Career Profile: Engineering
The infrastructure within United States, bridges, railroads, highways, etc. were all designed by engineers. The building in which you work and the computer you use to perform your work were designed by engineers. We all reap the benefits from the field of engineering in our daily lives. It is an industry that is expansive and covers everything from computers to aerospace.
Engineering is the profession of confronting problems and solving them. Some examples include figuring out how to make a bridge out of safe with available materials, how to develop fuel-efficient vehicles, how to develop effective and virus free software, etc. Engineering is an industry that innovates and influences modern society.
Many different careers in engineering exist because there is a diverse amount of specialities. Electrical engineers, one of the biggest specialties within the field, design everything from computer chips to power stations. Mechanical engineers create and build the equipment and systems manufacturing companies employ in building products. Civil engineers lend their focus to building and improving infrastructure, roads, highways, etc. Aerospace engineers build airplanes and satellites.
Chemical engineers design manufacturing processes for chemical-containing products, such as house cleaners, synthetic materials, and gasoline. Process engineers work on designing powerful, compact, and speedy circuits for computer motherboards. Other engineering specialties that exist include electronics design engineers who develop all of the circuitry required for electronics, such as an iPod. Industrial engineers evaluate the efficiency of manufacturing assembly lines and develop improvements.
Depending on where engineers work, licensing requirements may be required. In cases where engineers work in the public sector, or their work affects health, life, and property, they are required to obtain a state license. Typically most engineers are required to pass the two exams offered by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES): Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam and the Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) exam.
Aside from working in the public sector, many engineers pursue careers in engineering firms, such as Civil Design, Blueline, Bridges Consulting, and Hargrove and Associates. As a whole, the industry is expected to grow through 2014, but there may be increased growth in computer software and environmental engineering and a decline in other areas such as marine and nuclear engineering.
<< BACK TO CAREERS & INDUSTRY HOME
|