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What does a typical day as an aerospace engineer at Boeing look like (or any other company)?
Curious to get some insight! Thank you!
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rene’s Answer
I've worked at Boeing for 31 years, doing different jobs. I like mechanical design the best because when I fly, I can look out the window and see my parts on the wings. I am happy that I have designed functional parts that will get me and everyone else to their destination safety.
Mechanical design engineer. I would be responsible for a part - gearbox, shaft, bracket, etc. First, I review previous similar designs and seek to understand WHY that part/feature was designed that way. I would spent some time to pick the material (steel or aluminum) and run stress analysis to size the part - make it's large enough to handle the loads. Then I need to look at design standards and catalogs to pick out seals, bearings, fasteners, etc. Then I create a layout to put all the parts together in an assembly. Eventually I create 3D solids and then 2D drawings for manufacturing of that part.
Mechanical design engineer. I would be responsible for a part - gearbox, shaft, bracket, etc. First, I review previous similar designs and seek to understand WHY that part/feature was designed that way. I would spent some time to pick the material (steel or aluminum) and run stress analysis to size the part - make it's large enough to handle the loads. Then I need to look at design standards and catalogs to pick out seals, bearings, fasteners, etc. Then I create a layout to put all the parts together in an assembly. Eventually I create 3D solids and then 2D drawings for manufacturing of that part.
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James’s Answer
Aerospace projects are extremely complicated, so there are lots of different Aerospace Engineering positions. Each position comes with it's own version of a typical day. I can tell you about my position, Systems Engineer, and give a brief description of other positions you could get with a Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering degree.
Systems Engineering- You need to know everything there is to know about your assigned system/equipment. Each system has a long list of requirements, which are very specific technical and safety objectives that describe how the system functions and interacts with other systems. Two main parts of this position are making sure the requirements make sense by reading them and discussing with teammates, and verifying the requirements are met by testing them in a lab environment or on the airplane.
As an example, imagine you are on a house-building project and you worked on the team that made all the doors. Two requirements might be that all doors are 3ft wide, and fit the door frames. Well, you would have to talk to the Door Frame team to make sure the doors fit and the locking/latching mechanism fit the door frame, and then Verify that the requirement is met by installing and attempting to close the door. If all went well, you have verified that those two requirements are met.
Some Other Positions
Testing: Verify requirements are met in a lab or field environment by putting the equipment through a very specific test. This is a fun position, because it's very hands on and you get to see how the equipment works
Research and Development (Or BR&T at Boeing): Given minimal guidance, design and build prototype products in order to solve or improve a currently existing problem or process (respectively). This is the most exciting type of position in my opinion, because you get to be creative and create something new.
Systems Engineering- You need to know everything there is to know about your assigned system/equipment. Each system has a long list of requirements, which are very specific technical and safety objectives that describe how the system functions and interacts with other systems. Two main parts of this position are making sure the requirements make sense by reading them and discussing with teammates, and verifying the requirements are met by testing them in a lab environment or on the airplane.
As an example, imagine you are on a house-building project and you worked on the team that made all the doors. Two requirements might be that all doors are 3ft wide, and fit the door frames. Well, you would have to talk to the Door Frame team to make sure the doors fit and the locking/latching mechanism fit the door frame, and then Verify that the requirement is met by installing and attempting to close the door. If all went well, you have verified that those two requirements are met.
Some Other Positions
Testing: Verify requirements are met in a lab or field environment by putting the equipment through a very specific test. This is a fun position, because it's very hands on and you get to see how the equipment works
Research and Development (Or BR&T at Boeing): Given minimal guidance, design and build prototype products in order to solve or improve a currently existing problem or process (respectively). This is the most exciting type of position in my opinion, because you get to be creative and create something new.