The Aerospace Industry is one of the most challenging and exciting fields an engineer can chose. While it feels like a very mature industry, it is not an old industry. After all, humankind has only been flying for a little over one hundred years. However, in that relatively short time, discoveries and achievements from industry innovators have changed the world – they’ve made us a more global society and even taken us to the moon. That same spirit of innovation is as alive today as it ever was and it offers engineers a myriad of roles to play.

Aerospace traces its origins back to 1903 when the Wright Flyer became the first heavier-than-air vehicle to achieve a controlled, sustained powered flight. In the years that followed, aviation grew, thanks to the involvement of self-trained enthusiasts and designers. Eventually, university-trained engineers specializing in aeronautics led the expansion of the commercial and military aircraft industry. Change came rapidly and with the advent of space travel, the aviation industry evolved into what we now know as the aerospace (the blending of aeronautics and space) industry. Just 66 years after that first powered flight, the U.S. put a man on the moon - an event that involved more than 20,000 companies, scores of universities and the combined efforts of more than 400,000 highly trained scientists, engineers and technicians. What could better epitomize the remarkable expansion of the industry than that?

Today, the U.S. is home to the world's largest aerospace industry, with total sales approaching $200 billion. Worldwide, there are more than 40 other countries with aerospace industries contributing to their economies. These industries make up an exciting and vital global marketplace that is always on the cutting edge of technology, continually enhancing existing designs and exploring new ideas and concepts. In order to stay competitive and innovative in such a fast-moving field, aerospace companies must attract and retain talented engineers into the industry.

A career in aerospace has become a rich and complex mixture of companies and specialties. It means choices - lots of choices. You can choose a career in the military or in private industry. You can work in a variety of countries. You might be working on the satellites that have revolutionized worldwide communications or that provide navigational guidance to the global shipping industry. No matter what specific career path you choose, a career in aerospace always means pushing the envelope - finding new technologies, refining current systems, improving results. It means staying current with these changes, demonstrating flexibility and a passion for learning that doesn't stop with graduation. It takes hard work and commitment but the rewards are immense.

This module provides an overview of the aerospace industry that can jumpstart your entry into the field, whether you're an engineering student or practicing engineer in the early stages of your career. Here you will find information on the different career paths and job functions, how to prepare for such careers, where to find the employment opportunities and job search strategies with tips for mapping out a career in the aerospace industry.