Engineering after Pilot

Xscott

New Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2024
Messages
2
Would I still be able to get a job in the engineering field with my aerospace degree after my service as a pilot even though I’m 10+ years removed from anything engineering related?
 
Curious- would say Boeing would like an engineer with a decade of flight or more of flight experience flying pilot in command of the most advanced airplanes in the world, on their team who are designing state of the art, next generation planes or working out say an instrument panel and discussing what a pilot might think? You’ll have been hands on with systems/ weapons systems too perhaps that outpace the commercial airline tech. If you excelled in undergrad, coupled with officer and leadership experience, I think aerospace engineering companies will seek you out. You could also get your ATp license and fly a bus for the friendly skies- the pay there ain’t too shabby. Good luck to you.
 
Would I still be able to get a job in the engineering field with my aerospace degree after my service as a pilot even though I’m 10+ years removed from anything engineering related?
See the link below, just one of the many career transition options available to you whether you separate after ADSO or retire after 20+. This is one solely for SA grads.



You will have many paths open to you. Your USAFA B.S. degree plus experience as a leader of people, decision-maker, operator in high-pressure situations, critical thinker, risk analyst, performance optimizer, resource manager (and a security clearance!) and the many other skills, traits and experiences you will have collected during your time as a military officer are extremely attractive to the civilian workplace. You will have opportunities to earn your Master’s while on AD or after you separate and use VA educational benefits. You may or may not be working in engineering - or you may be leading teams of engineers on major projects.

There are many twists and turns on life’s road ahead. For many, what they majored in while in college is not at all related to the career they find themselves in. I have posted a few threads over the years noting the USNA midshipmen we have sponsored, their majors, their military specialty and their civilian careers. I’ll note a few. Of course, USNA grads all receive B.S. degrees due to the STEM-heavy core curriculum, just like USAFA grads.
- Honors English> USMC logistics>Systems Engineering Director in charge of innovations lab at a major automotive equipment company (global name). She is currently working 6 months in France leading an “imagineering” project with her French counterpart.
- Aero Engineering>Navy Submarines>M.S. in Engineering Management>program manager at a big-name defense contractor.
- Ocean Engineering>Navy Surface Warfare>”ABC” agency, now speaks 3 non-Romance languages, anti-terrorism specialist.
- Physics>Marine Communications> already bilingual, another “ABC” agency, worked worldwide in the field, left the agency, got his M.S. in Cyber, now a cyber executive living overseas.
- Systems Engineering > Marine helo pilot > Foreign Affairs Officer > fluent in 3 Asian languages > Presidential daily briefer > think tank director in her area of expertise.

I could go on and on, but you get the idea. Be open to opportunities, remain teachable and find what makes you happy, even on bad days.

Do not spend a minute more thinking about this. You cannot know where your path will lead. Your focus now is being a successful USAFA cadet, then a successful AF or SF officer, and then see what’s next.
 
Last edited:
See the link below, just one of the many career transition options available to you whether you separate after ADSO or retire after 20+. This is one solely for SA grads.

You will have many paths open to you. Your USAFA B.S. degree plus experience as a leader of people, decision-maker, operator in high-pressure situations, critical thinker, risk analyst, performance optimizer, resource manager (and a security clearance!) and the many other skills, traits and experiences you will have collected during your time as a military officer are extremely attractive to the civilian workplace. You will have opportunities to earn your Master’s while on AD or after you separate and use VA educational benefits. You may or may not be working in engineering - or you may be leading teams of engineers on major projects.

There are many twists and turns on life’s road ahead. For many, what they majored in while in college is not at all related to the career they find themselves in. I have posted a few threads over the years noting the USNA midshipmen we have sponsored, their majors, their military specialty and their civilian careers. I’ll note a few. Of course, USNA grads all receive B.S. degrees due to the STEM-heavy core curriculum, just like USAFA grads.
- Honors English> USMC logistics>Systems Engineering Director in charge of innovations lab at a major automotive equipment company (global name). She is currently working 6 months in France leading an “imagineering” project with her French counterpart.
- Aero Engineering>Navy Submarines>M.S. in Engineering Management>program manager at a big-name defense contractor.
- Ocean Engineering>Navy Surface Warfare>”ABC” agency, now speaks 3 non-Romance languages, anti-terrorism specialist.
- Physics>Marine Communications> already bilingual, another “ABC” agency, worked worldwide in the field, left the agency, got his M.S. in Cyber, now a cyber executive living overseas.
- Systems Engineering > Marine helo pilot > Foreign Affairs Officer > fluent in 3 Asian languages > Presidential daily briefer > think tank director in her area of expertise.

I could go on and on, but you get the idea. Be open to opportunities, remain teachable and find what makes you happy, even on bad days.

Do not spend a minute more thinking about this. You cannot know where your path will lead. Your focus now is being a successful USAFA cadet, then a successful AF or SF officer, and then see what’s next.

Thank you so much for your response! I really appreciate your advice, it was extremely helpful.
 
Thank you so much for your response! I really appreciate your advice, it was extremely helpful.
Hi, sorry to bother, but I'm a rising senior in the DMV area and I was wondering if I could ask a couple questions about your military aviation career in a private message. Thanks in advance
 
Back
Top