AJ Tyler
Opportunities in the commercial aerospace industry empowered AJ to study the Master of Aerospace Engineering to launch his career at Rocket Lab.
Qualifications: Bachelor of Engineering Science (Hons) and Bachelor of Science, Master of Aerospace Engineering
Role: Electron Mission Designer at Rocket Lab
Postgraduate study is a great way to distinguish yourself amongst your peers. For a niche area of study like aerospace engineering, a postgraduate degree really demonstrates your commitment to the field.
Why did you choose to study a Master of Aerospace Engineering?
"I was born and raised in Christchurch, New Zealand. Mathematics and physics captivated me during high school due to my love of problem solving. This passion for analytical thinking alongside my desire to help people made the decision to study engineering a no-brainer.
During my undergraduate studies I developed a deep fascination with the rapidly developing commercial aerospace industry. With Rocket Lab, the world-leader in small-sat launch, being tantalisingly close by, doing my Master of Aerospace Engineering at the University of Auckland was a too good of an opportunity to pass up."
What was your experience like as a student in the Master of Aerospace Engineering programme?
"Postgraduate study attracts passionate academics and students, allowing collaboration between like-minded people. For me personally, this meant meeting my amazing professor and thesis supervisor Roberto Armellin, and a couple fellow students who ended up being colleagues at Rocket Lab.
I was also fortunate enough to receive a University of Auckland Research Masters Scholarship, which made the decision to do my postgraduate study at The University of Auckland even easier."
What has been the most valuable part of your degree and how has it helped your career?
"As an Electron Mission Designer, the AEROSPACE720 Space Dynamics and Missions paper was an incredibly valuable course I was able to take as part of my postgraduate studies. Concepts I learnt in that class such as orbital mechanics and launch windows I use daily to great effect.
At Rocket Lab, there have been a plethora of opportunities for me to practically apply and deepen my understanding of the concepts I learnt from my Masters, including designing novel Electron trajectories and implementing new guidance algorithms.
Looking forward, I would like to further develop my aerospace skillset in order to continue to have opportunities to work at the forefront of the aerospace industry."
The commercial aerospace industry worldwide, including New Zealand, is taking off! If you have the passion and drive to learn the craft then a massively rewarding and awe-inspiring career awaits!
Find out more about the programme structure, entry requirements, fees and key dates for the Master of Aerospace Engineering:
Join our live webinar on Thursday 12 June at 12:30pm to gain insight into how a Master of Aerospace Engineering can help you achieve your academic or professional goals. Find out more information and register now: