Also called: Liquid Propulsion Engineer
Designs rocket engines and the tanks, pipes, and valves that feed them fuel and oxygen.
You size a fuel line so it won't freeze, crack, or vibrate itself apart, then go to the test stand to watch an engine fire. When the data comes back, you compare what you predicted to what the engine actually did.
Bachelor's degree (4-year), about 4 years after high school. Bachelor's in aerospace or mechanical engineering; propulsion-focused master's helps.
Ways in: 4-year college, Graduate school. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering.
Growing faster than average (about 6% over 10 years). Part of BLS aerospace engineers category.
Low risk in 5 years, medium in 10. AI speeds engine and plumbing analysis; test-stand work, hardware fixes and fast iteration in a booming launch industry stay human.
Classes: AP Physics, AP Chemistry, AP Calculus, Shop class.
Official data: O*NET occupation 17-2011.
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