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At The Forefront With Architectural Engineering Careers

The term 'engineering' is used in many different ways. If either automotive or aeronautical engineering appeal to you, you're probably the sort of person who enjoys a technical challenge. The aerospace industry in the UK is world-class, and is one of the most diverse and technically advanced industries to be employed in today. With regard to the automotive sector Britain also plays a significant role here, with several hundred thousand people being involved in the industry.

Getting The Right Qualifications

There are a good number of universities in the UK offering BEng and MEng Degrees in Automotive Engineering and Aeronautical Engineering, several with international reputations. Students can also go on to do post grad work at many institutions. (Shorter courses are available from local technical institutions as well.) Undergraduates can take the opportunity to put the knowledge and experience they've gained in the first two years of their degree programme into practice by taking a one year industrial placement in year three.

Those who need the facility to work alongside their study programme may find they can do a sandwich course. Students on engineering courses can sometimes arrange sponsorship in exchange for a certain time working for the sponsor after graduating. As you do your research into the different training options, look for details of graduate sponsorship programmes.

Auto Engineering

All cars, bikes, coaches and heavy goods vehicles come under the remit of auto engineering. The automotive engineer's skills are tested right from the initial design concepts. Modern vehicle engineers can utilise the latest technologies - for example in relation to electric cars or active suspensions.

Generally speaking, we can separate the automotive engineering processes into three distinct fields. Product or design engineers will first design all the parts and test them to make sure they perform properly. Development engineers are concerned with the attributes or qualities of the complete vehicle. 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.

Auto engineering courses are very in-depth, and mastering the detail will take time and experience. The various elements of your training will ensure you become proficient in core automotive subjects like engine design and vehicle dynamics. 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.

Design engineers test individual components, but they must also be tested to prove synchronicity with the vehicle as a whole. And so training must include elements of development engineering.

Sometimes opposing requirements have to be taken through a trade-off process, to ensure each system doesn't compromise another. Development engineering is also concerned with testing and ensuring the finished vehicle will comply with legal requirements.

Once the designers and developers are absolutely satisfied that everything is ready, the manufacturing engineers take over. Manufacturing engineering is involved with a wide assortment of tasks related to the planning and engineering of assembly. This work includes project management of tools, machines, people and safety procedures.

Engineering - Aeronautical

We think of aeronautical engineering as the science of aircraft, but it also embraces space technology and missiles. Individuals interested in aeronautical engineering must be intelligent self starters with the capacity for analytical, innovative and technical thought processes. Only those who relish a challenge should consider a career in aeronautics. You might also be interested to know that the development and design of a Formula One racing car uses aerospace technology!

Modern aeroplanes have to undergo many severe conditions in order to safely negotiate the skies. Consequently the building of an aircraft will take many engineering disciplines and aeronautical engineers will all deal in specialist technologies.

Students will use software to learn about design and the layout of essential aeronautical systems. All studies will focus on analytical concepts. Analytics is essentially problem-solving, and deals with things like dynamics and fluid mechanics. Study is divided into theoretical mathematical elements and empirical testing - much of which is done by computerised simulations in commercial environments. Nonetheless, university students will still benefit from wind-tunnel experiments and other physical testing methods.

Engineering students will get a lot of practical hands-on experience. You can expect a group project that requires students to design a complete vehicle or aircraft, along with significant individual projects. Undergraduate engineering training programmes also provide other useful skill-sets for their students. Such areas as time-management, writing skills and presenting can all help at interview.

Aero and auto engineering degrees not only provide the opportunity to develop technical expertise, they also put graduates into the top sector for employment opportunities. Completing an accredited engineering degree course will allow you to obtain the status of a professional Incorporated Engineer or Chartered Engineer.