Post Graduate Job Prospects
 

Hello,

I am currently doing master's research at a well known lab at a major university. I am curious though, what are the job prospects for a CFD MechEng Master's graduate? It seems that when salaries are quoted on listings on this site they are low for the advanced degrees required (low at least for U.S. graduate engineering salaries).

I have been browsing the job postings and it also seems that a lot of CFD is outsourced (very cheaply) to India.

So what is the state of the industry? Will concentrating my Master's in this area of study pigeon hole me to CFD work --or will the master's still hold weight in other areas of mechanical engineering? Do advanced degrees related to CFD work hold market value?

I am not a complete money hound -- I really enjoy the research, but I have fears about getting locked into a low paying niche field after working hard for a graduate degree. I'd love some perspective.

-Rod

Outsourcing happens in all fields. CFD is difficult and requires users that are experienced, have strict analysis processes or have access to validation measurements and product knowledge. This means that CFD, even if outsourced, will require a staff of experienced users. From my perspective it is nice if tedious tasks like complex meshing of hundreds of design iterations can be outsourced so that I can think about the physics and develop a reliable CFD process. I don't think that CFD engineers are paid any less than people in other mechanical engineering fields.

Rod, maybe you should stay in school and do a second masters in Software Engineering, then you'll definitely be able to get a job in any large company like Ansys.

Hi Rod,

In my country (Israel) at least - being a plumber is usually a quicker route to earning much than a scholar. I guess choosing to study is mainly due to the intellectual stimulation and challenge. True, the intellect does not feed your family and you have to compromises sometimes. Moreover, if you sharpen your brain in your studies, you can more easily switch to other areas that need this capability, if you so wish.

My 2 cents.