INTRODUCTION

 

Career OpportunitiesEngineering is the field of applying science and mathematics to develop economical solutions that have a practical end. Their work often involves designing and inventing commercial applications that meet the needs of the industry and its consumers.

 

Engineers are also involved in the testing, production and maintenance of a component, machine or system and constantly need to monitor the quality of products and control the efficiency of processes involved.Engineering is a highly rewarding career for people who are creative and innovative. Aspiring engineers should like to solve complex problems and have a practical, innovative, creative and curious nature. Engineering is a broad field with many specialisations. Here are the major branches and its sub-specialisations.

 

JOB DESCRIPTION

 

 

Civil Engineering

Civil engineers are involved in the designing and supervision process of constructing structures and facilities like roads, buildings, airports, tunnels, dams, bridges, and water supply and sewage systems.

 

In the design phase, they must take into account factors like construction costs and expected lifetime of a project. Other considerations include government regulations and potential environmental hazards such as earthquakes and hurricanes. A civil engineer specialise as one of the following:

 

Structural Engineers

These engineers specialise in the planning and construction of projects such as high-rise buildings, complexes, power stations and highways. They are also involved in the design of machinery, equipment or vehicles where structural integrity affects an object’s safety or function. Structural engineers must ensure their designs satisfy all criteria pertaining safety and performance.

 

Environmental Engineers

Using principles of biology and chemistry, these engineers study proposals for construction to ensure that the quality of the environment is not adversely affected. They also develop solutions to environmental issues which include water and air pollution control, recycling, waste management, and public health issues. Some environmental engineers may work as consultants to help their clients comply with environmental regulations.

 

Geotechnical Engineers

This branch of engineering is concerned with the behaviour of earth materials. Using principles of soil mechanics and rock mechanics, geotechnical engineers investigate subsurface conditions and materials; determine its properties and assess risks involved. They then determine the design and type of foundation and materials required for the structures to be built. Generally, they study risks related to landslides, erosions and earthquakes on the surrounding area.

 

Water Resource Engineers

Water resource engineers study the quality and the quantity of water in both underground and above ground resources. They design systems for water collection, storage, supply and distribution. They are also concerned with irrigation, flood control, drainage, power generation and waste water treatment.

 

Transportation Engineers

With the primary objective of moving people and goods efficiently, safely, and in a conducive manner, transportation engineers plan, design, construct and maintain facilities such as airports, roads and mass rapid transits. These engineers need to consider costs, the needs of the town or state, and the availability of land.

 

Electrical Engineering

Electrical engineers are concerned with the generation and supply of power. They design, develop, test, and supervise the manufacture of electrical equipment which includes electric motors; machinery controls, lighting, and wiring in buildings; radar and navigation systems; communications systems; and power generation, control, and transmission devices used by electric utilities.In carrying out their tasks, electrical engineers need to consider required specifications, focusing on economy, safety, reliability, quality and sustainability. Besides design, they may also be involved in maintenance programmes.Electrical engineers may specialise in areas such as power systems engineering or electrical equipment manufacturing.

 

Electronics Engineering

Electronics engineers research, design, develop, test, and supervise the manufacture of electronic equipment; and develop the way electricity is used to control equipment such as in broadcast and communications systems. It is common for electronics engineers to work in areas closely related to computers. though those whose work is related exclusively to computer hardware are considered computer hardware engineers. Electronics is used in many types of devices so its application is diverse. They include acoustics, defence, medical instruments, mobile phones, nanotechnology, radio and satellite communication and robotics. Subfields of electronics engineering include control engineering, instrumentation, signal processing and telecommunications.

 

Mechanical Engineering

Mechanical engineering is thought to be one of the most diverse engineering disciplines. Mechanical engineers use engineering principles to provide solutions to the development of processes and products. Their work involves research, design, development, manufacture, and testing of tools, engines, machines, and other mechanical devices. These range from small component designs to extremely large plant, machinery or vehicles. The work on a mechanical engineer starts from the project brief, through the design and development stage, testing of the prototypes, until the final manufacture and implementation. Examples of the work done by mechanical engineers include electric generators, internal combustion engines, and steam and gas turbines. They also work on power-using machines such as refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment, machine tools, material-handling systems, elevators and escalators, industrial production equipment, and robots used in manufacturing.

 

Aerospace Engineering

An aerospace engineer’s work involves designing, testing, and manufacturing of aircraft, space vehicles, satellites, missiles and weapon systems. Aeronautical engineers work with aircraft whereas those who work with spacecraft are called astronautical engineers.Aerospace engineers develop new technologies that focus on enhancing high-quality flight safety and standards as well as reducing system costs. They work in various fields from aviation to defense systems and space exploration. Many engineers specialise in a particular area such as propulsion, computational fluid dynamics, aerodynamics, thermodynamics, celestial mechanics, acoustics or materials and structures.

 

Agricultural Engineering

Agricultural engineers use their knowledge of engineering technology and science to increase production and improve quality of products in farming. They provide efficient solutions for farmers in designing farm structures and crop storage facilities; plan sanitation, ventilation, and heating systems; and design power machines used on farms for land tilling, insect control, fertilization, and harvesting. They also develop ways to conserve soil and water and to improve the processing of agricultural products. Agricultural engineers generally specialize in one of five major areas: farm structures, mechanical power, electrification, soil and water conservation, and food engineering.

 

Biomedical Engineering

Biomedical engineers are involved mainly in the medical or health-related field. They use engineering principles and materials technology to research, design and develop products like artificial organs, prostheses, surgical instruments or clinical equipment for a hospital. They also contribute in improving equipment used in medical procedures such as imaging systems and medical procedures. Among the specialties within biomedical engineering are biomaterials, biomechanics, medical imaging, rehabilitation engineering, and orthopedic engineering.

 

Chemical Engineering

A chemical engineer apply the principles of chemistry and are involved in the development of industrial processes for the production of a diverse range of products. These include large-scale chemical manufacturing and non-chemical manufacturing industries like energy, electronics, food, clothing, and paper.They also work in industries like oil and gas, pharmaceuticals, water treatment, food and drink, plastics and toiletries. It is important for chemical engineers to know how the manufacturing process affects the environment and the safety of workers and consumers. Some may specialise in fields such as oxidation, polymerization or nanotechnology.

 

Computer Hardware Engineers

A computer hardware engineer researches, designs, develops, tests and oversees the manufacture and installation of computer chips, circuit boards and computer systems. In contrast, computer software engineers design and develop the software systems that control computers. Computer hardware engineers focus mainly on the physical aspects of computers, from planning the concept for the system to manufacturing the parts for installation. They develop, plan, test, and investigate computer hardware components such as circuit cards, memory chips, and keyboards.

 

Environmental Engineers

Environmental engineers work on environmental problems such as water and air pollution control, waste disposal, recycling and public health issues at local and international levels. Using principles of biology, chemistry, and environmental science, they evaluate the significance of a hazard, advise on its management, make recommendations and develop regulations.Most environmental engineers work for architectural and engineering firms or the government. They make assessments and provide consultation on the environmental impact of large construction projects.

 

Industrial Engineers

Industrial engineers are involved in maximising efficiency at the basic levels of production. By managing people, technology and the organisation, they strive to increase productivity by developing manufacturing and information systems that meet a product’s requirements. They also develop management control systems, production planning and control systems, product distribution systems, salary administration systems and job evaluation programs.

 

Marine Engineers

Along with naval architects, marine engineers are involved in the design, construction, and maintenance of ships, boats, aircraft carriers, submarines and even tankers. While naval architects specialise in the design, form and stability of a ship, marine engineers are the experts on the propulsion, steering, and other systems of ships.Job Scope of a Marine Engineer Materials EngineersMaterials engineers conduct research on the design and development of materials used to advance technology and create a variety of products. By using their expertise in understanding the properties and behaviours of various materials, they select, combine and modify materials to improve the performance, durability and cost effectiveness of processes and products. They work with materials such as metals, chemicals, ceramics, polymers, composites, minerals, plastics, semiconductors, and rubbers.

 

Nuclear Engineers

Nuclear engineers use their knowledge in nuclear energy to design, develop, monitor, and operate nuclear plants to generate power. They also develop equipment used to process nuclear fuels and dispose of radioactive waste materials. Besides the development of nuclear power sources, nuclear engineers also research on other uses like using radioactive materials to diagnose and treat medical problems. The majority of nuclear engineers work in private and governmental research and development laboratories.

 

Petroleum Engineers

Petroleum engineers are involved in almost all stages of oil and gas field evaluation and production. They design methods for extracting oil and gas from deposits below the earth. They determine the best drilling methods and design the most suitable equipment to recover the oil at a minimum cost possible. They also need to take into consideration all related environmental issues. Petroleum engineers can be classified as petroleum geologists, reservoir engineers, production engineers, and drilling engineers.

 

Work environment

Most engineers work in office buildings, laboratories, or industrial plants. Others may spend time outdoors at construction sites and oil and gas exploration and production sites, where they monitor or direct operations or solve onsite problems. Some engineers travel extensively to plants or worksites here and abroad.Many engineers work a standard 40-hour week. At times, deadlines or design standards may bring extra pressure to a job, requiring engineers to work longer hours.

 

Places of Employment

The majority of engineering jobs are found in the manufacturing, professional, scientific, and technical services industries. Other industries include construction, telecommunications, and wholesale trade industries.Among the specialties in engineering, the most number of jobs are found in civil, industrial and mechanical engineering. This is followed closely by electrical and electronic engineering. Although the growth rate in terms of each specialty varies, the overall job prospect for engineers is expected to be good, with biomedical engineering projected to have the fastest growth.

 

Job Entry Requirements

A minimum of a bachelor's degree in engineering is required for almost all entry-level engineering jobs. Certain employers may require candidates to have studied an engineering specialty.One must also become registered as a Professional Engineer within an association to secure employment and practice in this field. Higher-level management positions require training in business and administration or other technical training or specialisation.