[airborn]

I am here to seek an advice about the industry and my career path:

I just got my bachelor degree in Aerospace Engineering, and i am about to enter a masters degree, the thing is that my university offers mainly two "career" choices: mechanical or avionics (electrical).

The first one has a LOT of structural engineering (also fem) and material science/production related courses, and only a few related to flow mechanics and heat transfer (CFD II, Propulsion, Compressible Aerodynamics, Heat Transfer). I absolutely hate material science (i had very bad experiences with professors and the programs are pretty boring to me), but i really love flow mechanics and i am pretty good at it.

The last choice is the most impressive, and i find it interesting too, specially electronics and telecomunications (not so much control). But i have really no clue of about the electrical engineering industry and that reflects on my uncertainty about my future master thesis. Although, for what i know, those areas are growing fast and they are well paid.

My problem is that i wanted to work in CFD, but not in simulation in fluent, CFX... you name it. I wanted to develop my own codes of simulation and numerical methods, but as far as i am aware i would need a Phd in Flow mechanics, and that isn't in my plans to do so.
What i've heard is that a master graduate would work as an aerodynamicist using a series of methods, including simulations and EFD, recurring essencially to "try and error". I know there's a lot of scientific knowledge envolved, specially in computing a majorant of the errors... but i don't want to spend my life running simulations. What is your opinion? Other jobs?

Please help me, as great engineer HAHA I dodged this decision to the last minute of the application deadline.

[arjun]

Writing CFD code isn't easy but it does not mean that you need to have PhD in order to do it. I have never done a CFD course in my life. Closest thing that I have done is course on transport phenomenon (BSL book). I have only done CS101 course and we learned to code in pascal in it.

I am writing CFD solver, it is possible.

[airborn]

Originally Posted by arjun

Writing CFD code isn't easy but it does not mean that you need to have PhD in order to do it. I have never done a CFD course in my life. Closest thing that I have done is course on transport phenomenon (BSL book). I have only done CS101 course and we learned to code in pascal in it.
I am writing CFD solver, it is possible.

So let me just wrapped this up, you have a Computer Science background with a transport phenomena course, and you are CFD coder.

Would you explain you're job? You just apply models and then control the error with new numerical methods or you're a researcher? what is like the job market?

[arjun]

Originally Posted by airborn

So let me just wrapped this up, you have a Computer Science background with a transport phenomena course, and you are CFD coder.

Would you explain you're job? You just apply models and then control the error with new numerical methods or you're a researcher? what is like the job market?

I don't have computer science background , I am graduate in chemical engineering.

My job, I am not working. I write CFD code and trying to make product around it: www.dravvya.co.in

(within a week I intend to put beta version up)

[duri]

Originally Posted by airborn

The last choice is the most impressive, and i find it interesting too, specially electronics and telecomunications (not so much control). But i have really no clue of about the electrical engineering industry and that reflects on my uncertainty about my future master thesis. Although, for what i know, those areas are growing fast and they are well paid.

Your above statement is my advice. There is nothing new happening in mechanical side. For better future take electronics and telecommunication. CFD coding is very narrow domain. If you are interested, it can be done as hobby. It is very difficult to penetrate existing market with new CFD code.

[airborn]

Originally Posted by duri

Your above statement is my advice. There is nothing new happening in mechanical side. For better future take electronics and telecommunication. CFD coding is very narrow domain. If you are interested, it can be done as hobby. It is very difficult to penetrate existing market with new CFD code.

In which way is CFD a narrow domain? I have seen that the best paid jobs in Engineering are probably CFD and aerodynamics related. Is it working at, lets say, Mclaren in aerodynamics/CFD such a long shot?