it is always difficult to find aerospace related jobs and most of them will be filled by references , this discussion is to know about finding aerospace stream or design stream jobs?
The Best Way is to create it, start a small group design office and choose a project in ignored sub-catogary and do a good work on it, then post your work i a regional airshow and wish the best.
Target the companies that work in the field?
For engines... pick any one of the 3 you like; Pratt & Whitney, GE or Rolls Royce.
For structural, aero, etc; Lockheed, Airbus, Bell, Leerjet, et al
Most of the competition has been squashed out of this field and know that, going in with the dream of starting a consultation firm? They all have long standing with various consultation firms across the country. That's not going to be an easy egg to crack... not to mention all the red tape that goes with anything pertaining to aircraft, which is only exacerbated in anything dubbed 'military'.
I hate to think that the days of the "Howard Hughes" are over but with governments being so intimately entwined with their 'aircraft' industry... they probably are.
Best bet is always (IMO), targeting the company(s) you want to work for... more so than hunting for openings you can take.
Try starting into Aerospace from a machinist background, I went from 2yrs AA in Machine shop, Tool Design school, lots of other knowledge Jet engine overhaul. to CNC programming of aerospace structures and prototype R&D, Robots, Etc. Had a great career and they are still begging for CNC Programmers/Machinists at the major prime makers.
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