What is engineering?
What does an engineer do?
OK, give me some examples of jobs that engineers do?
Sound and acoustics engineer
Food engineer
Motorsport engineer
Safety engineer
Transport engineer
Medical engineer
Systems engineer
Environmental engineer
Aeronautical engineer
Textile engineer
Renewable energy engineer
Sounds interesting, so how do I get into it?
Answers to your questions about engineering...
There are lots of questions people have about engineering and many misconceptions too. In order to answer some of them, we have taken ten of the most frequently asked questions careers advisers face, and added a few of our own based on the questions we receive via this website. Please click on the links below...
What is engineering?
What jobs are there in engineering?
Do I have to be good at... physics/chemistry/mathematics?
If I only choose science subjects, doesn’t that limit my options?
Do I need to go to university to earn a good wage?
My Dad has a friend who is an engineer. He says it’s a dying industry − is it?
Is it a good job?
Are there still apprenticeships in engineering?
Isn’t it just for men?
Will I get my hands dirty?
How much money do engineers earn?
How can I get work experience in engineering?
What does an engineer do?
The word ‘engineering’ is likely to make you think of things like shipbuilding, ‘engineering works’ on the railway lines, or perhaps the mechanic that services or repairs your washing machine or car. You probably have an image in your mind of a person wearing blue overalls and possibly a yellow hard hat? Am I right? Well, maybe not, but in reality, engineering covers a far wider range of businesses and industries; not only building and transport structures, but also jobs in food, cosmetics, medicine and much more.
Engineers work in all kinds of environments. Yes, there are still many jobs in traditional engineering sectors, but engineers are just as likely to work in offices, laboratories or studios, or outdoors, in the air and underground.
And many of these jobs don’t involve wearing overalls or hard hats. Engineering today is closely linked with technology and many engineering roles now rely heavily on technological devices and the most recent technological advances. As an engineer you could be designing colour-matching technology to determine the best makeup for different skin tones, working as part of a team on a project to improve the performance of artificial hip joints and the perks of a job in food may include tasting the chocolate prior to production!
OK, give me some examples of jobs that engineers do?
Engineers influence every aspect of modern life and it’s likely that today you will have already relied on the expertise of one or more engineers. Perhaps you woke to a DAB clock radio, or used a train or a bus? Maybe you’ve listened to an iPod? Or watched television? Did you wash your hair today? Do you have a mobile phone in your pocket or trainers on your feet? These have all been designed, developed and manufactured by engineers. Here are some examples of where engineers work to get you started.
Sound and acoustics engineer
Sound systems are everywhere – in sports stadia, pubs, clubs, offices, theatres, cinemas, train stations and of course at home. Without the impact of technology and the systems to deliver sound information, much of the entertainment business would not exist. Sound and acoustics engineers are an essential part in delivering the creative vision of, for example, singers and songwriters. Acoustics engineers work with bands and artists to make sure that venues sound as good as possible. In theatre, the set, position of actors and the arrangement
of the auditorium are all elements that a sound engineer has to consider. Click here for more information.
Food engineer
The average UK household spends 15%* of their annual income on food, so you can see that the food and drinks industry is big business. Finding out which ingredients work well together and give the best flavours is more than a matter of simply good cooking. Engineers are involved in the development and design of the processes and equipment that are used for making ingredients, packaging and distributing food and drink; all to provide the consumer with a fresh, tasty and good-looking product. Click here for more information.
Motorsport engineer
Are you into cars and motor bikes? As a motorsport engineer, you would design, test and build racing cars and motor bikes in all racing divisions, including single-seater racing (Formula 1, GP2, F3), rallying and bike racing (MotoGP, speedway, Superbikes). Your work would often be at the forefront of engineering technology, because vehicles have to meet strict rules governing motor racing. As an engineer, your work would normally fall into four areas: design, testing, production and racing. At race meetings, you could be setting up vehicles to match track and weather conditions, making fine adjustments during stops and relaying technical instructions to the driver or rider. After races you could be carrying out ‘after-tests’ on vehicles to look for signs of damage, attending debriefings with the race team to look at what worked well and where to make improvements. And if the race went well – celebrating with the team! Click here for more information.
Safety engineer
Safety engineers look after us all. They ensure that the buildings we use, the systems we rely on, the transportation we ride and the places in which we work are safe and not hazardous to our health. They interpret risks and foresee problems with existing infrastructure (road layout, buildings, places of work and play) to ensure that modifications and alterations conform to safety standards. They come up with ideas to remove hazards and reduce accidents. If you’re the one who responsibly closes gates after walks in the countryside or tells your younger brother off for dropping those banana skins on the pavement, maybe this one is for you. Click here and here for more information.
Transport engineer
Ever been stuck in a traffic jam? Well you’ll be pleased to know that now more than ever engineers are involved in designing and planning our roads so that we can get to our destination as safely and as quickly as possible. Increasingly transport engineers use ‘modelling’ in the design process to forecast the types of trips people are likely to make and how frequently they make them in addition to considering human factors such as analysing the existing set up and anticipating how people are likely to react to road layout. They are knowledgeable about the best materials needed to design safe and efficient roads and pavements. Transport engineers work as part of a large team on new and existing projects, providing solutions to a variety of perplexing giant puzzles! Click here or here for more information.
Medical engineer
This is about the application of engineering principles to a medical field, sometime called bio-medical engineering. This area of engineering combines design and problem solving skills with biological sciences to find solutions to a variety of medical problems, such as improving the efficiency and effectiveness of a range of artificial limbs, the diagnostic equipment that is used in hospitals e.g. MRI scans and the latest drugs. It is a relatively new discipline but one that is constantly expanding to include new areas of research and recent medical advances. Medical engineers may work in hospitals or research and development companies. Medical engineering roles are varied and are likely to involve working with health professionals and a range of suppliers from pharmaceutical companies to the manufacturers of scalpels! Click here for more information.
Systems engineer
Systems engineers focus on how complex engineering projects should be designed and managed. Issues such as logistics (where things are and how they get to where they should be), the co-ordination of different teams and automatic control of machinery become harder when we deal with large and complex projects, for instance the design and running of the international space station. Systems engineering deals with work processes and tools to handle this. Systems engineers would be involved from the start of a project to prototype, testing and right through to launch. They would work with a range of people including users, designers, programmers, project managers and specialist technicians to deliver a solution. They find solutions to very complex problems – and if you enjoy a challenge, this could be your thing. Click here for more information.
Environmental engineer
The quality of the land, air and water around us is becoming increasingly important with the onset of climate change. Engineers are at the forefront of preserving our planet and ensuring that modern technology is kind to the world in which we live. Being an environmental engineer might mean that you have a special interest in ecosystems and biology, or other branches of engineering like civil engineering (buildings, roads and structures). People who deal in public health matters may also be environmental engineers, helping to ensure that our world is preserved for humans as well as for plants and animals. Click here for more information.
Aeronautical engineer
An aeronautical engineer applies scientific and technological principles to research, design, maintain, test, develop and manufacture high-performance civil and military aircraft, missiles, weapons systems, satellites and space vehicles. Aeronautical engineering offers a wide range of roles and the possibility of an international location. Most engineers specialise in a particular area, such as research, design, testing, manufacture or maintenance. The aerospace industry is a well established major employment sector in the UK, with many rewarding roles available. These roles are challenging but exciting and may involve varied shifts and being away from home for periods of time; but if a 9-5 job seems dull then perhaps this is something for you! Click here for more information.
Textile engineer
Could this one suit you? Textile engineering is the application of scientific and engineering principles to the design and control of all aspects of fibre, textile, and clothing processes, products, and machinery. These include natural and man-made materials, interaction of materials with machines, safety and health, energy conservation, and waste and pollution control. Most textile engineers work on product research and development, either improving current textile based products or creating new products. They may also be involved with finding uses for new fibres, yarns, fabrics, or textile finishes in this country (new organic materials, sports clothing etc..) and overseas where developments in textile technology can allow humans to survive some of the earths’ most difficult climates. Click here for more information.
Renewable energy engineer
Renewable energy engineers are concerned with the production of energy through natural resources such as the sourcing and use of wind, solar and wave power. They are involved in developing and maintaining power stations and the machinery used in alternative energy sourcing and production e.g biofuel sourced from crops. Energy engineers construct equipment designed by engineering designers, and conduct testing and make modifications prior to installation and running. This involves extensive use of computer technology. They may work for industry, university or government research departments. They may hold senior positions, head up a team of energy engineers or have a key post in the team. Ultimately these engineers are focussed on finding efficient, clean and innovative ways to supply energy to millions of households for years to come. Renewable energy is extremely important to the future of our planet and that’s something that we’d all like to rely on. Click here for more information.
Sounds interesting, so how do I get into it?
Firstly, you need to consider whether you enjoy science and mathematics subjects, because many engineering and technology roles are based on science and mathematics principles. Depending on what kind of job you would like, you will probably need qualifications in these subjects. Qualifications in ICT and design and technology (D&T) are also extremely useful.
It may also be helpful to know that there are three nationally (and internationally) recognised professional levels that you can work towards: Engineering Technician (Eng Tech), Incorporated Engineer (IEng) and Chartered Engineer (CEng). Each of these levels can be achieved by various routes of study – going to university to study an engineering course is just one of the many options available to you. To find out how look at Routes into Engineering.
What is engineering?
Engineering is practical problem-solving. Engineers use the knowledge they have in a specific field to make things work and to solve problems. Engineers exist in all walks of life: transport, medicine, entertainment, space exploration, environmental management – you name it, engineers have worked on it.
What jobs are there in engineering?
Take your pick. There are jobs in a very wide range of specialities and roles at many levels from engineering technician to senior engineer, including management and research. Some are more specialist – for example, non-destructive testing – but many are very multi-disciplinary – robotics or materials development. Because technology is always moving on, engineers often change or widen their specialism during their careers, as well as their job roles. This is one of the reasons engineers enjoy their jobs so much! Studying engineering is also great general education and unemployment among professional engineers and scientists is among the lowest of any sector in the country. The roles we have covered here are just a snapshot of the many areas that you could consider as an engineer. Visit the case studies section of this website for more information about jobs in engineering.
Do I have to be good at... physics/chemistry/mathematics?
Yes – Engineers do need to be good at maths and sciences as it is applied to a number of different engineering issues. As well as good grades in mathematics and sciences engineering also requires hands-on experience; and an understanding of innovation principles, processes, design and society.
The good news is that whatever your interests at school, there is probably a branch of engineering that will match your desires and interests. For example, a bio-engineer working on the engineering of biological systems would need a good understanding of biology. A chemical engineer who works with raw materials to create everyday, useful products would need to be interested in chemistry. There are also plenty of routes into engineering – such as apprenticeships and vocational schemes – that focus more on your experience of practical problem-solving.
If I only choose science subjects, doesn’t that limit my options?
By choosing science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) subjects you are most likely to widen your options later in life rather than narrow them. A wider range of careers would be open to you if you continue with STEM subjects post 16; if you discount STEM subjects after 16, it is very difficult to go back to study them if you change your mind later on. Science and mathematics are valued and useful for the majority of careers – and they are not by any means limiting. Qualifications in science, technology, engineering and mathematics also have a perceived degree of difficulty which appeals to a wide variety of employers.
Do I need to go to university to earn a good wage?
Nowadays being a graduate is no guarantee of a higher wage, but in general graduates do go on to earn more throughout their professional life. However, graduates also incur debt during their studies which may take a few years to pay off after graduation. One way to overcome this is to get onto a Bursary scheme run by many engineering employers which pay you an annual Bursary while you study, often in return for you agreeing to work for that company for a period of time.
If you decide not to go to university, taking up an industry apprenticeship straight from school carries the advantage that you earn a salary from day one, while you are training. And the vocational training that you receive during an apprenticeship can lead to a good wage as an engineering technician. Go to the apprenticeships page on this site for more information about qualification pathways and engineering technicians (Eng Tech).
Those engineers on the best salaries are often professionally registered – there are three levels of professional engineering registration: Engineering Technicians (Eng Tech), Incorporated Engineers (IEng) and Chartered Engineers (CEng). See the professional registration page on this site for more information about how to qualify for each professional level.
My Dad has a friend who is an engineer. He says it’s a dying industry − is it?
Put simply, no. Engineering is often associated with large-scale manufacturing and that sector is perceived as becoming less important to the UK economy. In fact, both these assumptions are incorrect. Engineering applies to all industries – from record producing to the financial services. And if you do choose to become an engineer in the manufacturing, production and construction industries it is worth noting that they actually represent over a quarter of the UK’s economy and accounted for nearly 60% of the UK’s exports in 2006.
Is it a good job?
Yes. Engineering is incredibly rewarding – giving you the chance to work with likeminded individuals on complex projects to solve real problems for society. Engineers make a real difference to the world. Over the next few years engineers will find the solutions to a number of global problems – clean water, renewable energy, coastal protection. Engineers shape our lifestyles. They are the forefront of developing new medical solutions and new communications technologies.
Pay is also better than you might expect and coupled with the long-term stability and professional registration, engineering offers an excellent career package. In engineering there’s something for everyone. See the professional registration page on this site for more information about professional recognition (registration).
Are there still apprenticeships in engineering?
Yes, there are. Apprentices make up a significant proportion of the people who go into engineering and there are a wide range of apprenticeships on offer. Apprenticeships give people the opportunity to engage in work-based learning and to acquire the skills they need through practical experience. Whatever route into engineering you choose, employers are increasingly looking for some degree of work experience to prove you’ve got what it takes. If you are thinking of doing an apprenticeship, find out more information about engineering-specific apprenticeship schemes at www.apprentices.co.uk and all apprenticeships:
If you live in England
www.apprenticeships.org.uk
If you live in Scotland
www.careers-scotland.org.uk/Education/Training/ModernApprenticeship.asp
If you live in Wales
www.careerswales.com/16to19/server.php?show=ConWebDoc.1893
If you live in Northern Ireland
www.delni.gov.uk/apprenticeshipsni
Visit the apprenticeships section of this website for more information,
Isn’t it just for men?
Absolutely not! Year-on-year the number of women working as engineers is increasing, as the range of career options available in design, television, mobile phones, medicine, materials, civil engineering and construction and more expands. Although it is true that the proportion of women in engineering is lower than men, huge strides are being made to ensure that the positive upward trend continues. For more information, please visit the Women Into Science, Engineering and Construction Campaign website at www.wisecampaign.org.uk
Will I get my hands dirty?
Only if you want to! Engineering encompasses a whole range of industries that might include on-site visits and practical construction work, or it might mean evaluating safety systems from the comfort of your office. Software engineers – who might work from home – are no more likely to get their hands dirty than bank managers. If you’re really worried about this one, why not become a chemical engineer and design a new soap to keep those pesky dirt particles at bay?
How much money do engineers earn?
Each industry sector is different, as is each individual engineering job within that industry. Nevertheless across the board, on average, professional engineers can expect to earn more than £10,000 per year over and above the national average salary. The prospects for employment and progression are also positive. A large proportion of engineering and technology (E&T) graduates end up working in E&T careers. Employment rates (those who enter full-time, paid employment after leaving university) for E&T graduates in 2007 were increasing annually and stood way above average at 62%. Unemployment rates for this same group were below 10%. Research carried out in 2006 showed that 14 % of FTSE-100 top executives were qualified engineers.
How can I get work experience in engineering?
If you are still at school or college speak to your careers adviser/co-ordinator. They may have links with local companies and organisations that will be able to offer you work experience.
If you are at school studying A levels then The Nuffield Foundation runs a summer Bursary scheme to provide funded work placements. These are known as science bursaries but cover engineering topics too. See: www.nuffieldfoundation.org/go/grants/nsbsc/page_394.html
If you are looking for a longer placement to occupy your gap year between school and university, the Engineering Development Trust runs the ‘Year in Industry’ scheme. See www.yini.org.uk
Visit the work experience section of this website for more information,