Fresh Profile: Careers in Engineering

Published on 2008-03-13

In its broadest sense, engineering is the application of scientific principles to practical problems. Engineers design and develop machines and systems. They test products and maintain equipment. They ensure quality and manage other engineers. And when all else fails, engineers diagnose flaws.

Though these processes are conceptually similar from one engineering job to another, engineering is a highly specialized field made up of numerous branches, each containing many subdivisions with distinct requirements and duties. Here are some of the most common engineering jobs and a brief description of what makes them unique.

Civil engineering jobs

Civil engineers design, construct and maintain physical and natural infrastructure. Bridges, roads, buildings and water and sewage systems all fall within the purview of civil engineering. Subdivisions within this field include environmental, materials, transportation and structural engineering.

Mechanical engineering jobs

Mechanical engineers develop and maintain mechanical systems and devices. Power-producing and power-using machines such as industrial equipment, heating and cooling systems, electrical generators, aircraft and automobiles are some of the items worked on by mechanical engineers. Subdisciplines in mechanical engineering include thermodynamics, robotics and kinematics.

Electrical engineering jobs

Electrical engineers work with various types of electrical systems and electronic devices. (In general, electrical engineering deals with the generation of power and electronic engineering deals with the processing of signals or information.) Subdivisions within this field include microelectronics, telecommunications and instrumentation engineering.

Computer engineering jobs

Computer engineering encompasses everything from hardware development and integration to electronics, software design and systems design and development. Specialties within this field include operating systems, computer networking, artificial intelligence and computer architecture.

Chemical engineering jobs

Chemical engineers are involved in the development, production and use of chemicals and biochemicals. Chemical engineering is used in a very wide range of industries, including manufacturing, healthcare, genomics and aerospace. Branches within this engineering specialty include pharmaceuticals, ceramics, biomolecular engineering and environmental engineering.

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