Engineering is a broad term and can include several different job titles and settings.
Engineers are required in many different workplaces and their work can be varied and challenging. As technology evolves, the work offered to engineers is increasingly diverse and sophisticated.
Types of Engineering
There are several types of engineer; engineers may be found in a range of different arenas which may include sport, medicine, technology, transport and the media to name just a few. Generally, engineering falls into four diverse categories; these include chemical, civil, mechanical and electrical engineering.
Chemical Engineering
Chemical engineering involves the study of how chemicals react with each other. Examples of chemical engineering may include food, agricultural and materials engineering.
Civil Engineering
Civil engineering generally involves the upkeep, design and improvement of infrastructures; this may involve building and designing new roads or researching how to reduce traffic congestion for example.
Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical engineering often revolves around movement and can be an extremely diverse speciality. Examples of the work carried out by mechanical engineers may range from designing prosthetic limbs to working on the systems in an aircraft.
Electrical Engineering
Electrical engineering involves the use of electricity and is therefore extremely important in the modern world. Electrical engineers may be involved projects as diverse as the development of new concepts such as the cordless telephone and working on sophisticated computer programs.
Engineering Jobs
These four types of engineering are umbrella terms; the following paragraphs will outline some of the specific job titles which come under the brad term of engineering; these include:
Sound and acoustic engineer
Sound engineers work closely with the media as well as event organisers, venue representatives and performers in order to bring the best sound quality to a programme, concert or spectacle. Performers involved in concerts and plays rely on the work of sound and acoustic engineers to provide an unforgettable experience for their audiences.
Safety engineer
Safety engineers are extremely important because they ensure that the general public is safe; their work may include inspecting buildings and transport routes, assessing the risks associated with public events and researching ways to make the country safer.
Transport engineer
Transport engineers work to try to make the nation’s infrastructures as safe and free-flowing as possible. These engineers research the possibility of changing road layouts, improving road or track surfaces and investigating ways to improve transport networks; this may include exploring options such as new materials or systems.
Medical engineer
Few people associate medicine with engineering but engineering can be extremely instrumental in effective patient treatment.
Medical engineers work to identify and build the most effective instruments for medical use and research new concepts which may improve patient care.
Examples of the work undertaken by medical engineers may include exploring new materials which could be used for prosthetic limbs and working on the technological aspect of medical equipment such as an MRI scanner.
This field is becoming increasingly significant as innovations in medical technology improve.
Systems engineer
The work of systems engineers is extremely important and can be instrumental in the development of large-scale complex projects.
Systems engineers work alongside teams of designers, technicians and project managers in order to ensure the best possible product, process or facility.
Systems engineering is challenging but it offers a diverse range of work and is usually well-paid.
Aeronautical engineer
Aeronautical engineering is extremely interesting and challenging; it involves working on producing some of the most sophisticated forms of transport on earth.
Aeronautical engineers undertake projects related to the design and manufacture of parts and systems for aircraft, as well as being involved in developing the technology behind weapons, space travel and satellite systems.
Food engineer
Food engineers generally work on the equipment used in the food manufacturing process; their work may also include helping with the design and planning stages.
Engineers can help to make the manufacturing process more efficient and cost-effective as well as ensuring consumers receive the best looking products available.
Renewable energy engineers
Global warming is an ever-present threat and a regular feature on the media agenda; it is increasingly important to develop new, cleaner, renewable forms of energy to replace the finite stores of fossil fuels.
Renewable engineers research new concepts and help to develop them by working with designers and specialist technicians.