Engineering involves using scientific principles to build and maintain machines, structures and equipment. It can be a great field for people who are problem solvers and people who like to understand how machines and products work. People from all walks of life can get into engineering – while some jobs require a higher education, there are many that don’t. Engineering jobs are typically well paid and offer a lot of room for progression.
There is currently a high demand for engineers in a variety of different fields. Below are 5 engineering jobs that are in demand right now, which could be worth getting into if you’re looking for a career in engineering.
Civil engineers
Civil engineers specialise in designing, building and maintaining structures that are used by the public. This includes roads, railways, bridges, pipelines, canals and airports. There are many different jobs within civil engineering to aspire to from construction managers to water resource engineers to city planning advisors. Getting into the top end jobs typically requires a degree in civil engineering, but there are many jobs in civil engineering related to the maintenance of structures that don’t require these qualifications.
Electrical engineers
Electrical engineers build and maintain electrical products and systems. When it comes to field-based engineer recruitment, this includes work such as repairing electrics in buildings or installing lighting or even constructing pylons. When it comes to office-based roles, there are jobs such as designing electronic gadgets. You’ll need some electrical training to get into this field. This could include obtaining an electrical licence or an electrical degree.
Mechanical engineers
Mechanical engineers focus on the mechanics of products and machines. This includes everything from designing cars to manufacturing elevators. There is often an overlap with electrical engineering, considering that most modern mechanical machines incorporate electrics heavily. You’ll need to take a course to get into mechanical engineering, but this doesn’t necessarily have to be a university course.
Chemical engineers
Chemical engineers work with the design and manufacture of chemical products. This includes beverages, cleaning products, cosmetics, fuels and more. Such work is typically done in a lab or factory, although much of the chemical design work may be done in an office. To get into chemical engineering, you generally need a background in chemistry. There are chemical engineering degrees that you can take in order to specialise in this area.
Energy engineers
Energy engineers focus on the production of energy. This is a very large sector that includes a variety of different jobs from planning the extraction of oil to designing solar panels and wind farms. The green energy sector is growing most rapidly and is likely to be where most of the steady jobs are in the future. Many roles within energy engineering require higher education qualifications, although there are some jobs that don’t require such credentials. For example, you can often get into solar panel installation without a degree (although you will need to complete training).
