- Overall job opportunities in engineering are expected to be good, but will vary by specialty.
- A bachelor's degree in engineering is required for most entry–level jobs.
- Starting salaries are among the highest of all college graduates.
- Continuing education is critical for engineers as technology evolves.
Engineers use science and mathematics to solve technical problems:
Some engineers develop new products. When building an industrial robot, engineers design and detail the functions and then test the robot. The engineer evaluates the designs overall cost and reliability. Safety and effectiveness are also evaluated for new products. The same steps are used by engineers in the development of many different products: Toys, electronics, and tools.
In addition to design and development, many engineers also work in testing and production. Engineers supervise production in factories, to determine the reason parts and products fail. They test manufactured products to verify quality. Professional engineers also estimate the time and cost.
Engineering Specialties
There are many different types of engineers but the one thing they all have in common is the use of science and mathematics to solve technical problems. Here's a list of the specialties and the numbers represent the number of engineers employed in that specialty in 2006.
| Aerospace engineers 90,000 | Nuclear engineers 15,000 |
| Agricultural engineers 3,100 | Petroleum engineers 17,000 |
| Biomedical engineers 14,000 | Environmental engineers 54,000 |
| Chemical engineers 30,000 | Health and safety engineers 25,000 |
| Civil engineers 256,000 | Industrial engineers 201,000 |
| Computer hardware engineers 79,000 | Marine engineers, naval architects 9,200 |
| Electrical engineers 153,000 | Materials engineers 22,000 |
| Electronics engineers 138,000 | Mechanical engineers 227,000 |
| Mining and geological engineers, including mining safety engineer 7,100 | Other Engineers (Structural) 170,000 |
Engineers who are titled 'professional' have taken a state testing exam for engineers in their particular field and have passed to earn the certified title of "Professional Engineer" (PE). All states require this testing. You will see later that engineers with their certification earn between $70,000 and $100,000 a year. Below are some actual job descriptions from companies. This helps you see what the average company is requiring from Profession Engineer Managers.
Job Title: Structural Engineer, P.E. (Professional Engineer)
National full service multidisciplinary engineering & construction management consulting firms actively seeks Project to Project Management level Structural Engineer, P.E. (Professional Engineer).
Supporting and working within our Government Facilities Group; this Structural Engineer, P.E. will be largely involved in the structural design, analysis, calculations, and inspection of large scale military and government structures.
The scope of work is mainly military base design and redesign handling work on officer quarters, multi purpose meeting facilities, barracks and even aircraft hangers. Ideally we would like someone with government, military, or even healthcare or educational project experience.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Ideal candidates must have a bachelor's degree in structural engineering or civil engineering with a structural emphasis. Current Professional Engineer registration in any state is required.
COMPENSATION: $70,000 to $100,000 yearly salary DOE; 401(k) with Matching, Medical, Dental,
Vision, Flex Accounts, Travel per Diem.
Resources: CareerBuilder, Lynch, Meredith, Jan, 2009
Job Title: Engineering Manager
The successful candidate will be responsible for design, development, and architectural review of new technologies;
- manage all aspects of the development process including resource planning and budgeting;
- supervises and provides technical leadership for the applications development staff;
- insures completed assignments meet deadlines and departmental and corporate standards.
- Candidate must also have proven leadership ability;
- Full knowledge of transformer design;
- Ability to use popular micro controllers;
- have a strong background in various forms of inverter and/or LED drive circuitry used for the purpose of back light technologies in flat panel displays.
- Strong time management skills, along with solid verbal and written communication skills are required.
- Candidate must have attention to detail and accuracy, be able to work in a fast paced, deadline driven environment.
- Able to handle multiple assignments simultaneously.
Job Title: Civil Engineer Manager
Currently seeking a Civil Engineer Manager. This is an Engineering News Record Top 500, multi-discipline engineering firm with more than 250 employees, providing consulting services to clients in the public, private, and industrial sectors. They provide engineering services in the areas of: structural, mechanical, electrical, civil transportation, water and waste water, and land development, survey, construction inspection, testing services, geotechnical, and air and water balance capabilities.
Position Duties:
- Manage staff in the design and construction of water/waste water projects.
- Responsibilities will include the management of the process design, review of water and waste water treatment and delivery systems, -master planning, studies, analysis, report writing, and construction management.
- Assist with business development and preparation of contracts.
- Excellent writing, communication, and people skills, with ability to interact with clients.
- Ability to organize and manage multiple staff assignments.
- Ability to review man-hour estimates and schedule routine projects.
- Manage and mentor engineers and technicians.
- Active in professional organizations.
- Supervision of CAD drafting staff.
- DESIGNING WASTE WATER TREATMENT
- CIVIL ENGINEERING DEGREE
- PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER
Outlook for Engineers
- Overall job opportunities in engineering are expected to be good, but will vary by specialty.
- A bachelor's degree in engineering is required for most entry-level jobs.
- Starting salaries are among the highest of all college graduates.
- Continuing education is critical for engineers as technology evolves.
Communication is important as engineers work with specialists outside the fields of engineering.
Even technical writing abilities need to be good because it is the engineers who must write the documentation for their new developments. It's a dependable profession and as the infrastructure contracts are being awarded to contractors, there will be new sectors of business for engineers in the US.
