Think of the bulb-seal around the landing gear door perimiter as weatherstripping. My memory of the stuff is fading, but I think it was kind of fuzzy looking from the outside. In cross section, it was round so as to fill the gap and expand and contract with movement.
The temp sensors around the shuttle were simple thermocouples, not IR sensors.
Your resume should be of interest to many in the construction industry. This is where I came from.
Brown&Root, (I hated them)Fluor, or Fluor Daniel, (I loved them) Shell oil, (not bad) and or Marathon, Borden, and a slew of others. Bridge outfits as well. I am also multi craft and never went without a check for more than a month. I currently hail as a retired master electrician, but can work as a millwright or whatever I please.
You will have to take a wack in pay from the Goobermint jobs, unless your get in with big time references or a fast track promotion setup.
The important thing, is to do what excites you and makes you take your work home with you, despite your females objections...........LOL!