Jumpstart Your Aerospace Engineering Career With Internships!
By exploring this blog post, you will learn about Aerospace Engineering Internships and have a guide on becoming an intern in relevant positions! As an engineer in the aerospace industry, I will cover various aspects of becoming an engineering intern in the industry, providing you with insights into the requirements and application process.
Overview of Aerospace Engineering Internships
Aerospace Engineering Internships are programs typically open to undergraduate students who intend to have a career in aerospace. These programs allow students to work with aerospace manufacturers, engineers, researchers, and other professionals in the industry. They are also open to postgraduate students and recent graduates. Internships as an aerospace engineer offer good pay with other perks, including the opportunity to develop real-world experience, gain in-depth knowledge, and make it easier to get employment after graduation.
Undoubtedly, aerospace engineers have good prospects worldwide, especially in the United States. The industry is fast-paced in the commercial air transit and military sectors. As reported by a forecast, the employment of aerospace engineers in the US will grow by 6% before 2031. In addition, military contractors hire them for assistance in building specialized aircraft for military operations.
Benefits of Internships for Aerospace Engineers
Here are the benefits of internship programs for aerospace engineers.
Gaining comprehensive knowledge of the aerospace industry
- Interns of aerospace engineering extensively gain an understanding of the industry during their internship program. That will help them jumpstart their career, as they know more about the industry before graduation.
Developing real-world experience
- Considering internships as an aerospace engineer also helps students to have realistic experiences working with professionals in the field. That means only a few things will seem new to you when you eventually graduate.
Increased chances of employment after graduation
- This internship program is advantageous to students in building their portfolio, as they acquire relevant experiences in the process. Therefore, Aerospace Engineering Internships will make it easy for you to get a job.
Aerospace Engineer Interns receive a good salary.
- According to Payscale.com, an American compensation software and data company, the average hourly salary of an Aerospace Engineering Intern is approximately $35. This amount is quite competitive.
Networking opportunities
- Another advantage of Aerospace Engineering Internships is that they allow students to meet with other aerospace engineering experts, making it possible for them to create connections and get professional advice.
Types of Internship Programs
Students can become interns as aerospace engineers in the following ways;
Summer Internships
- Most Aerospace Engineering Interns have their internship during summer, between May to August. It serves as their third semester in an academic session.
Co-ops and Apprenticeships
- Apprenticeships and students enrolled in academic programs with cooperative education participate in this type of internship, helping them to earn hands-on experience while studying. Supposing your program features co-op education, it is an opportunity for you to see what it feels like to work as an Aerospace Engineer.
Brainstorming Potential Aerospace Engineering Internship Places
There are a number of places open to students looking for internship opportunities as an engineer in the aerospace industry.
The following are some ideas on where to have your internship as an aerospace engineer.
Searching for Aerospace Engineering Internships
- You can visit several US job websites to search for internship opportunities for future aerospace engineers in the United States. These websites include Indeed, Glassdoor, Monster, ZipRecruiter, and CareerBuilder.
Aerospace corporations
- Prospective engineering interns of the aerospace industry can also apply directly to aerospace companies, such as Boeing, Lockheed Martin Corporation, and General Atomics and Affiliated Companies.
Government agencies
- Federal government agencies like NASA and the US Department of Defense recruit Aerospace Engineering Interns into several positions in the United States. These agencies also employ about 15% of aerospace engineers in the country.
Engineering consultancy firms
- Many engineering consultancy firms, such as Sierra Nevada Corporation, allow students to come for their Aerospace Engineering Internship.
Trade Organizations
- There are numerous trade organization internship programs for undergraduate and postgraduate students who want to become Aerospace Engineering Interns. These include the World Trade Organization (WTO) Internship Program.
Eligibility Criteria for Aerospace Engineering Internships
To be eligible for an aerospace engineering internship program in the United States, you must meet the following requirements.
- Must be a student enrolled in aerospace engineering for at least one year. Moreover, your enrollment must be in an undergraduate or postgraduate program offered by an accredited university.
- May need to possess laboratory experience or knowledge of aerospace or aeronautics engineering.
- Must have excellent problem-solving skills and a demonstrated interest in having an in-depth understanding of how aircraft work
- Must be able to carry items that weigh up to 25 lbs
- Must be able to work with complex systems, know the rudiments of aeronautics, and the essential parts of aerospace systems
- May need to hold a valid driver’s license
How to Apply for Aerospace Engineering Internships
To become an intern as an aerospace engineer in the US, you must take the following steps one after the other.
Identify relevant qualifications
- Before you express your interest in any internship program as an aerospace engineer, you must identify all qualifications relating to the company you’ve chosen. This step involves checking out the requirements and application process for internships. Top places for interns as aerospace engineers include General Atomics and Affiliated Companies, Northrop Grumman, Sierra Nevada Corporation, Analytical Mechanics Associates, Inc., and Woodward, Inc.
Create an outstanding resumé
- After knowing the requirements for the internship program, you need to satisfy them all and create a top-notch resumé towards expressing your interest in the program. Your resumé must emphasize your personal development and should include all essential elements.
Acing the Interview
- Finally, you must have an interview with the company, helping its management to know more about you and your professional background through a few questions. Check out how to prepare for an internship interview.
FAQs about Aerospace Engineering Internships
What are the qualifications required to become an Aerospace Engineer Intern?
To become an aerospace engineering intern in the US, you must be an undergraduate or postgraduate student whose field of study is aerospace engineering. Moreover, you must have completed at least one academic year and be able to carry items with up to 25 lbs of weight.
What kind of tasks do Aerospace Engineering Interns typically perform?
Aerospace Engineering Interns perform numerous tasks, especially those relating to entry-level positions. They work with senior staff and researchers in several areas, such as the design of aircraft and spacecraft prototypes, test designs and prototypes, and conduct field tests on equipment.
What is the salary range for Aerospace Engineering Internships?
The average salary of Aerospace Engineering Interns in the United States is about $35 per hour.
What company hires Aerospace Engineering Interns?
Companies that hire interns as Aerospace Engineers in the United States include Boeing, Lockheed Martin Corporation, AAR Corp., Northrop Grumman, Sierra Nevada Corporation, Analytical Mechanics Associates, Inc., and Woodward, Inc.
Can new undergraduate students apply for an internship as an aerospace engineer?
No, newly admitted undergraduate students are not eligible to apply for Aerospace Engineering internship programs in the United States. However, they are open to undergraduates in at least their second year of study.
Conclusion
Interning as an aerospace engineer is your best bet in acquiring hands-on experience and creating a professional network. As a newbie in the industry, internships can help you gain knowledge of what aerospace engineering entails and help you prepare for the field.