Quote:
Originally posted by onewhippedpuppy
Drago, what is involved in being a independent engineering contractor? I'd love to be able to do my own thing someday, any advice?
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I'm not an aerospace engineer, but a mechanical engineer that has worked in the aerospace industry for 16+ years (mostly Shuttle payload stuff). Anyway, from my perspective forget about CAD packages, etc., anyone can learn that stuff (Unigraphics and Pro/E myself, though).
The two things, IMHO, that you need to really make a difference in this industry is 1. the desire to jump in and be the person that makes decisions. Be assertive. Make things happen. Most of the big aerospace companies employ large teams of people on projects. Be the one who stands out.
and 2. Be creative. Whether it is analytical techniques or design solutions, the ability to find creative solutions to the problem will put you ahead of most other people. Engineers are very "left brained" and struggle sometimes to find elegant solutions to problems that are outside the norm. Be that person. Take some art classes. Study other people's designs (everything from the way Porsche reacted loads in an a-arm to how the jetway supports are designed while you're sitting on a plane waiting to leave the gate).
Good luck.
Mike