Expert: Paul Soderman - 5/7/2008

Question
Hi, I am from India. I did my Bachelors in Mechanical Engg in 2006 and worked in IT industry for 2 years. But from my engineering days I am interested in the field of aerospace and aeronautics. Now I want to apply for masters in a good US university. Will the 2 years in IT industry be a problem in getting admission ? What about the job prospects for a non US citizen in organizations like NASA, Boeing etc ?

Answer
No, you have the right engineering degree, and experience in IT will be a plus.  But jobs are difficult for non-citizens because of the need for security clearances for many aerospace jobs.  Check the Boeing website for job requirements.  For NASA, you must be a citizen although some contractors work certain jobs for NASA using non-citizen employees.