Astronautical Engineering Soft Skills – What it Takes to Build a Career in the AeroSpace Industry

You’ve put in the work to become an astronautical engineer. You’ve learned the math, the physics, the orbital mechanics. You have the engineering skills! You’re a wizard with a soldering gun.

But do you have the soft skills aerospace companies in the industry are looking for?

Capitol strives to prepare our students with not just the academic knowledge they need, but also the interpersonal skills needed to succeed in the workplace. According to Sarah Alspaw, Director of Career Development and Student Success, “soft skills are something on which you cannot take a test. It all boils down to emotional intelligence.”

There are many different valuable soft skills to have, but here are some that the aerospace industry is definitely looking for:

Communication – NASA notes that “superior communication” is one of the skills that they are looking for in their people, and they are not alone. Your work may not require you to give daily speeches, but the ability to clearly communicate ideas and thoughts to your coworkers and customers is a critical skill that many companies desire in their employees. Communication is especially important in the aerospace industry, as employees often work in teams.

Collaboration – It’s unlikely that you will be building the space technology of tomorrow alone. Even in our astronautical engineering program at Capitol, students work together on major projects like the recent Cactus-1 CubeSat project, or Project Aether. Using your communications skills to not just talk to, but listen to your team mates is a critical skill to have on any aerospace project or, especially, mission.

Leadership – Being able to take the lead can sometimes be challenging, but when working on missions where failure could mean years of expensive and meticulous work down the drain, everybody has to be able to step up when called upon. Be confident in what you know, and be willing to step out of your comfort zone if it means the success of the team or mission.

Innovation and Creativity – You’re an engineer! You could’ve chosen an alternate scientific pursuit which would’ve required less flexibility and on-your-feet problem solving, but that’s not what you love. Don’t be afraid to voice your ideas. Everyone is different, and even the same type of engineering can be learned by different people in different ways. Don’t be afraid to contribute. Millennium Space Systems says that they are specifically seeking employees who “solve problems creatively.”

Open Mindedness – As Elon Musk once said, you should, “constantly think about how you could be doing things better, and keep questioning yourself.” If you aren’t pushing the boundaries of what has previously been thought of as possible, then you might not belong in the aerospace industry. Keep in mind that there’s a lot of team work and everyone is different. Being open to the ideas that others share is an important part of striving for innovation.

Self-Motivation/Management – Employers want someone who can both work well in a team as well as independently. Be responsible for your work, and take it one step further by suggesting ways you could contribute more. Did you notice while working on something that there was a way you could improve a process? Bring it up and offer to take it on yourself. Employers appreciate someone who is a self-starter.

For more help cultivating your soft skills, or for help with finding the right career path for you, make an appointment with Career Services at careers@captechu.edu.