Working in Aerospace in Australia

[happyslapper]

Hi guys

I'm interested in aerospace engineering. I love aircraft, especially military jets, and certain armaments such as missiles. I would love to design these things. The only problem is I'm in Australia :/

I have heard a lot that there is absolutely no aerospace engineering in Australia, unless I join the defense force. I am seriously considering this but I was more looking forward to actually designing aircraft instead of little modifacations.

Is there any way I can become an aerospace engineer, either by working in a different country, or somehow branching off the military scene and into a company such as General Dynamics?

I would love to hear of some aerospace engineers who work in the Australian Defense Force.

 

[Baluncore]

Welcome to PF.

You are correct, there is very little aerospace design or industry in Australia. What engineering does happen is done as part of procurement agreements, behind walls of secrecy.

It takes a team with good leadership to design an aircraft. No one gets to design aircraft on their first day. It will take 30 years of wide experience during which you need to be deep in the industry to demonstrate your broad technical competency and management skills.

The RAAF would be an excellent entry point, an engineering education with good pay and conditions would be better than you could buy overseas. Once you are qualified you will be well positioned to move on to O/S employment and further experience, just don't tell the RAAF that at the interview.

 

[NatSusan]

Hi! It's great to hear that you are interested in aerospace engineering. It's a fascinating field and there are definitely opportunities for you to pursue your passion, even in Australia. While it may be true that there are limited options for aerospace engineering in Australia, there are still ways for you to work in this field. One option is to look into international companies that have offices or projects in Australia. You could also consider studying abroad in a country with a strong aerospace industry, such as the United States or France, and then bring your skills back to Australia. Additionally, you could look into joining the Australian Defense Force and work on projects related to aerospace engineering. It may not be exactly what you had in mind, but it could be a great way to gain experience and potentially transition into a civilian aerospace engineering role in the future. I would also recommend reaching out to any aerospace engineers in the Australian Defense Force and asking for their advice and insights. Good luck on your journey!