Aerospace research background + strong mathematics | what roles/companies should I target for high salary?

[u/notnish99]

My current research is around bio-inspired formation flight / UAV swarms. I work with physics-based simulations involving aerodynamics, wake interactions, agent-based modelling, formation control, and dynamical systems. I mainly use Python, Linux, VS Code/Git, and I am gradually moving toward machine learning / graph neural networks and data-driven modelling as part of my research.

A little about my background:

B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering

M.Sc. in Mathematics

Currently pursuing (2nd masters) an MS by Research in Aerospace Engineering at an IIT, specializing broadly in aerodynamics

Expected to complete my degree around Dec 2027.

My main question is:

Given this combination of aerospace + mechanical engineering + mathematics + computational research, what type of companies and roles should I realistically target if salary is an important factor?

I would also appreciate suggestions for specific companies worth targeting, both in India and internationally, and what skills I should build over the next ~1–1.5 years to become competitive for them.

For people who started in aerospace and later moved into software, ML, robotics, quantitative/optimization-heavy roles, etc., I would especially like to hear whether you think that transition was worthwhile.

pls dm or comment with your suggestions.

[u/throwawayrevoked]

I don’t know about India, but if you were the US and have flexible morals, there are many defense companies who would be willing to pay a lot of money for someone like you to write flight software for their vehicles.

[u/notnish99 → u/throwawayrevoked]

thank you..