Aerospace/Applied Physics for building robotic exploration vehicles

[razidan]

Hello everyone,
I was wondering what degree/s do the people that build all the robotic exploration vehicles have.
I have a bachelor's in physics and a bachelor's in material engineering from a university outside the US.
I have now moved to the US and I would like to continue my education, I was thinking Aerospace eng or applied physics.
I would like to end up working on research robotic missions...

I know most of the robotic vehicles are assembled at JPL but usually have a defense contractor (lockheed, Boeing, Northropp) working on them also.. so what job description involves working on one of these?
Do i need to work at JPL or at one of the defense companies?Thanks,
R

 

[Alloymouse]

Hello everyone,
I was wondering what degree/s do the people that build all the robotic exploration vehicles have.
I have a bachelor's in physics and a bachelor's in material engineering from a university outside the US.
I have now moved to the US and I would like to continue my education, I was thinking Aerospace eng or applied physics.
I would like to end up working on research robotic missions...

I know most of the robotic vehicles are assembled at JPL but usually have a defense contractor (lockheed, Boeing, Northropp) working on them also.. so what job description involves working on one of these?
Do i need to work at JPL or at one of the defense companies?Thanks,
R

Hey Razidan,

Personally I've dream't of working at JPL and other branches of NASA as a kid hahaha; anyways, I believe the defence companies generally handle hardware components - system integration for the robotic vehicles etc are generally done within NASA (like at the JPL). If you would like to see the entire system come to fruition, you should probably be aiming for JPL :)

Oh, and looking at your qualifications, you're headed in the right direction with engineering degrees - and such a field does not have a strict education background requirement (unless of course, they are needing and hiring only specific specialists in very specific fields).

 

[Dr. Courtney]

The guys I've known in that game were all mechanical engineers.

 

[Scrumhalf]

Mechanical engineering. Try to work on projects that involve robotics, autonomous vehicles, etc. And in case you aren't (I can't tell from your message), get your US citizenship. Many of these positions are likely to require it.

 

[razidan]

Thanks for the responses everyone.