the first two years, and then take on a different format for the final year or two.

Certain course options will offer students the chance to study part-time, on a sandwich course basis. The Armed Forces and certain private companies will sponsor students to qualify in both of these disciplines, in exchange for an agreed period of working time. Take time to look into the various university, college and sponsorship options. You have many exciting possibilities in front of you.

Automotive Engineers

All cars, bikes, coaches and heavy goods vehicles come under the remit of auto engineering. It takes in elements of many other engineering disciplines. There are many new technologies in the automotive arena, so a great deal to think about for the student who's just getting started.

We can split auto engineering into product or design engineering, development engineering and manufacturing engineering. First comes design. These engineers have to design all the component parts and systems on a vehicle. The engineering attributes of an automobile are the responsibility of development 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.

There are a great deal of product disciplines for the auto engineering student to take on board. Throughout your training you will learn about all three stages of the automotive engineering processes. Auto engineers must be fully conversant with safety engineering - so tests are done for example to check resistance to rollover, seat belt and air bag functionality and front and side crash impacts.

All components have to function well for the job they're designed to do, but they also have to work synergistically with the whole vehicle. So an understanding of development engineering is necessary. 'Trade-offs' come under this function, for example balancing fuel economy with engine performance. Development engineers ultimately have to be sure that everything on the completed vehicle not only meets the manufacturers spec, but is also compliant with the latest regulations.

Once the designers and developers are absolutely satisfied that everything is ready, the manufacturing engineers take over. 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.

Aero Engineering

We think of aeronautical engineering as the science of aircraft, but it also embraces space technology and missiles. 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. (That said, engineers working in Formula One use aerospace technology too!)

Modern aeroplanes have to undergo many severe conditions in order to safely negotiate the skies. Due to the complexity of flight vehicle development and design, it would be impossible to learn enough about all the technologies involved, so teams of engineers deal in their own specialisations.

With a strong emphasis on analytics, training will include all aspects of design, materials, forces and integration of systems. Analytical subjects like thermodynamics are usually taught through lectures and tutorials. Modern computing methods can now simulate the behaviour of fluid, which reduces the need for empirical testing in wind tunnels. All the same, students shouldn't miss out on aeronautical projects that carry out tests in wind tunnels.

Both Auto and Aero engineering students will benefit from a good deal of practical application. All engineering students will get the chance to contribute to a practical group assignment to create an automobile or flight vehicle. Automotive and Aeronautical Engineering training courses may also cover more broad-based subjects and transferable skills. Employers often expect graduate entrants to have additional soft skills when they get into industry.

The UK aerospace industry attracts the very best graduates, and the work is both compelling and highly remunerated. Graduates and Post-graduates can gain professional recognition as Incorporated Engineers or Chartered Engineers.