Exploring the Future of Aerospace and Aeronautics: Job Opportunities in Avionics Engineering
Aerospace and aeronautics have often been portrayed as sectors with limited scope and job opportunities. However, as someone with a 40-year career in this field, I can confidently say that the reality is quite different. Let's delve into the current state and future prospects of avionics engineering.
My Perspective: A Career in Aerospace
I graduated in mechanical engineering in 1980 and worked my entire career in aerospace as a system engineer, focusing on defense and space. My final 10 years were spent on a highly avionics-focused program that is still ongoing. Throughout my career, I witnessed various ups and downs in the defense and space business, but there was never a time when there was a glut of engineers that led to a flood of applications for engineering positions within the sector.
The Demand for Avionics Engineers
While there is no specific degree for avionics engineering, the most sought-after engineering disciplines for avionics roles include electrical, electronic, software, mechanical, and system engineering. My expertise lies in system integration within the broader system engineering domain. However, the primary avionics engineering focus often falls under the electrical and electronic engineering category.
Current Workforce Data
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the electrical/electronic engineering workforce in 2019 was approximately 258,000. Data USA reports that in 2020, 35,000 electrical/electronic engineering degrees were awarded, constituting about 1.4% of the total workforce. The BLS also indicates that the U.S. total workforce had 7.1 job openings, 4.3 hires, and 4.0 separations as of YTD. Interestingly, electrical/electronic engineering graduates together contribute to about one-third of the necessary annual hires.
Future Prospects
These numbers are approximate and are gathered at the electrical/electronic engineering level, which includes avionics as a subset. They do not account for engineers of other disciplines who may be working in avionics. Additionally, the data does not consider the distribution of GPA among graduates or the experience and past performance of re-hires. Utilizing these workforce numbers and the U.S. average retention rates, it can be inferred that electrical/electronic engineering employers are likely to continue hiring to meet average attrition rates, approximately 0.3.
Given the current market conditions, it is estimated that each U.S. graduate in this major may receive multiple job offers. Employers will still have around 6.8 to 7.1 job openings, even after accounting for attrition.
Conclusion
The answer to the initial question is clear: there are indeed many job opportunities in avionics and electrical/electronic engineering. While competition exists for top roles and certain geographic locations, enthusiasm and dedication in the field remain crucial. For engineers interested in this area, the future looks promising with a consistent demand for skilled professionals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Are job opportunities in avionics engineering limited?
No, the data clearly shows a steady demand for engineers in this field, with job openings consistently matching the necessary hires.
Q2: What are the top engineering disciplines in avionics?
The top disciplines for avionics engineering roles are electrical, electronic, software, mechanical, and system engineering.
Q3: Is there a specific avionics engineering degree?
No, there is no specific degree for avionics engineering, but these are some of the required engineering disciplines for roles in this field.