Here are five different types of engineering jobs explained. Mechanical engineers are responsible for designing and manufacturing products and machines. Mechanical engineering is one of the most diverse branches of engineering.
In fact, mechanical engineers have been responsible for creating things from spacecraft to microscale sensors and car parts.
As with all engineering fields, mechanical engineering requires problem-solving abilities to help develop and design some of the most important pieces of machinery we all use. Additionally, mechanical engineers rely on their creativity and analytical skills to bring a product from just an idea to reality. Disciplines within the mechanical engineering field include aerospace, automotive, computer-aided design CAD , robotics, nanotechnology, and more.
Electrical engineering is centered around electric-powered technology. These engineers work on electrical components, devices, and systems. Projects could include tiny pieces like microchips or involve huge power station generators. Electrical engineers can be credited with feats such as inventing the radio, television, induction motor, and more.
None of these iconic items would be available without electrical engineers. One of the most famous electrical engineers is Thomas Edison, who is credited with inventing the electric light bulb.
Today, electrical engineering includes branches like power generation, batteries, electronics, and motors. On a day to day basis, engineers are responsible for designing and developing electrical equipment and then testing and supervising the production of these items.
Industrial engineers use a combination of science, mathematics, and engineering methods to design equipment, buildings, information systems, and more. These engineers also help run businesses by determining how many workers are needed for a project, how long the project will take, and the process involved in a project.
Unlike many other engineering disciplines, industrial engineers are qualified to work in nearly any industry. For example, industrial engineers work in healthcare, finance, entertainment, technology, manufacturing, and more. If you have an interest in physics and microbiology, chemical engineering could be for you. Chemical engineers use a combination of engineering and science to aid in the processing of food, create industrial chemicals, and make pharmaceuticals.
Chemical engineers apply the principles of chemistry to solve problems involving the production or use of chemicals and other products. They design equipment and processes for large-scale chemical manufacturing, plan and test methods of manufacturing products and treating byproducts, and supervise production. Chemical engineers also work in a variety of manufacturing industries other than chemical manufacturing, such as those producing energy, electronics, food, clothing, and paper.
In addition, they work in healthcare, biotechnology, and business services. Chemical engineers apply principles of physics, mathematics, and mechanical and electrical engineering, as well as chemistry. Some may specialize in a particular chemical process, such as oxidation or polymerization. Others specialize in a particular field, such as nanomaterials, or in the development of specific products.
They must be aware of all aspects of chemical manufacturing and how the manufacturing process affects the environment and the safety of workers and consumers.
Civil engineers design and supervise the construction of roads, buildings, airports, tunnels, dams, bridges, and water supply and sewage systems. They must consider many factors in the design process from the construction costs and expected lifetime of a project to government regulations and potential environmental hazards such as earthquakes and hurricanes.
Civil engineering, considered one of the oldest engineering disciplines, encompasses many specialties. The major ones are structural, water resources, construction, transportation, and geotechnical engineering. Many civil engineers hold supervisory or administrative positions, from supervisor of a construction site to city engineer.
Others may work in design, construction, research, and teaching. Computer hardware engineers research, design, develop, test, and oversee the manufacture and installation of computer hardware, including computer chips, circuit boards, computer systems, and related equipment such as keyboards, routers, and printers.
The work of computer hardware engineers is similar to that of electronics engineers in that they may design and test circuits and other electronic components; however, computer hardware engineers do that work only as it relates to computers and computer-related equipment. The rapid advances in computer technology are largely a result of the research, development, and design efforts of these engineers. Electrical engineers design, develop, test, and supervise the manufacture of electrical equipment.
Some of this equipment includes electric motors; machinery controls, lighting, and wiring in buildings; radar and navigation systems; communications systems; and power generation, control, and transmission devices used by electric utilities. Electrical engineers also design the electrical systems of automobiles and aircraft. Although the terms electrical and electronics engineering often are used interchangeably in academia and industry, electrical engineers traditionally have focused on the generation and supply of power, whereas electronics engineers have worked on applications of electricity to control systems or signal processing.
Electrical engineers specialize in areas such as power systems engineering or electrical equipment manufacturing. Electronics engineers, except computer, are responsible for a wide range of technologies, from portable music players to global positioning systems GPS , which can continuously provide the location of, for example, a vehicle.
Electronics engineers design, develop, test, and supervise the manufacture of electronic equipment such as broadcast and communications systems. Many electronics engineers also work in areas closely related to computers. However, engineers whose work is related exclusively to computer hardware are considered computer hardware engineers. Environmental engineers use the principles of biology and chemistry to develop solutions to environmental problems. They are involved in water and air pollution control, recycling, waste disposal, and public health issues.
Environmental engineers conduct hazardous-waste management studies in which they evaluate the significance of the hazard, advise on its treatment and containment, and develop regulations to prevent mishaps.
They design municipal water supply and industrial wastewater treatment systems, conduct research on the environmental impact of proposed construction projects, analyze scientific data, and perform quality-control checks. Environmental engineers are concerned with local and worldwide environmental issues. Some may study and attempt to minimize the effects of acid rain, global warming, automobile emissions, and ozone depletion.
They also may be involved in the protection of wildlife. Many environmental engineers work as consultants, helping their clients to comply with regulations, prevent environmental damage, and clean up hazardous sites. Health and safety engineers, except mining safety engineers and inspectors, prevent harm to people and property by applying their knowledge of systems engineering and mechanical, chemical, and human performance principles. Using this specialized knowledge, they identify and measure potential hazards, such as the risk of fires or the dangers involved in handling toxic chemicals.
They recommend appropriate loss prevention measures according to their probability of harm and potential damage. Health and safety engineers develop procedures and designs to reduce the risk of illness, injury, or damage. Some work in manufacturing industries to ensure that the designs of new products do not create unnecessary hazards.
They must be able to anticipate, recognize, and evaluate hazardous conditions, as well as develop hazard control methods. They are concerned primarily with increasing productivity through the management of people, methods of business organization, and technology. To maximize efficiency, industrial engineers study product requirements carefully and then design manufacturing and information systems to meet those requirements with the help of mathematical methods and models.
They develop management control systems to aid in financial planning and cost analysis, and they design production planning and control systems to coordinate activities and ensure product quality. They also design or improve systems for the physical distribution of goods and services and determine the most efficient plant locations. Industrial engineers develop wage and salary administration systems and job evaluation programs.
Many industrial engineers move into management positions because the work is closely related to the work of managers. Marine engineers and naval architects are involved in the design, construction, and maintenance of ships, boats, and related equipment. They design and supervise the construction of everything from aircraft carriers to submarines and from sailboats to tankers.
Naval architects work on the basic design of ships, including the form and stability of hulls. Marine engineers work on the propulsion, steering, and other systems of ships.
Marine engineers and naval architects apply knowledge from a range of fields to the entire process by which water vehicles are designed and produced. Materials engineers are involved in the development, processing, and testing of the materials used to create a range of products, from computer chips and aircraft wings to golf clubs and snow skis.
They work with metals, ceramics, plastics, semiconductors, and composites to create new materials that meet certain mechanical, electrical, and chemical requirements. They also are involved in selecting materials for new applications. Materials engineers have developed the ability to create and then study materials at an atomic level, using advanced processes to replicate the characteristics of those materials and their components with computers.
Most materials engineers specialize in a particular material. For example, metallurgical engineers specialize in metals such as steel, and ceramic engineers develop ceramic materials and the processes for making them into useful products such as glassware or fiber-optic communication lines. Mechanical engineers research, design, develop, manufacture, and test tools, engines, machines, and other mechanical devices.
Mechanical engineering is one of the broadest engineering disciplines. Engineers in this discipline work on power-producing machines such as electric generators, internal combustion engines, and steam and gas turbines.
They also work on power-using machines such as refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment, machine tools, material-handling systems, elevators and escalators, industrial production equipment, and robots used in manufacturing.
Some mechanical engineers design tools that other engineers need for their work. In addition, mechanical engineers work in manufacturing or agriculture production, maintenance, or technical sales; many become administrators or managers. Mining and geological engineers, including mining safety engineers, find, extract, and prepare coal, metals, and minerals for use by manufacturing industries and utilities.
They design open-pit and underground mines, supervise the construction of mine shafts and tunnels in underground operations, and devise methods for transporting minerals to processing plants.
Mining engineers are responsible for the safe, economical, and environmentally sound operation of mines. Some mining engineers work with geologists and metallurgical engineers to locate and appraise new ore deposits. Others develop new mining equipment or direct mineral-processing operations that separate minerals from the dirt, rock, and other materials with which they are mixed.
Mining engineers frequently specialize in the mining of one mineral or metal, such as coal or gold. With increased emphasis on protecting the environment, many mining engineers are working to solve problems related to land reclamation and to water and air pollution.
Mining safety engineers use their knowledge of mine design and practices to ensure the safety of workers and to comply with State and Federal safety regulations.
They inspect the surfaces of walls and roofs, monitor air quality, and examine mining equipment for compliance with safety practices. Additionally, many engineers belong to the American Society of Professional Engineers and other engineering societies for their areas of specialization. The U. Bureau of Labor Statistics BLS has information on various specialized fields of engineering, including educational requirements, job descriptions, work environments and job outlooks.
Another source of information on job descriptions, educational requirements and required skills and knowledge for different areas of engineering can be found at MyMajors. Engineers work in many different settings, according to the BLS, including research laboratories, factories, construction sites, nuclear power plants, offshore oil rigs and even on the International Space Station.
Additionally, many engineers work in businesses related to their areas of specialization; for example, an HVAC heating, ventilation and air conditioning engineer might own a heating and air conditioning company, and a structural engineer might own a construction company.
Most engineering jobs require at least a bachelor's degree in engineering. State certification as a Professional Engineer, which requires passing a rigorous and comprehensive test, is also required by many employers and to work as a consultant.
Senior engineering positions and professorships generally require a master's degree or a doctorate. Employment of engineers is projected to grow from 4 to 27 percent between now and , depending on the field of specialization, according to the BLS. According to Salary. Many experienced engineers are promoted to management positions or start their own consulting businesses where they can earn even more.
Engineering has matured and expanded over the centuries along with our knowledge and understanding of science, mathematics and the laws of physics and their applications.
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