Find your Dream Job

Engineering Careers

We may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners.

No matter where you live in the world, it is likely that you will be able to find employment if you have a degree in engineering. Engineering careers can be applied to all types of social needs and industries. From the petroleum industry to software engineering, engineers maintain, support, design, and manufacture every product and service we use. As a result, engineers are massively important and always in demand.

Demand is Greater than Supply

With only one in twenty college students choosing to go into an engineering field, those that do come out with a degree are often able to name their own career and salary.  The number of students who choose the physical sciences has dropped significantly in the past few decades and does not appear to be growing any time soon.  While some European nations have a more favorable balance of engineering students than the US (Germany, for instance, has nearly one in three graduating students hold an engineering degree), it appears that US engineers will continue to be in high demand.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

The World Is Their Workspace

The demand for new technology transcends barriers and nations.  Large industrial and service corporations will hire hundreds (if not thousands) of engineers for various global projects, ranging from building a better light bulb to enhancing cloud computing and storage.  The number of countries that supply the products that need to be imported so that these projects will succeed is vast, and engineers will have to either interact directly with overseas markets or their employer will need to hire someone who will.

No matter where you live in the world, it is likely that you will be able to find employment if you have a degree in engineering. Engineering careers can be applied to all types of social needs and industries.

Tweet This

Demand Never Ceases

We may think of a smartphone or a computer as a purchase that only takes place once every few years.  If this were all that engineers produced, their career paths would likely be in less demand.  The volume of new product development and enhancements to existing products is never-ending and on the rise.  Add that to infrastructure needs such as buildings, bridges, tunnels, and factories and the list of engineers to fill those needs grows exponentially.

Not only does the demand for engineers never decrease, but it can also fluctuate drastically in relation to unforeseen circumstances such as floods, droughts, hurricanes, and blizzards.

Studying Engineering
$24.95 $22.25
Studying Engineering is written for students both those who are already engineering majors and those who are considering engineering as their field of study. The purpose of this book is to enhance student success.
Learn More
We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you.
03/26/2024 10:47 pm GMT

Engineering Skills are More Than a Specialization

Although engineering is a precise science, there is always a need for creativity in developing better solutions for existing products, inventing solutions for new problems, and anticipating future needs.

Engineers must also develop leadership skills and have excellent communication skills. Those that successfully develop these skills make them prime candidates for management positions.  Lastly, engineers are excellent at objective analysis, whether it is a company or an electrical grid so that they can be taskmasters and problem solvers outside of their field of specialization, acting as consultants or supervisors when it is necessary for a company to get a fresh perspective on a problem or a topic.

Types of Engineering Careers

There are many different types of engineering careers, depending on your skills and passions.  Projected growth in engineering jobs, as well as wages, are included below.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Nuclear Engineer – Nuclear engineers research and develop the processes, instruments, and systems used to derive benefits from nuclear energy and radiation. Many of these engineers find industrial and medical uses for radioactive materials—for example, in equipment used in medical diagnosis and treatment.

Software Engineers – Are computer science professionals who use knowledge of engineering principles and programming languages to build software products, develop computer games, and run network control systems.

Agricultural Engineer – Agricultural engineering is a unique field that involves coming up with different modes of activities and processes to help improve agriculture. It combines other disciplines, such as plant biology, animal biology, civil, mechanical, chemical, and electrical engineering. It might not be as lucrative as other engineering careers, but with the necessary experience it can provide a decent income.

Petroleum Engineer – Petroleum engineers are tasked with discovering the location of oil reserves and determining the best position for oil rigs and wells. Another responsibility is strategizing safe methods for the extraction of petroleum and refining crude oil into its constituents. Maintenance of oil wells and rigs is also done by a petroleum engineer. However, in the case of offshore wells, he or she is required to work in conjunction with deep-sea divers and diving technicians. It is a well-paying job and considerable experience is required.

Civil Engineers – Building the world’s infrastructure as well as updating aging infrastructures in Europe and the US keeps this role in high demand. Civil engineers also face the daunting task of designing and building spans that will be safer and longer-lasting.

Environmental Engineers – The country’s quest for environmentally friendly ways of getting things done bodes well for careers in environmental engineering. Environmental engineers are challenged with finding ways to improve recycling, waste disposal, public health, and air and water pollution control. To get the job done, environment engineers utilize the principles of biology, chemistry, engineering, and soil science.

Geotechnical Engineers – One of the emerging careers for civil engineering graduates today is becoming a geotechnical engineer. This type of engineering career focuses on investigating the behavior of soil and rocks in a construction site. They determine and investigate the properties of the soil and extract the information needed to efficiently design foundations and structures for roads, houses, buildings, and other construction projects. This type of engineering is in demand in areas prone to earthquakes and landslides. Because Geotechnical engineers focus on soil behavior, projects such as offshore platform construction and maintenance tend to rely heavily on such engineers. As this career focus on investigating the properties of soil and rocks, one has a chance of landing a career with oil companies and oil prospecting firms.

Environmental Engineers – Providing and designing solutions for environmental problems such as waste disposal and proper pollution management is the responsibility of environmental engineers. The main goal of this type of engineer is to develop the system and means to better protect the environment. With the growing population, providing efficient methods to contain pollution is of main concern. In many countries today, environmental engineers are employed to ensure the distribution of safe water supply and proper treatment of sewage. These kinds of engineers are also needed in providing efficient means for disposing of chemical and toxic wastes from industrial companies, such as power plants, drilling firms, chemical manufacturing companies, and pharmaceuticals.

Transportation Engineers – The exponential population growth in many countries has caused a sharp increase in transportation needs. Providing the best means for transportation is the primary job of transportation engineers. This involves participating in providing systems and modes of transportation that are efficient and safe. Construction of public infrastructure such as roads, bridges, and railways are also among the main responsibilities in a transportation engineering career. Railway, Airport, Marine, and road engineers fall under this engineering career.

Structural Engineers – A career in Structural engineering involves making sure a building can withstand natural and man-made forces, disasters, and influences that may affect its structural integrity. Ensuring the safety of bridges, roads, dams and other public structures are also responsibilities of this type of engineer. Structural engineers are also responsible for testing the behavior of construction materials under different conditions. This involves providing information on how materials react and behave when subjected to pressure, cold, heat, and strain. It is one of the highly sought after types of engineering today and it can be a fulfilling career for a civil engineering graduate. Opportunities abroad are also vast, especially in countries under development.

Requirements

According to bls.gov, entry-level engineers typically must have a bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline that’s related to the type of work they plan to do. Additional education or licensure, or both, may be needed for advancing in the occupation.

Getting practical experience while in college, such as completing an internship or participating in a cooperative engineering program, is also recommended. You can start to prepare for an engineering career as early as high school by taking classes such as trigonometry, calculus, and physics.

Additional Resources:

Engineer Your Own Success: 7 Key Elements to Creating An Extraordinary Engineering Career – It’s a well-known fact that engineers are recognized for their uncanny ability to create magnificent blueprints in an effort to bring brilliant designs to the world. Unfortunately, oftentimes they suffer from a lack of the non-technical soft skills needed to advance up the corporate ladder and achieve the success they desire.

Engineer Your Own Success: 7 Key Elements to Creating An Extraordinary Engineering Career – Examines jobs in engineering, detailing duties, salary, advancement opportunities, and training and education needed.

How to Become an Expert Software Engineer – Want to know the secret to becoming an expert software engineer and getting any job you want? The answer is simple.

Engineer Your Own Success: 7 Key Elements to Creating An Extraordinary Engineering Career  – This book will help you choose the right career out of the myriad possibilities at your disposal. It provides detailed profiles of careers in your field along with the basic skills necessary to begin a focused job search. You’ll soon be on the fast track to landing a job that satisfies your personal, professional, and practical needs.

Studying Engineering
$24.95 $22.25
Studying Engineering is written for students both those who are already engineering majors and those who are considering engineering as their field of study. The purpose of this book is to enhance student success.
Learn More
We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you.
03/26/2024 10:47 pm GMT

 

What's next?

home popular resources subscribe search

You cannot copy content of this page