Index Duties and Responsibilities Work Environment Specialization Aeronautical engineering can be defined as the field of engineering “dealing with the research, design, development, construction, testing, science and technology of aircraft” (Aeronautical Engineering Degrees, 2013). More precisely, it involves aircraft in the atmosphere, while astronautical engineering is primarily about spacecraft. Engineers in this branch attend three to six years of college, depending on how far they want to take their education. Many lessons are lecture-based and mathematics and physics are prerequisites that cannot be replaced. According to Payscale, aeronautical engineers can expect a starting salary of between fifty and sixty thousand dollars and an average salary of $79,178. With twenty or more years of experience, salaries can even exceed $130,000. Salaries are also directly related to the location of the company, the position of the worker and the level of university education achieved. Having a career in aeronautical engineering will require the use of “both mental and physical processes,” along with “knowledge of computer systems” and “practical tools for use on physical aircraft” (Aeronautical Engineer Salary, 2015). In general, though, this is true for most fields of engineering. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Duties and Responsibilities As with many jobs, there are a variety of skills needed for a job in aeronautical engineering. First, a person will need “high proficiency in research methodology” and experience with “experiments and data collection” (Aeronautical Engineering Degrees, 2012). They must be logical and analytical to be able to solve challenging problems that will arise. There is a lot of overlap in this job with other engineering fields, so a great asset to have would be “interdisciplinary skills, including expertise in mechanics and engineering.” Additionally, almost all projects will involve teamwork, meaning interpersonal skills are the key to success. “Good communication skills” with “people from diverse backgrounds” will be applied daily. Planes are very precise and particular machines due to the many dangers, so good attention to detail will not go unused. Responsibilities will lead to “an investigation of the aerodynamic characteristics of aircraft, including behaviors and related factors such as airfoil, control surfaces, lift and drag” (Bachelor of Aeronautical Engineering, 2012). Work Environment Geographically speaking, the most opportunistic locations include Houston, Texas, and Seattle, Washington. These two cities are known to have the highest salaries according to Payscale in 2015. “They usually work regular business hours, but are sometimes required to work long hours, weekends and evenings” (Aeronautics Engineer). These engineers must get used to working in “offices, airports, workshops or aircraft hangars”. For their work, they may also have to travel abroad, depending on the company. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Specialization There is a lot of room for specialization in aeronautical engineering, but some of these may intertwine with each other from time to time. Some of the many topics include aerodynamics, composite analysis, propulsion and avionics. Aerodynamics includes the flow of air over the aircraft. Composite analysis helps find new materials.