We discuss the SKA and radio astronomy, from an engineering perspective, in this thread:
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/s...&highlight=SKA
The engineering physics in itself, is pretty mind-boggling; in fact it is conceptually more interesting than some of the modest discoveries of Australian radio astronomers.
We have a couple of engineering guys, who contributed to that thread, who can shed some more light on approaching an astronomical career from an engineering angle
(e.g.
gary, and
mswhin63, and
Barrykgerdes)
My personal view, given in that thread, is that the technical and financial and infrastructure and "country stability" hurdles have been so very much increased by the decision to site a lot of the SKA in Africa, that the SKA may never be built in its entirety.