What is an engineer текст

What is engineering?

By Jim Lucas Contributions from Daisy Dobrijevic published 28 February 22

Engineering is a cornerstone of STEAM education (formerly known as STEM education).

Engineering is the application of science and mathematics to solve problems. Engineers figure out how things work and find practical uses for scientific discoveries. Scientists and inventors often get the credit for innovations that advance the human condition, but it is engineers who are instrumental in making those innovations available to the world.

In his book, «Disturbing the Universe (opens in new tab) » (Sloan Foundation, 1981), physicist Freeman Dyson wrote, «A good scientist is a person with original ideas. A good engineer is a person who makes a design that works with as few original ideas as possible. There are no prima donnas in engineering.»

The history of engineering is part and parcel of the history of human civilization. The Pyramids of Giza, Stonehenge, the Parthenon and the Eiffel Tower stand today as monuments to our heritage of engineering. Today’s engineers not only build huge structures, such as the International Space Station (opens in new tab) (ISS), but they are also building maps to the human genome and better, smaller computer chips.

Engineering is one of the cornerstones of STEAM education (formerly known as STEM education), an interdisciplinary curriculum designed to motivate students to learn about science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics.

Types of engineering

Mechanical engineering involves the design, manufacturing, inspection and maintenance of machinery, equipment and components as well as control systems and instruments for monitoring their status and performance. This includes vehicles, construction and farm machinery, industrial installations and a wide variety of tools and devices.

Electrical engineering involves the design, testing, manufacturing, construction, control, monitoring and inspection of electrical and electronic devices, machinery and systems. These systems vary in scale from microscopic circuits to national power generation and transmission systems.

Civil engineering involves the design, construction, maintenance and inspection of large infrastructure projects such as highways, railroads, bridges, tunnels, dams and airports.

Aerospace engineering involves the design, manufacturing and testing of aircraft and spacecraft as well as parts and components such as airframes, power plants, control and guidance systems, electrical and electronic systems, and communication and navigation systems.

Nuclear engineering involves the design, manufacturing, construction, operation and testing of equipment, systems and processes involving the production, control and detection of nuclear radiation. These systems include particle accelerators and nuclear reactors for electric power plants and ships, radioisotope production and research. Nuclear engineering also includes monitoring and protecting humans from the potentially harmful effects of radiation.

Structural engineering involves the design, construction and inspection of load-bearing structures such large commercial buildings, bridges and industrial infrastructure.

Biomedical engineering is the practice of designing systems, equipment and devices for use in the practice of medicine. It also involves working closely with medical practitioners, including doctors, nurses, technicians, therapists and researchers, in order to determine, understand and meet their requirements for systems, equipment and devices.

Chemical engineering is the practice of designing equipment, systems and processes for refining raw materials and for mixing, compounding and processing chemicals to make valuable products.

Computer engineering is the practice of designing computer hardware components, computer systems, networks and computer software.

Industrial engineering is the practice of designing and optimizing facilities, equipment, systems and processes for manufacturing, material processing, and any number of other work environments.

Environmental engineering is the practice of preventing, reducing and eliminating sources of pollution that affect air, water and land. It also involves detecting and measuring pollution levels, determining sources of pollution, cleaning up and rehabilitating polluted sites and ensuring compliance with local, state and federal regulations.

Engineers require in-depth knowledge of mathematics, physics and computer applications such as simulations and computer-aided design. This is why most college programs include basic engineering courses in a wide range of topics before students choose to specialize in a particular area.

Careers in engineering: jobs & salaries

Many employers require engineers to obtain state certification as Professional Engineers. Additionally, many engineers belong to the American Society of Professional Engineers (opens in new tab) and other engineering societies for their areas of specialization.

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 ISS. 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.

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. Today, engineers apply both well-established scientific principles and cutting-edge innovations in order to design, build, improve, operate and maintain complex devices, structures, systems and processes.

It was engineering that brought us out of the caves; it was engineering that took us to the moon; and if we ever make it to the stars, it will be engineering that takes us there. As our knowledge continues to advance, engineers will have new opportunities to find practical uses for scientific discoveries.

As the novelist James A. Michener aptly put it in his novel «Space (opens in new tab) » (Fawcett, 1983), «Scientists dream about doing great things. Engineers do them.»

Additional resources

Looking for a job in engineering or simply wanting to see what career options are available check out Engineer Jobs (opens in new tab) for the latest listings. Thinking about studying engineering? Kingston University, London (opens in new tab) has come up with a list of five benefits to studying engineering. The Engineering Council (opens in new tab) also has useful resources for those considering a career in engineering.

Guidance in the admission process

UniPage specialists will help you determine the direction of study and enter a university abroad. We take into account your interests, personal qualities and the relevance of the profession.

Profession Engineer — Facts

Who is an engineer?

An engineer is a specialist who invents, designs, analyzes, builds, and tests machines, systems, structures, devices, and materials, taking into account their practicality, safety, and cost. The challenge of engineers is to apply scientific discoveries to the needs of people and businesses.

Technological progress happened thanks to the representatives of this profession. Roads, bridges, trains, planes, ships, buildings, computers, telephones, all of those are the work of engineers.

The activities of engineers can be related to programming, biology, mathematics, chemistry, bioengineering, as well as military affairs, economics, ecology, and other areas. Accordingly, there are many engineering specialties: surveyor, designer, estimator, technologist, electronics, mechanic, electrician, power engineer, builder, designer, tester, electrical engineer, heat engineer, mechatronics engineer, ecologist, etc.

Salary of an engineer in different countries

Country/region	Min. Salary/year	Avg. salary/year	Construction engineer	Biochemical engineer	Mechanical engineer
US	42,200 USD	91,700 USD	85,600 USD	83,100 USD	87,000 USD
United Kingdom	22,912 USD	72,234 USD	80,917 USD	72,958 USD	48,236 USD
Australia	17,055 USD	53,762 USD	58,746 USD	51,657 USD	56,149 USD
Canada	24,803 USD	78,284 USD	82,935 USD	79,059 USD	62,007 USD
Germany	12,444 USD	39,242 USD	40,381 USD	35,501 USD	42,698 USD
France	13,521 USD	42,495 USD	44,427 USD	41,987 USD	42,698 USD
Russia	6,453 USD	9,680 USD	7,744 USD	9,519 USD	9,196 USD
Czech Republic	8,131 USD	25,647 USD	28,532 USD	25,090 USD	24,109 USD
China	13,911 USD	43,859 USD	48,023 USD	43,416 USD	53,163 USD
Singapore	23,512 USD	51,015 USD	48,504 USD	47,198 USD	61,972 USD

The figures in the table are approximate. Main source: SalaryExplorer

The advantages of the engineering profession

Disadvantages of engineering profession

Engineering specializations

You should rather start from your interests and hobbies. If during childhood you were fond of the structure of devices and machines, dismantled toys into parts, and reassembled them, then mechanical engineering might suit you. If you love planes and engines, aerospace engineering is a great choice. It is also recommended to take free internships and see what engineers of various specializations deal with in practice.

How to become an engineer?

Education is a prerequisite of becoming an engineer. Engineering specialties are offered in almost all higher education institutions. In some countries, such as the USA and Canada, to start working, you first need to obtain a license.

Vocational education of an engineer

There are a few options for obtaining vocational education in the field of engineering. For example, community colleges in the US offer the following subjects: electronics, industrial instrumentation, air conditioning technology, heating and refrigeration technology, multimedia technology, etc. In Australia, the main programs that can be found at TAFEs are manufacturing and welding, hydraulics and pneumatics, mechanical engineering and related careers, plastics and rubber manufacturing, plumbing.

Higher engineering education

Higher education is provided by universities and colleges. The programs they offer are software engineering, mechanical engineering, automation, robotics, bioengineering, mechatronics, etc. As a rule, internships in the workplace are compulsory during studies.

Higher education, and then a profession can be obtained by doing the following:

Studying engineering is quite difficult due to the requirement to master many technical subjects at a high level. Going forward, however, good job opportunities are worth the university allnighters.

Engineering specialties admission requirements

University admission criteria vary by country and program. Typically the following is required:

Engineering programs of the top world universities 2020

No QS 2020 subject ranking	University	Bachelor’s/year	Country
1	Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)	27,725 USD	USA
2	Stanford University	73,964 USD	USA
3	University of Cambridge	40,790 USD	UK
4	Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETHZ)	1,543 USD	Switzerland
5	University of California, Berkeley	48,006 USD	USA
6	University of Oxford	32,282-45,234 USD	UK
7	Imperial College London	40,700 USD	UK
8	Nanyang Technological University	26,727 USD	Singapore
9	Tsinghua University	3,987-33,965 USD aproximately	China
10	National University of Singapore	27,721 USD	Singapore

All data must be verified with universities

What qualities does an engineer need?

Engineering is suitable for students who prefer mathematics and science. Problem-solving skills also will be important. At the same time, engineering implies a creative approach, for example, in the design and operation of various infrastructures, machines, and processes. However, having a lively mind and quick wits is not quite enough. A good engineer must have social and emotional intelligence. Because for specialists in these fields, it is important not only to understand what is happening around them but also to come up with inventions and solutions that will help the people. After all, engineers primarily design for other people, not for themselves or machines. Natural curiosity, logical and analytical mindset, communication skills, attention to detail, teamwork and a constant desire to learn and improve are the essential skills of a successful professional.

Where do engineers work?

Most engineers work in office buildings, laboratories, or industrial plants. Others may spend time outdoors at construction sites, oil and gas exploration, and production sites. There, they supervise direct operations and solve work-related issues on the spot.

Software engineers work in IT companies, aerospace engineers — in civil aviation plants, airlines, or space programs, food processing engineers — in factories (meat processing plants, canneries, food companies, etc.). The places of employment of design engineers depend on the specialization. Thus, furniture designers work in state factories and private firms, marine engineers — in shipbuilding and ship repair enterprises, mechanical engineers — in factories and enterprises that produce machine tools, cars, and household appliances.

The international labor market for engineers is promising. Emerging markets have a high demand for engineers due to rapid industrial and commercial expansion.

Famous engineers

It is quite difficult to tie Elon Musk to a certain profession, but his engineering talent is hard to ignore. The South African-born inventor and businessman has had a great influence on humanity, being one of the greatest minds of our time. Among his many projects: Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX), Tesla, Inc., SolarCity, Hyperloop, OpenAI, and many others. With no formal education in aerospace engineering, Elon Musk created and led the rocket science team at SpaceX. He was even able to bring the company to the level of NASA and other international space associations. At Tesla, Musk personally oversees the development, engineering, and design of all of the company’s products. The same goes for his other projects, where he performs engineering tasks.

Ellen Laurie Ochoa

Ellen Laurie Ochoa is an American engineer and former astronaut. She attended the University of San Diego, then earned her MS and PhD from Stanford’s Electrical Engineering Department. In 1993, Ochoa became the first Hispanic woman to go into space, serving aboard the space shuttle Discovery on STS-56, a mission to conduct experiments on ozone exposure. She also served on missions STS-96 and STS-110, carrying cargo to the International Space Station. Since 2013, the astronaut has been director of the Johnson Space Center, becoming the center’s first Hispanic and second female director. She has also done a lot of research, especially at NASA. From 2018 to 2020, Ochoa served as Deputy Chair of the National Science Board.

Samantha Cristoforetti is an Italian engineer and astronaut. At the age of 18, the native of Milan got into the Space Camp under the exchange program in the United States. She continued to study various types of techniques first in Munich Technical University, then at the National Higher French Institute of Aeronautics and Space in France and at the Mendeleev Russian University of Chemical Technology. Although Cristoforetti is better known as an astronaut for the Italian European Space Agency, she is also a pilot and engineer of the Italian Air Force. Cristoforetti has set records for the longest solo space flight by a woman and for the longest continuous space flight of any European astronaut. In addition, she was the first Italian woman in space and the first person of any nationality to brew an espresso in space.

Share to

UniPage guidance in the admission process

The UniPage team will consult you on what study field better suits your aspirations and vision of the future career. We’ll take into account your interests, personal qualities, as well as the demand for professions. Then we will select universities that offer quality education specifically in your career field.

What is Engineering? A Brief Overview

When Apollo 11 set sail on its trip to the moon, it forever changed what many people believed to be possible. What many people don’t know is just how fundamentally the Apollo missions changed the world. Not in a philosophical sense, but a literal one. In the development and research portion of this mission, many things we still use today came to fruition. From vacuum-sealed food, to the dustbuster, these programs lead to so many technological advances—true feats of interesting engineering. Simply put, the Apollo program led many to understand even better how science and engineering touch every aspect of our lives.

Engineering: The Definition

Engineering is surely a word most people have heard of before, but have you actually ever wondered what it means to be an engineer? Most people picture brainy individuals working behind the scenes on planes and trains, but there’s so much more to this discipline than that. In the simplest terms, engineering is the act of using the scientific method to solve real-world problems, build practical machines and tools, and make the world a better place.

Indeed, we owe pretty much all of our infrastructures to the work of engineers throughout the centuries. From the ancient Greek mathematical genius Archimedes, to artists-engineers like Leonardo Da Vinci and visionary Nikola Tesla (I suppose we must also mention Elon Musk), engineers help shape the world as we know it in a variety of ways.

Here’s a quote that pretty much encapsulates the spirit of engineering, from the creator of Dilbert, Scott Adams, “ Normal people believe that if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Engineers believe that if it ain’t broke, it doesn’t have enough features yet.” Adams knows that engineers look at the world with curiosity, and love to solve seemingly unsolvable problems.

How Many Types of Engineering Are There?

There are many various types and subtypes of engineering, but here are the most basic types summarized.

Mechanical Engineering:

Engineers in this field are definitely the kind of people who like taking things apart, learning how they work, putting them back together, and troubleshooting any problems that may arise. As such, they enjoy designing and building machines that function for specific purposes.

Civil Engineering:

Since the beginning of history, humans have engaged in civil engineering (it’s believed to be the oldest type of engineering). Simply put, civil engineering is the act of developing and maintaining buildings, roads, bridges, and dams. You know your fancy toilet? Yeah-those are pretty new in the grand scheme of things. Well, they wouldn’t exist without civil engineers who designed not only sewage systems, but water filtration systems. Without these individuals, the world would look closer to the world of Westeros than the present (pass the chamber pot, please).

Structural Engineering:

Structural engineering and civil engineering sort of go hand-in-hand. Structural engineers look at things civil engineers create, and see whether their designs and concepts are practical, and can be built safely. They also oversee the construction itself to make sure things like bridges, power plants, skyscrapers, large buildings, dams, and even homes are structurally sound.

Chemical Engineering:

If you are interested in both engineering and chemistry, this is the perfect field for you! It’s currently the most in-demand of all the engineering fields — largely thanks to advances in rechargeable batteries. It’s a race to the top for big engineering companies looking to turn these advancements into functional transportation prototypes.

Chemical engineers apply the principles of chemistry, biology, physics, and math to solve problems that involve the production or use of chemicals, fuel, drugs, food, and many other products. They design processes and equipment for large-scale manufacturing, plan and test production methods and byproducts treatment, and direct facility operations.

Petroleum Engineering:

Petroleum engineering, as you might be able to guess, involves the design and development of methods for extracting oil and gas from deposits below the Earth’s surface. Petroleum engineers also find new ways to extract oil and gas from older wells. You might imagine this industry is going by the wayside, given the push toward sustainable and clean forms of energy, but petroleum products are likely to be with us for a quite a while still.

Electrical Engineering:

Electrical Engineer at work Source: Depositphotos

Electricity powers our phones, TVs, homes, offices, and it pretty much makes the modern world go ’round. Without it, the world would revert back to the dark ages. Electrical engineers design, develop, test, and supervise the manufacture of electrical equipment, such as electric motors, radar and navigation systems, communications systems, or power generation equipment. Electrical engineers also design the electrical systems of automobiles and aircraft.

They are also responsible for designing and developing electronic equipment, including broadcast and communications systems, such as portable music players and Global Positioning System (GPS) devices. Many also work in areas closely related to computer hardware.

Industrial Engineering:

Industrial engineering is all about optimization: Can we design something that is more cost-efficient, takes less time to build with less resources, manpower, and energy, but still up to the standards of quality something that cost more would be?

They also solve technical problems with phones, planes, cars, computers, and other things we deal with in our daily life.

Aerospace Engineering:

The final launch of a Saturn IB (AS-210) from pad 39B at KSC on July 24th, 1975 Source: NASA

Aerospace engineering, otherwise known as aeronautical engineering or astronautical engineering—is probably one of the most exciting branches of engineering, being that it is involved in designing and building devices that could allow humans to leave the planet and go in search of another home.

Whether we migrate to the nearby planet of Mars, figure out a way to settle on the Moon, or leave this solar system entirely in search of another planet, aerospace engineers will be responsible for helping develop the spaceships of the future.

Aerospace engineers are also responsible for helping design aircraft, missiles, spacecraft, and national defense systems. Ever heard the term, «It’s not rocket science?» Well, in this case, it kind of is. The two disciplines are very similar. Additionally, aeronautical engineers — people who work with airplanes and other propulsion systems — are an important part of the field.

Biomedical Engineering:

Biomedical engineering is an exciting field that combines engineering with biology — combining engineering principles with medical and biological sciences to design and create equipment, devices, computer systems, and software used in healthcare. For example, we can thank biomedical engineering for so many breakthroughs: artificial organs, kidney dialysis, robotic instruments for non-intrusive surgeries, artificial limb replacements, pacemakers, dentures, and so much more.

Environmental Engineering:

This subset of engineering focuses on ways in which we can protect the Earth and Earth’s biodiversity from pollution, and overall improve the health and extend the longevity of both the environment and all living things on the planet.

There’s some overlap with civil engineering here, as environmental engineers also help build sewage systems, focus on water filtration systems, irrigation, and other forms of improving the things we take for granted — like clean water and indoor plumbing. Environmental engineers use the principles of engineering, soil science, biology, and chemistry to develop solutions to environmental problems. They work to improve recycling, waste disposal, public health, and water and air pollution control. They also address global issues, such as unsafe drinking water, climate change, and environmental sustainability.

Nuclear Engineering:

If you have an interest in particle physics and engineering, welcome to the field of nuclear engineering! 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. Many others specialize in the development of nuclear power sources for ships or spacecraft.

The Large Hadron Collider at CERN Source: Maximilien Brice, CERN

What Do Engineers Do and Where Do Engineers Work?

Who is an Engineer?

The person who is trained in the field of engineering to apply the scientific method and outlook to the analysis and solution of engineering problems. They apply the principles of science and mathematics to develop economical solutions to technical problems.

In the modern day and age where there is global technological development each passing day, we cannot ignore the importance of engineers and their contributions in every field of life.

With new engineering colleges opening up in every nook and corner, every third or fourth person you come across these days is an engineer. Thanks to them, we have a properly functioning system.

But let’s get to know more about this profession.

Essential Skills and Qualities of an Engineer:

What Do Engineers Do Actually?

The basic job of an engineer, irrespective of whichever stream he belongs to, is to apply theoretical, scientific and mathematical solutions to real life technical glitches or problems.

In short, engineers bridge the gap between scientific discoveries that were meant to change the world.

From the ideation of any product to implementation and finally developing the product, an engineer is actively involved in every stage of development.

Be it Design, development, testing, production, maintenance or any department, you will find dedicated groups of engineers working tirelessly to make sure the production process works smoothly.

With countless branches of engineering, each specialised engineer has loads of work to look after.

Civil Engineers Role:

Thanks to civil engineers, we have properly functioning roads, tunnels, bridges, buildings, malls etc.

Civil engineers are the ones who are in charge of the design and construction of these structures. This is considered to be one of the oldest branches of engineering, and a civil engineer can hold administrative and supervising positions or be actively involved in design, research, construction or even teaching.

Related Job Designation Titles:

Electrical Engineers Role:

Electrical engineers, another older and traditional form of engineering, are responsible for the different stages of development namely

These engineers also take care of wiring and lightings in buildings, the electrical systems in aircraft and planes, radar and navigation systems etc.

Related Job Designation Titles:

Software Engineers:

Software engineers main role is to create, design and develop software applications for the computers. They need to be skilled in subjects like maths, engineering and designing for developing effective system applications.

Related Job Designation Titles:

Chemical Engineers:

Chemical engineers are the ones who apply principles of chemistry in the production of chemicals in plants or other chemical products which are built as results of complex chemical actions.

Chemical engineers are responsible for supervision and the design of processes of chemical manufacturing on a large scale. The great part about them is that they work in a number of other industries apart from just chemical manufacturing.

Food, textiles, electronics, healthcare, medicine, biotechnology are other industries where chemical engineers thrive in. Not just chemistry, they apply methods and principles of physics, mathematics and mechanical engineering as well in their work.

Some chemical engineers specialise in specific chemical fields or reactions.

For e.g., there’s oxidation, there are nanomaterial’s and polymerization and so on.

Related Job Designation Titles:

Biomedical Engineers:

Biomedical engineers are what real superheroes look like. They are the ones who solve health problems and cure diseases by combining their engineering principles along with biology and pharmacy.

They work extensively and research along with medical students to develop treatments and products like artificial human organs, artificial body parts, different medical information systems etc.

Biomedical engineers are also responsible for the design of different health devices like MRI, automatic insulin injections etc.

Related Job Designation Titles:

Industrial Engineer:

Industrial engineers are mainly found in the manufacturing and production sector. The main role of them is to develop tools and machinery which help to develop process and systems.

Related Job Designation Titles:

Aerospace Engineers:

Aerospace engineers probably have the fanciest jobs of all. They design and manage the manufacture of aircraft, spacecraft’s, rockets, missiles etc.

Among them, the ones who work with aircrafts are called aeronautical engineers and the ones who manage space crafts are called astronautical engineers.

Both aeronautical and astronautical engineers are in charge of developing new technologies that would be used in aviation services, defence systems of the country, space exploration etc. and most of them specialize in certain aspects of aerospace engineering.

Apart from that, there is a chance that they might be specialized in particular types of products, for example, fighter jet planes, commercial aircrafts, helicopters, missiles and rockets and so on.

Related Job Designation Titles:

Environmental Engineers:

They provide solutions to all the prevailing environmental problems using chemistry and biology.

They are widely involved in all major environmental issues and are responsible for pollution control, recycling old products, waste disposal etc.

Related Job Designation Titles:

Mechanical Engineers:

Mechanical engineering is another of the oldest forms of engineering. Mechanical engineers research about develop, design and maintain different machines and plenty of mechanical devices and equipments.

Mechanical engineers work with machineries ranging from engines, turbines, generators to refrigerators, air conditioners and the list just keeps on growing.

Related Job Designation Titles:

Computer Hardware Engineers:

Computer hardware engineers look after the production and installation of computer hardware that includes assembling the CPU, computer chips, the circuit boards and even the related devices like speakers, routers etc.

Electronic Engineers:

Electronic engineers are involved in the manufacture of new technologies and electronic equipment’s, like the television set or home theatre adorning your living room, the GPS that you use for navigation and so on.

Agricultural Engineers:

They combine the engineering skills along with scientific knowledge and apply it to the agricultural needs of the country.

They design and manufacture different types of machinery and equipment’s to make farming and agriculture an easier process and to yield better crops and also for crop storage.

Apart from that, agricultural engineers are constantly developing techniques to conserve soil and improve the processing of crops.

Marine Engineers:

Marine engineers are responsible for the design, development and maintenance of ships, cargos, boats, steamers, submarines, aircraft carriers and other related machines.

Marine engineers and naval architects come together to design and develop all modes of water transport.

Nuclear Engineers:

Nuclear engineers research and develop instruments and machineries that are needed to derive the energies and advantages of nuclear radiations. They are also in charge of nuclear plants and generate power from them.

They not only work in the nuclear cycle to derive power and fuels, they are also responsible for disposing the nuclear wastes safely without harming the environment.

Petroleum Engineers:

Petroleum engineers are in charge of designing and implementing methods to extract oil and natural gas from below the ground. After designing the methods, they implement them with the help of geologists for drilling the rocks and going underground.

After knowing about the different branches of engineering and different kinds of engineers, it is time to discuss where these engineers actually work.

While many engineers work at large corporate houses, many of them own their small firms as well. Engineers also work in manufacturing plants, construction sites, hospitals, government sectors, PSUs and so on.

Engineering Career Salaries:

» data-lang=»default» data-override=»<"emptyTable":"","info":"","infoEmpty":"","infoFiltered":"","lengthMenu":"","search":"","zeroRecords":"","exportLabel":"","file":"default">» data-merged=»[]» data-responsive-mode=»0″ data-from-history=»0″ >

Engineering Careers	Median Salaries(per year)
Software Engineers	$114,600
Mechanical Engineers	$87,370
Industrial Engineers	$87,040
Environmental Engineers	$87,620
Electrical Engineers	$99,070
Civil Engineers	$86,640
Chemical Engineers	$104,910
Biomedical Engineers	$88,550
Aerospace Engineers	$115,220
Hardware Engineers	$115,120
Petroleum Engineers	$132,017
Nuclear Engineers	$152,420
Marine Engineers	$85,000
Agricultural Engineers	$106,670
Electronic Engineers	$102,180

Some other engineer roles and Where Do Engineers Work?

Where do mechanical engineers work?

Mechanical engineers are widespread across every branch of engineering, as none of them can properly function without mechanical engineers. The entire automobile industry is run by mechanical engineers.

Buses, cars, high end sports cars- none of them can run without mechanical engineers. They are involved in every process of the manufacture.

Mechanical engineers are boons to the biomedical industry as well, as they are the ones responsible for creating devices that ensure a healthy life for patients, like pacemakers, artificial limbs etc. They are a major part of construction projects like roads, buildings, tunnels etc.

Mechanical engineers also primarily run the Indian railways, from building train bogies, to building railway tracks, they do it all.

Where do electrical engineers work?

Electrical engineers too grace many fields with their work, namely, IT, telecom, constructions, manufacturing, aerospace etc. Companies that manufacture electrical devices are always in need of electrical engineers. These engineers are also needed for power generation and distribution.

Electrical engineers are also needed in laboratories and architectural firms.

Where do marine engineers work?

Different forms of engineering services are the largest employers of marine engineers. Many organizations do not have permanent in-house marine engineers either for cost-cutting reasons or due to the lack of availability of them.

So these organizations hire marine engineers on contract basis. The marine engineers provide their advices and other preliminary services to these organizations.

Another industry that employs large number of marine engineers is the ship and boat building industry. They have in-house marine engineers that build the watercrafts used for commercial purposes. These engineers then build yachts, oil tankers, barges, cruise liners; container ships etc. in parts and then assemble them later.

A lot of marine engineers also work for the federal government and offer the same services as they offer commercially. But marine engineers who work for the federal government are responsible for building military watercrafts like submarines and aircraft carriers.

Where do environmental engineers work?

Many private companies employ environmental engineers to make sure that their employees have a safe and healthy work environment. They also hire these engineers to make sure that their industrial wastes are properly and safely disposed.

Environmental engineers can work both indoors and outdoors. These private companies and industries also hire these engineers to work on environmental hazards that are caused by their plants and factories.

Even the public sector employs environmental engineers in natural resources protection or environmental protection departments for the sustainable development of an area.

Where do biomedical engineers work?

Biomedical engineers work in hospitals as consultants and consult them on how to maintain the different equipment. The beds, stretchers, surgical lasers are all designed by these engineers.

A lot of biomedical engineers also work in pharmaceutical companies as drug makers and design the delivery devices like insulin pumps, injectors and other things.

Not just that, they design different devices for organ transplants and other such important purposes.

All in all, this is a world that cannot function without engineers. Engineers are responsible for the smooth functioning of everything that’s around us.

What does an engineer do?

Would you make a good engineer? Take our career test and find your match with over 800 careers.

What is an Engineer?

An engineer uses science, technology and math to solve problems. We can see engineering everywhere in the world around us; improving the ways we work, travel, communicate, stay healthy, and entertain.

Engineers take scientific knowledge and convert it into technology, and then take that technology and convert it into a working solution/innovation. There is a sense of pride and well-being that all engineers feel after having completed a difficult project successfully. It is a life-rewarding career: creating, designing, and producing useful products and services for others.

In this article:

What does an Engineer do?

Engineers design machinery, build skyscrapers, and oversee public works, but they address society’s needs and problems on so many other levels as well.

At a molecular level, engineers work on drug delivery systems that work inside cells. At a macro level, they look at the particle flow of pollutants through soil to clean up oil spills, abandoned industrial sites, and other biohazards. At a galactic level, they design spacecraft for other-planet exploration. At an atomic level, they develop data storage that focuses on the spin of electrons in atoms. Clean drinking water, safe food storage, and the protection of our environment are also under the engineering umbrella.

Engineering can be an excellent career choice for someone that has the aptitude, a keen interest, strong math skills, and a logical approach to problem solving. Engineering majors have the reputation for being very demanding, sometimes taking five years to complete. It might be difficult to go through all the math and science involved, and you may wonder if it’s worth the amount of work involved (especially when seeing students in other programs having a lot more fun than you).

Remember that you must put in the hard work to achieve any type of success, and becoming an engineer is, in the end, a rewarding and satisfying career. It will enable you to create, test, and design things that solve the world’s problems, and it will offer endless growth opportunities. If you pick your engineering field wisely and keep true to yourself and your strengths, it will definitely be worth your effort.

The following are various types of engineers. Click on each type to learn what they do:

Are you suited to be an engineer?

Engineers have distinct personalities. They tend to be investigative individuals, which means they’re intellectual, introspective, and inquisitive. They are curious, methodical, rational, analytical, and logical. Some of them are also enterprising, meaning they’re adventurous, ambitious, assertive, extroverted, energetic, enthusiastic, confident, and optimistic.

Does this sound like you? Take our free career test to find out if engineer is one of your top career matches.

What is the workplace of an Engineer like?

Many aspects of our lives have been visualized, designed, and developed by an engineer. To engineer literally means ‘to make things happen’. Most of what engineers do on a daily basis can fall into four categories: communicating, problem solving, analyzing, and planning. Depending on an engineer’s industry and role, their day will typically consist of a various mix of these functions.

The workplace of an engineer depends upon the type of engineer they are, and on the company they work for. Most engineers work in an office environment. However, some work in the field overseeing their projects, and others, like a ship engineer, travel almost 100% of the time.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best field of engineering to get into?

If looking for an engineering field that is growing at a rapid pace and is linked to advancing almost every major industry in the future, then software engineering is at the top of the list. If higher pay is a top criteria, then petroleum engineering and chemical engineering are good fields to look into. The biomedical engineering field is expected to grow 62 percent by 2020 due to the aging baby-boomer generation and advances in medical technology. Environmental engineering is expected to grow by 22 percent by 2020, and civil engineering by 19 percent.

Again, it’s good to remember that the best engineering degree (and ultimately the best job satisfaction) may be completely different than what it is for someone else. Opt for the field that will be the most rewarding and fulfilling for you as an individual, as there really isn’t a ‘bad’ engineering field.

Do engineers make good product managers?

Sometimes an engineer will have a personal internal change during their career in which their professional path and interests start to veer from a product-thinking environment to a market-thinking environment (inward focus vs outward focus). It would be recommended to get certified in product management and even think about getting a Master’s Degree in Business Administration if this is a path you’d like to pursue.

This can be a great career choice, as an engineer already has the technical background and understands the technology. It would be good to read books, blogs, and go to events pertaining to product management. Finding a mentor that has been a product manager for a few years would be excellent as well, as he/she can answer questions and help guide you through the process.

What does it mean to design and build a connected world?

That question was posed to engineers at Honeywell, which has operations at about 1,200 sites in 70 countries. With more than 131,000 employees worldwide, including more than 22,000 engineers, Honeywell is a major player across industries, including homes and building, aviation, defense and space, oil and gas, industrial, chemicals, and vehicles.

Here is how some of those engineers responded to the question:

Sunaina Wanchoo, Senior Engineer in Bengaluru, India
At Honeywell: 10 years
Education: Electronics and Telecommunication, Avionics Specialization from The Aeronautical Society of India and a Private Pilot License for Cessna 172R
What she does: I am with the customer and product support team. We receive the issues from the airline operations center or from pilots, for example: ‘Aircraft was supposed to turn left but it turned right.’ I fly the same scenario as explained by the pilots on simulators with customer navigation database and the real-time flight plan. I reproduce the issue on the simulators for the subject aircraft, find the root cause of the issue, and provide a near term solution or workaround to the pilots until the issue is fixed in the product software and hardware.
Why engineering?: Flying an aircraft has been my childhood dream and my present job role allows me to live my dream of flying every day – maybe not in the real aircraft, but I fly the simulators every day. I enjoy engineering the aviation Field, imagining things, and thinking ways to make it happen.
The best thing about being an engineer: It is the fact that you’re being paid to think. Engineers innovate and bring to world the things that never existed. Engineers convert dreams and imagination into reality.

Yanling Wu, Senior Project Engineer in Houston, Texas
At Honeywell: Six years
Education: Ph.D. in chemical engineering
What she does: I create analytics-related business cases and derive insights from data by working closely with data scientists. The development of the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and data analytics has empowered us to solve operational problems that were believed to be unsolvable. We are beginning to change the way our customers operate and manage their plants. I am excited to be part of the digital analytics transformation journey.
Why engineering?: I always liked to understand how things work. I was a kid that loved playing with Rubik’s Cube and building blocks. In school, I was very interested in math and physics and that is why I enjoy solving engineering problems and providing solutions.
Patents: One
The best thing about being an engineer: The fact that we get to solve problems, design things that matter, improve the quality of life, and never get bored is the best thing about being an engineer.

Francis Rodriguez, Advanced Manufacturing Engineer in Torrance, California
At Honeywell: 15.5 years
Education: Industrial engineering with a specialty in manufacturing processes at the Instituto Tecnologico de Mexicali; also, a Master’s degree
What she does: As an industrial engineer, it is my team’s job to make sure our technology designs are capable of being manufactured in the real world. Sometimes the design environment does not fully reflect the limitations and obstacles for building a particular component. My team and I make sure our new products and platform components are manufacturable at Honeywell plants and at our external suppliers.
Why engineering?: Well, to be honest, it was not my first thought. I originally wanted to be a doctor but my girlfriend kind of convinced me otherwise. I did my research and recognized the potential it had for being successful. I am certain that I made the right choice.
The best thing about being an engineer: In engineering, you are always challenged to look for the best way to do things in less time and at less cost.

David Kucera, Engineering Fellow in Brno, Czech Republic
At Honeywell: 15 years
Education: Biomedical engineering at TU Brno, Czech Republic
What he does: We design electronic controllers for gas-fired heating systems for industrial and commercial applications – furnaces and boilers.
Why engineering?: As a kid, I enjoyed constructing things by myself – toys, Legos. I have also wanted to know how things work and how they break. I have always been interested in physics, math, electronics, and programming.
Patents: 18 granted and more filed

Li Wang, Technology Fellow in Shanghai, China
At Honeywell: 13 years
Education: Material science and engineering, which includes electronic materials and devices, micro-electromechanical systems, energy harvesting, advanced materials, and sensing technology for clean air and water
What she does: I’m an engineer with a lot of curiosity, always moving from one tech field to another. I spend half of my time working on various technical projects to deliver results, and then with the other half on innovation platforms to serve more engineers.
Why engineering?: In engineering, you can choose to follow your heart and it’s simple to deal with things.
Patents: More than five

Petchirajan J, Software Engineer in Madurai, India
At Honeywell: Three years
Education: Bachelor of Engineering in Computer Science and Master of Science in Software Systems
What he does: I am a software engineer designing and developing tools. As a Tech Lead, I am involved in the entire development life cycle. I evaluate the newer technologies and identify the fitment of that technology for revenue generation.
Why engineering?: Since I was young, I have always been curious about how things work. I always used to break electrical items to understand how it was working. When I got around to high school, I joined a private computer center to learn programming and it led me to software engineering.
The best thing about being an engineer: It is the fact that we don’t have routine 9 am-to-5 pm office work. As an engineer, we have to stay up-to-date with all types of technology and industry knowledge and this continuous learning makes our life very interesting.

Maryam Abdul-Wahid, Software Engineer in Phoenix
At Honeywell: Interned in 2015 and 2016 and started full-time in 2017
Education: Electrical and Computer Engineering with a minor in Systems Engineering at the University of Arizona
What she does: The program that I work on is Primus Epic 2.0 Touch Screen Controller (TSC) – Honeywell’s integrated avionics system for small and mid-size business jets. My role involves programming the graphics, writing and reviewing software requirements.
Why engineering?: My high school engineering classes were very hands-on and engaging, which inspired my decision to become an engineer. We designed cardboard chairs to support 200 lbs, experimented with programmable logic controllers, and designed autonomous robots for statewide competitions.
The best thing about being an engineer: The countless number of career paths available. Just within the aerospace industry, there are numerous exciting and challenging programs related to defense and space, commercial aircrafts, and business aircrafts.
Inspiration: I am inspired by the people at work and the Women in Honeywell Engineering Network (WHEN) and Aerospace Women’s Council (AWC).

Charlene Numrych, Regulatory Engineer, Lincolnshire, Illinois
At Honeywell: Five years
Education: BS Electrical Engineering at University of Illinois and MBA at Lake Forest
What she does: I work with regulatory agencies around the world to ensure Honeywell’s gas detection equipment meets all laws, safety and performance requirements. This involves not only understanding the product design and documentation to be able to explain the designed-in safety features, but also the production requirements that ensure the product will be made every time as per the specified requirements.
Why engineering?: I made a deal with my father. He was afraid that I would get hurt competing as a varsity gymnast, especially after I broke my leg in the first competition. So he told me if I took Electrical Engineering, he would never complain about my gymnastics. His logic? It would be too hard for me to keep competing and keep up with studying. My logic? All the time saved arguing about gymnastics will more than cover the studying.
The best thing about being an engineer: There is a tremendous amount of flexibility in the path you can take – everything from moving into law and being a forensic expert to being on the ground level of fascinating new projects. There truly is no end to what you can do building on the basic engineering fundamentals. For instance, I use my knowledge of physics to be a better gymnastics/circus teacher.
Inspiration: Everyone at every level thinking ‘outside the box’ – which sounds trite – but is very true. The most inspiring things are watching ideas which seemed crazy at the time – like Dick Tracy’s watch – come true.

What are 10 major engineering challenges of the next decade?

The following list of challenges facing the engineering field was compiled in 2018 by global information analytics firm Elsevier.

2. Educating first world engineers to understand how to solve third world problems
According to the Renewable Resources Journal, the world population will grow by two billion over the next two decades, with 95% of the growth occurring in developing or underdeveloped countries. The challenge that this fact presents for engineers: they must find new and innovative ways to solve problems and address issues in these countries.

3. Promoting green engineering to improve sustainability and reduce the carbon footprint in manufacturing
The U.S. Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy reports that the U.S. manufacturing industry produced 19,237 BTUs and 1,071 million metric tons of carbon dioxide.

4. Identifying viable alternative energy sources
According to the British multinational oil and gas company BP plc, formerly ‘British Petroleum,’ contributions to energy production from renewables and other new fuel sources are growing at 6% per year and will contribute 45% of the increment in energy production by 2035.

5. Rethinking how cities look and work
54% of the world’s population lives in cities. According to ARCADIS Sustainable Cities Index seven of the world’s top 10 most sustainable cities are in Europe.

6. Making STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) more appealing to young students
As of the beginning of 2018, the United States had 1.2 million unfilled STEM jobs. A UCLA study revealed that 40% of students enrolled as STEM majors switched subjects or failed to earn a degree.

7. Safeguarding personal data and personal wealth from cyberattacks
According to the 2017 Data Breach Investigation Report, 24% of data breaches affected financial institutions; 15% involved healthcare organizations; 12% targeted public sector entities; and15% involved the retail and accommodation sectors.

8. Addressing climate change through engineering innovation
By 2050, six of the 10 cities with the largest annual flood costs will be in Indian and China. Three will be in the United States: New York, Miami, and New Orleans.

9. Feeding the growing world population through cutting-edge bio-engineering and agricultural innovations
The United Nations warns that by 2050 world food production must increase by 60% to keep up with demand. The challenge is to reach this goal in a sustainable way and ensure food and water access.

10. Improving health and well-being through life sciences, nanotechnology, and bio engineering
By 2060, the population of Americans aged 65 and older will have more than doubled in size from 2011. This puts a lot of pressure on new drug creation and on engineering techniques to deliver drugs.

What are the top 50 dream employers of engineers?

Global research and advisory firm Universum reports that business students around the world named Google as ‘the world’s most attractive employer.’ Engineering and IT students concurred, probably due to Google’s great salaries, plentiful perks, and overall company culture.

Universum surveyed approximately 100,000 engineering and IT undergraduates in 12 countries and asked them to choose the companies and organizations they would most like to work for. It then compiled a ranking of the most desirable employers across the globe.

Google, Microsoft, Apple, BMW, and IBM are the top 5 dream employers of engineering and IT undergrads.

Here is the complete list of the top 50:

50. Airbus Group
This aerospace and defense corporation is based in Leiden, Netherlands.

49. Novartis
Novartis International is number one in sales among the worldwide pharmaceutical industry.

48. PwC (PricewaterhouseCoopers)
PwC is the largest professional services firm in the world, operating a network of firms in 157 countries.

47. Volvo Cars
Based in Gothenburg, Sweden, this luxury vehicle manufacturer was established in 1927.

46. Schneider Electric
Schneider is a French corporation that focuses on energy management and electricity distribution.

45. PepsiCo
This American multinational food, snack, and beverage corporation is based in Purchase, New York, and was formed in 1965.

44. Adidas Group
Based in Germany, Adidas is the second-largest sportswear manufacturer in the world.

43. Bayer
This pharmaceutical company was founded in Barmen, Germany in 1863.

42. Schlumberger
With 95,000 employees working in more than 85 countries, Schlumberger is the world’s largest oilfield services company.

41. BP
This ‘supermajor’ oil and gas company is based in London.

40. Lenovo
This Chinese technology company was the world’s largest personal computer vendor by unit sales in 2015.

39. HP
Hewlett Packard Enterprise is an information technology enterprise company based in Palo Alto, California.

38. Pfizer
This pharmaceutical corporation produces a wide range of medicines and vaccines and was founded in 1849.

37. Nissan
This Japanese company is the 6th largest automaker in the world.

36. BASF
The largest chemical producer in the world, BASF is based in Germany.

35. Bosch
This multinational engineering and electronics company was the world’s largest supplier of automotive components in 2011.

34. Accenture
Accenture, the world’s largest consulting firm by revenue, is a global company of approximately 384,000 employees, with offices and operations in more than 200 cities in 55 countries.

33. Unilever
This Anglo-Dutch consumer goods company owns 400 brands and is one of the oldest multinational countries in the world.

32. Deloitte
This New York City-based ‘Big Four’ accounting firm is also the world’s second-largest professional services network.

31. Dell
With over 103,300 employees worldwide, Dell develops, sells, and supports personal computers.

30. The Boston Consulting Group (BCG)
BCG, a management consulting firm, operates in 48 different countries.

29. 3M
The 3M Company is a multinational, Minnesota-based corporation specializing in products like adhesives and laminates.

28. J.P. Morgan
JPMorgan Chase & Co. is the sixth-largest bank in the world, by total assets.

27. Oracle
This American corporation specializes in creating database software.

26. IKEA
This Sweden-based ready-to-assemble furniture giant became the world’s largest furniture retailer in 2008.

25. Cisco Systems
Cisco Systems specializes in networking equipment and is the largest networking company in the world.

24. Toyota
Toyota Motor Corporation is based in Japan and employed 344,109 people as of 2015.

23. Nestlé
Owning 447 factories in 194 countries, Nestlé is a food and beverage company based in Switzerland.

22. ExxonMobil
The largest of the world’s oil and gas ‘supermajors,’ ExxonMobil is based in Irving, Texas and is the biggest direct descendant of John D. Rockefeller’s Standard Oil Company.

21. Goldman Sachs
Goldman Sachs specializes in global investment banking and other financial services and is headquartered in Lower Manhattan.

20. Volkswagen Group
This German automotive manufacturing company employed 610,076 people as of 2015.

19. Daimler/Mercedes-Benz
Daimler is a German automotive company that produces premium cars (like Mercedes-Benz) and manufactures commercial vehicles. As of 2014, it had 279,972 employees.

18. The Coca-Cola Co.
The flagship Coca-Cola product of this Atlanta-based beverage corporation was first invented in 1886.

17. McKinsey & Company
This worldwide management consulting firm specializes in both qualitative and quantitative analysis.

16. L’Oréal Group
This French cosmetics company employed 78,600 people as of 2014.

15. General Motors
Hailing from Detroit, General Motors designs and builds vehicles and owns 396 facilities on six continents.

14. Shell
Royal Dutch Shell is considered one of the six oil and gas ‘supermajors.’

13. Ford Motor Company
This automaker is headquartered in Michigan and is controlled by the Ford family, which has minority ownership.

12. Johnson & Johnson
This medical devices and consumer goods manufacturer was first founded in 1886 and now includes around 250 subsidiary companies.

11. Procter & Gamble (P&G)
P&G is a consumer goods company based in Cincinnati, Ohio, with 110,000 employees as of 2015.

10. Sony
This multinational conglomerate sells consumer and professional electronics and is based in Tokyo.

9. Samsung
This electronics conglomerate is based in South Korea.

8. Siemens
Headquartered in Munich, Siemens is the largest engineering company in Europe.

7. Intel
Intel Corporation is based in Santa Clara, California and employed 107,300 people as of 2015.

6. GE
General Electric, a multinational conglomerate specializing in appliances, energy management, and other services, has over 300,000 employees around the world.

5. IBM
International Business Machines Corporation is based in Armonk, New York, and was founded in 1911.

4. BMW Group
Luxury vehicle company Bayerisch Motoren Werke is based in Munich and was founded in 1916.

3. Apple
This Cupertino, California-based multinational technology company is famous for its consumer electronics.

2. Microsoft
Microsoft is based in Redmond, Washington and primarily develops and sells computer software and personal computers.

1. Google
This technology company specializes in Internet-related products and is renowned for its core search engine.

How long does it take to become an Engineer?

It is important to find an engineering field where you are really interested in the core content. Just because some engineering fields are considered to be the fields to get into and everyone seems to be flocking in that direction, doesn’t mean you have to as well. If something doesn’t appeal to you, then it’s not the right major for you, so avoid it.

Becoming a professional engineer takes several years:

A four- or five- year Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering program is the typical educational track required for entry into the engineering profession.

After earning a bachelor’s degree, graduates may sit for the Fundamentals of Engineering exam. With four years of industry experience after that, they may sit for the second part of the exam to become a Professional Engineer.

Some engineers go on to pursue a master’s degree, which typically takes another two years to complete.

What are Engineers like?

Based on our pool of users, engineers tend to be predominately investigative people. The field of engineering, without exception, relies heavily on the investigative skills of its practitioners. Whether they are designing aircraft, researching solutions to environmental problems, developing robotic systems, or analyzing the security of computer networks, engineers are consistently called upon to examine and investigate issues and ultimately find solutions.

Should I become an Engineer?

It has been said that engineering is the art of applying scientific and mathematical principles, experience, judgement, and common sense to make things that benefit people. With such a wide spectrum of potential contributions, successful engineers call upon an equally wide set of skills and personal characteristics.

Critical Thinking / Visualization / Analytical Abilities
Engineers solve problems. To do so, they need to be inquisitive, think critically, envision how complex and interrelated components will come together, and imagine what something will look like when it is created. When a completed product does not perform the way that it should, they must analyze and determine the root causes of the problem, develop a new course of action, and create and test prototypes.

Attention to Detail
The slightest error can cause an entire venture to fail. If one element is out of place, the product or project may not be operational. Attention to detail, therefore, is crucial.

Communication Skills
Not only do engineers need to be able to effectively communicate with members of their own team, but they must interact with the companies for which they build products and sometimes with end users. Throughout the course of a project, they must address the concerns of these groups and be able to explain their proposed designs and solutions. When conveying their idea to an audience, engineers must have the capacity to frame it in a context that is understandable and relatable. Being an active listener, speaking in meetings, making presentations, and writing reports are all among an engineer’s requirements and responsibilities.

‘S T E M’ Aptitude
Science, technology, engineering, and math – STEM – skills are essential to an engineering career. The use of calculus, trigonometry, and other branches of advanced mathematics are required to carry out the analysis, design, and troubleshooting components of the occupation. In addition, many engineers use computer-aided design (CAD) technology; while chemical, nuclear, agricultural, and biomedical engineers merge engineering and science in their work.

Project Management Skills
Engineers need to juggle all of the elements of a project from start to finish. This responsibility to bring a product from concept to fruition demands exemplary project management skills.

Leadership and Teamwork
Engineers rarely work alone. Most often, they are leading a diverse team of professionals, each focusing on their piece of the process. They are also overseeing project design and implementation, working with other engineers and technicians to troubleshoot and solve problems as they occur.

Creativity / Resourcefulness
The field of engineering is not about memorization or completing repetitive tasks. It is about being creative, having the ability to think ‘outside the box’ to come up with new and innovative ideas, and knowing where to find the information required to solve problems.

Emotional Intelligence (EI)
The capacity to ‘read people’ or ‘be perceptive’ refers to a degree of emotional intelligence. Lack of emotional intelligence often leads to poor interpersonal skills, poor networking, and general unawareness of how your actions and words affect the people around you. It follows that engineers with a high EI are better able to create and lead projects. They are better equipped to navigate social situations and adapt to different people and groups.

Источники информации:

• http://www.unipage.net/en/profession_engineer
• http://interestingengineering.com/innovation/what-is-engineering-a-brief-overview
• http://content.wisestep.com/what-do-engineers-do/
• http://www.careerexplorer.com/careers/engineer/