Additional Information
A bachelor's degree in mechanical or aeronautical engineering is a good
place to start, advises Sandrine De Jesus Mota. She's a simulation engineer.
Lyle Barner is a system modeling and simulation engineer at defense contractor
Northrop Grumman Corp. He suggests getting a bachelor of science degree in
engineering or a comparable STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics)
degree.
"Master's degrees can afford you different opportunities, but are by no
means necessary to be successful," adds Barner. "Any activity that gets students
familiar with the world of computer programming can be a great first exposure."
"There are many different skills needed in simulation, such as software
development, mechanical engineering, electrical/electronic engineering, and
flight test analysis," says Rob Whythe. He's a senior simulation engineer
at CAE, a company that manufactures flight simulators. Whythe himself has
a bachelor's degree in aeronautical engineering from Southampton University
in England.
"However, I have worked with many good engineers who qualified through
apprenticeships or other routes, and a few who proved to be very good at the
job through a natural aptitude despite having few formal qualifications."