Being an aerospace engineer is no child’s play. And when it comes to ‘being a great one,’ well, the bar of difficulty reaches its highest pinnacle. One needs to be exceptionally talented to fall into this rare breed of engineers.
If you are also willing to pursue aerospace engineering, it’s crucial that you understand what it actually means to be an aerospace engineer.
While one can always find a way into any of the aerospace engineering colleges after a lot of hard work, there are some inherent traits that help such people rise above mediocracy and become aerospace wizards. The top 5 of those qualities are jotted below. Read them all and see where you stand:
1. Critical Thinking
Critical thinking usually means a person’s ability to analyze a situation logically and come up with a set of judgments to formulate solutions. Since an aerospace engineer is involved in the making of aircraft and other machines, they need to identify the weaknesses and bring appropriate and safe solutions to the fore.
2. Active Listening
Aerospace engineers work in a team and thus, it is crucial that they must pay attention to messages and other instructions communicated to them. As even a small mistake on their part can create blunders.
Moreover, it is not just great listening skills that make a good aerospace engineer but also the ability to comprehend information. Further, the engineer must be able to use that information in the problem-solving and decision-making process as well.
3. Attention to Detail
From commercial to military aircraft and missiles to rockets, aerospace engineers have to work extremely hard to ensure that these machines are structurally sound and secure for guidance, communication, propulsion, and navigation.
In tune with this, attention to every minute detail becomes one of the key qualities of a great aerospace engineer. They focus on small parts so that the big picture has perfect execution without fail. In addition, by giving adequate attention to small details, they can detect any minor error and find the best solution to finish the project seamlessly.
4. Management
As an aerospace engineer, one has to wear many hats. From being a team player to an individual working hard under tight deadlines, a terrific aerospace engineer manages it all. They also must be aware of the financial resources available and have the ability to utilize them under the designated budget to complete the project.
The aerospace industry is a demanding sector where one has to complete the tasks and processes in a specific period of time. Irrespective of such pressure and stress, a great aerospace engineer knows how to offer the best solutions and deliver the project in time.
5. IT Expertise
Though the last one on the list, IT expertise is an inevitable skill every great aerospace engineer must possess. They need to have abundant knowledge about the latest technological developments to introduce new concepts in the projects.
In addition to this, top aerospace engineers must be mathematical geniuses. It is only through the use of concepts like trigonometry, calculus, and other advanced topics that aerospace engineers are able to create designs that work in real life.
To Sum Up
Read it all? Well, then you now know that it is not just the educational excellence that you need to acquire over the years. Apart from a B. Tech degree from any of the top aerospace engineering colleges, you also need to cultivate the above-listed qualities if you wish to be an excellent aerospace engineer.
Thankfully, top universities like UPES understand the need for such qualities and ensure that their students are given proper guidance and training for improving their overall personalities. From industry visits to interesting workshops, students are offered plenty of opportunities where they get guidance from industry experts and strive hard to be like them.