Science and Technology Careers - Engineering College
A large number of disciplines come under the umbrella of Engineering. Both auto and aero engineering appeal to a wide cross-section of people who want to be at the forefront of technology and science.
In the UK, the aerospace industry competes on the world stage, and is a front runner in scientific and technological developments. In addition, the auto industry also has a global influence, not least from a design and development point of view.
Finding The Right Training Courses
Many UK universities offering aero and auto engineering degrees are globally distinguished - you will find more than 30 with BEng and MEng syllabuses listed. In addition, some offer post-grad courses for Engineering and Physical Sciences graduates. Diplomas and other vocational certifications are also available from some colleges. University students can choose from full-time three, four or five year courses, some with a year out in industry or at an alternative overseas university or learning establishment.
There may also be options for part-time study in some educational establishments. Students on engineering courses can sometimes arrange sponsorship in exchange for a certain time working for the sponsor after graduating. Take time to look into the various university, college and sponsorship options. You have many exciting possibilities in front of you.
Automotive Engineering
All cars, bikes, coaches and heavy goods vehicles come under the remit of auto engineering. As well as the traditional disciplines, automotive engineers now need to incorporate electronics, safety and software engineering into their skill-sets. Modern vehicle engineers can utilise the latest technologies - for example in relation to electric cars or active suspensions.
Let's take a look at the engineering stages we go through in the production of a vehicle. Designers are not only responsible for the automotive design, but also for testing each component part. Next come the development engineers. They are concerned with the interactions of all the systems. These engineers often have to liaise with designers on certain specs. Their work is then given to the manufacturing engineers, who establish how the vehicle will be built.
Students will find their training is both extensive and intense. Throughout your training you will learn about all three stages of the automotive engineering processes. Auto engineers must be fully conversant with safety engineering - so tests are done for example to check resistance to rollover, seat belt and air bag functionality and front and side crash impacts.
It's one thing for a component or system to work in isolation, but quite another for it to work in harmony with everything else on the vehicle. Therefore students need to learn about systems, or development engineering.
Development engineers have to look at tradeoffs to gain an acceptable level of performance in all areas. Development engineering is also concerned with testing and ensuring the finished vehicle will comply with legal requirements.
The manufacturing process takes over once all the design and development work has been done. Engineers involved in this stage of the build use statistics and process controls to ensure every stage of the manufacture meets rigorous quality standards.
At every assembly plant, manufacturing engineers have to plan out the body shop, the area for engine and transmission placement and the chassis and trim area.
The Aerospace Industry
Aeronautical engineers are involved in the research, design, manufacture and maintenance of all forms of aircraft. Students who train as aeronautical engineers would be preparing themselves for a career in the aerospace industry -a most interesting industry at the forefront of science and technological developments. You might also be interested to know that the development and design of a Formula One racing car uses aerospace technology!
All aircraft have to endure severe conditions and stresses, such as changes in atmospheric pressure and temperature, and structural loading on the components. Due to the complexity of flight vehicle development and design, it would be impossible to learn enough about all the technologies involved, so teams of engineers deal in their own specialisations.
Students will use software to learn about design and the layout of essential aeronautical systems. All studies will focus on analytical concepts. Lectures will be given on subjects such as fluid mechanics, with laboratory sessions to back them up. Modern computing methods can now simulate the behaviour of fluid, which reduces the need for empirical testing in wind tunnels. (Students though will still carry out wind tunnel tests, and engage in experiments using jet engines).
When training to be an engineer you need a lot of practical design experience. Degree course students will have a practical group assignment at some stage to design their own functional vehicle. Undergraduate engineering training programmes also provide other useful skill-sets for their students. Subjects to choose from might include European languages, presentation skills and teamwork.
Well paid, rewarding and financially attractive careers are available for qualified Automotive and Aeronautical Engineers. Refer to the Engineering Council for details on becoming a Chartered Engineer (CEng) or an Incorporated Engineer (IEng).
