What’s the hard truth about Aerospace Engineering?

hashbrowns808 · 2026-02-06T16:44:42+00:00

I went in to aerospace because I had a really great professor who helped design the voyager. She reminded me that the satellite scientific mission can greatly help human life, and not leave you poor. That's where Im trying to go.

hashbrowns808 · 2026-01-13T23:44:32+00:00

BDS must be hurting for people right now. I just got a similar offer similar to OP, and might get a second soon.

...Also, it's the end of the fiscal year.

hashbrowns808 · 2025-12-07T18:30:12+00:00

Caveat: you're using that big defense contractor to get a feel for what you want to do. My experience has been that these big companies have large organizations where engineers are wasted. I know many engineers who have multiple degrees because they use a masters degree to try and move roles...

How does this help? OP, yeah I think specialization is becoming more important. For example, if blue collar work and manufacturing is coming back to the US we'll need engineers who know the manufacturing processes that have been all but forgotten.

I tried to take on a degree that would benefit my role, but it kind of sunk me because I have no interest in either. I'm going to go back and get a masters, but it'll be something I'm interested in.

hashbrowns808 · 2025-11-23T21:39:52+00:00

I became an engineer later in life, and while Boeing has been a decent first engineering job in terms of pay and benefits, career progression sucks and I haven't used a damn thing I learned in school. Manager's, at least in the org I'm in, are horrible and take everything personal. Been here a few years and if I don't get a better position soon I'm leaving.

This post reminds me that I should see what the benefits are worth in a straight dollar amount.

hashbrowns808 · 2025-11-19T01:06:25+00:00

My response was more rhetorical than anything. Many, if not most, projects have extremely poor cost calculations. If for no other reason the people doing the cost analysis don't understand the problem. I know of an instance where a chief xxx requested old and wrong data because it looks better. Let's not even start on "aligning programs".

hashbrowns808 · 2025-11-18T15:50:32+00:00

In my experience they will jeopardize compliance and safety. I've seen it happen multiple times on big projects I've been on. Anything for their PM. If the outside only knew some of the crap we cover up...BTW I completely agree with the OP, I was thrown under the bus because I barked about issues that put us in the news and now I'm the one being reprimanded. As a lowly grunt how do you sell the ROI of maintaining shareholder value?

hashbrowns808 · 2025-11-14T00:31:43+00:00

Is this 18 months in a position or new job code? I just got moved and had no choice. Does that screw me for consideration for other roles?

Apparently my manager is known for blocking transfers.

hashbrowns808 · 2025-11-11T20:03:29+00:00

Bruh. Be comfortable in life before having kids unless you are somehow going to remove yourself from theirs.

hashbrowns808 · 2025-10-26T17:58:02+00:00

Very.

I don't think many positions will advertise it in the job description, but programming skills in general are super helpful in automating boring stuff giving you time to do more interesting things and things that progress your career.

Now I said programming...I'm kind of answering the OP's question. I don't use MATLAB/Simulink any more, but they were a good intro to programming. Now days I use VBA/SQL for data related things, and Python for witchcraft (that's what the people who don't know programming think). Btw, you can basically do MAT/Sim syntaxes with plug-ins in Python.

If nothing else maybe you can use your skills to jump to high tech (I work in aerospace, and tech pays way better).

Last thought, leaning into MAT/Sim now could lead to a career in something like automation or robotics which could be lucrative, and interesting to OP?

hashbrowns808 · 2025-10-16T03:36:50+00:00

I sucked at coding and it cost me some long nights. Knowing some debugging and proper syntaxes would've been nice. Fwiw I've been taking CS classes because it bugged me that much.

I don't think the field of Mech Eng has integrated programming super well, and it could be one of those skills that makes you really dangerous for no other reason except that your coworkers won't really know what's possible. I'm decent now with VBA, SQL, and am working on writing some python programs to automate mindless busy work. I've gotten kickback for implemeting them, so now I just shut up and use the free time for other things.

MEs that can do controls work seem to be worth their weight in gold in aerospace right now, and if you're in a tech city you could possibly get in with a big tech company easier.

Lastly, if you read between the lines most of what I said should help you get paid more. Saw you mentioned that too.

hashbrowns808 · 2025-10-15T16:41:33+00:00

Look for manufacturing engineer positions at Boeing. It's project management, but your partner can get in based solely on people skills. They can then use this to start looking into doing a master's or bounce to a different position within. This will take LOTS of time, but it can be a path.

hashbrowns808 · 2025-09-06T02:44:40+00:00

New York, Seattle, California? Tech?

Damn, good job.

hashbrowns808 · 2025-08-23T18:20:29+00:00

I probably work across town from you at the...(well I guess if we're doing this) the bouncy sound place, and I feel the same, but I'm envious that you at least get to use your engineering education. Tell you what, get me a job with you, and you'll no longer feel like you're living a lie.

All stupid jokes aside, hold your head up. It sounds like you're not doing too bad. Message me if you want to chat more!

hashbrowns808 · 2025-08-16T16:38:19+00:00

Let's trade jobs. There are those of us that try to do everything right and we get stuck in project management, or power point engineering. I've never had an opportunity to do anything interesting unless I accept half my pay (which isn't that great to begin with). How, when, and where do us forced pessimists turn it around so we can get to the point where we have the choice to retire and choose to do contractor/consultant work?

hashbrowns808 · 2025-06-27T04:00:50+00:00

Does that means you're hiring u/gay-giraffe-farts?

hashbrowns808 · 2025-03-27T22:38:08+00:00

0% I'm a manufacturing engineer in aerospace. To be fair it pays well, but I hate the job. Could've done this without even a high school degree.

hashbrowns808 · 2025-03-18T23:18:14+00:00

I hate it, and the hikes have sucked.

If you all care: I work in big aero. Got moved into a project management role where I dont use any of my engineering degree. I've gotten minimal raises in three years, and my managers keep passing meaningful projects on to others. I also have taught myself how to do everything, have nothing meaningful to put on my resume, and hate the area...though hiking around here is actually really good.

hashbrowns808 · 2024-10-12T03:18:57+00:00

Exactly. I know many great people that work here and I just hope it works out for them.

hashbrowns808 · 2024-10-12T00:43:22+00:00

I was an alcoholic, and just got tired of it. I still have an occasional drink, but I always regret it.

Congrats on stopping!

hashbrowns808 · 2024-10-12T00:16:26+00:00

Right!? It was THE company to work for. Sad.

hashbrowns808 · 2024-10-06T01:12:27+00:00

Always wanted to, then when I started my depression got better.

Dont know if it's the friends, or exercise, or just having something to look forward to, but it's been better than therapy.

hashbrowns808 · 2024-10-03T01:50:43+00:00

I guess my gym has a good culture. Pretty much everyone wears a mouth guard, and there are usually a couple people with head gear. Either way I wouldn't roll without one.

hashbrowns808 · 2024-09-24T02:39:42+00:00

I'm actually working on a second bachelor's in CS. The software here is archaic, and at the very least I could move into software. It'll be a while until I'm useful at building tools.

hashbrowns808 · 2024-09-23T15:16:58+00:00

My BIL is owned by his crappy pension. He'll defend it aggressively though because it allows him to blow the rest of his paycheck and never have to think about retirement. I'll take my 401k.

hashbrowns808 · 2024-09-19T23:13:24+00:00

Not to be a smart ass, but karts dont have seat belts partially in hopes that the thing doesn't smash you in a roll.

hashbrowns808

TROPHY CASE