Wish I could be more encouraging, but this is a particularly bad time to be seeking work in aerospace.
Obama has for all practical purposes killed NASA. And the defense industry is preparing for massive layoffs in the wake of potential budget sequestration and/or an Obama second term.
HR managers I know have inboxes literally overflowing with resumes from folks with 20+ years at NASA or in the defense industry.
Maybe he should look into companies that make unmanned drones. That appears to be one lone bright spot.
Reuters via Aviation Week: "Raytheon Raises Forecast Despite Sequestration"
U.S. weapons maker Raytheon reported higher-than-expected quarterly earnings July 26 and raised its forecast for full-year profit despite a drop in revenue, saying it is well-positioned to weather tough U.S. budget pressures. ...But he said the company was well-prepared to weather the budget crisis, given strong and growing international demand, and its strong position in missile defense, cybersecurity and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) systems. “The strength of our overall portfolio suggests that we are well aligned with the priorities of the (Defense Department), the classified community and international customers,” he said. “We believe that positions us well for the future, irrespective of how things play out from a sequestration standpoint.”