JobsAndCareersWithSarahWillingham2016 - 127

FOCUS :

ENGINEERING

What skills do I need?
You'll need specific technical and
scientific knowledge depending on
which engineering discipline you
choose, but all engineers should
have maths, logic, good teamwork
skills and an ability to rise to intellectual
and practical challenges.

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT
TYPES OF ENGINEERING?
Chemical engineering

IT and telecommunications

This involves the application of physics,
chemistry, biology and engineering
principles to processes that convert
chemicals or raw materials into more
valuable forms.

Designing and constructing public and
private buildings including roads, railways,
bridges, airports, dams and stadiums all
fall under the civil engineering banner.

There are two broad categories in IT
and telecoms. Hardware and
infrastructure engineers work with the
physical parts of computers, networks
and telecommunications apparatus
including network cables, motherboards
and desktop units. Software engineers
work with computer programmes,
operating systems, applications,
websites, databases and computer
games among other things.

Electrical engineering

Simulation, automation and robotics

Electrical engineering is designing
and studying electrical and electronic
systems, including circuits, generators,
motors, electromagnetic and
electromechanical devices, electronics,
optical fibres, optoelectronic devices,
telecommunications, computer systems,
instrumentation and controls.

This is a relatively new and exciting
branch of engineering. Simulation
engineers use computer programmes
and computer simulation technologies to
model engineering projects in a virtual
environment, allowing us to test, evaluate
and anticipate potential problems for
complex pieces of equipment that are
eventually going to be used in
inaccessible environments (such as
rovers on the surface of Mars).
Automation engineers need knowledge
of hardware and software techniques
to design, produce and maintain
equipment and machinery that reduces
the need for human work, while robotics
engineers are concerned with the design,
production, application and maintenance
of complex robots.

Words: Dan Gordon. Images: Getty Images, Shutterstock

Civil engineering

Mechanical engineering
If you fancy designing, producing
and maintaining mechanical systems,
machines, tools and apparatus that use
heat and mechanical power to operate like
pistons, cooling apparatus, engines and
vehicles, think mechanical engineering.
Many engineers specialise in one area within
this field, such as automotive engineering
or branches of naval engineering.

This industry
employs 5.4 million
people in the UK
- that's 20% of the
country's workforce.
There will be a
further 2.5 million
job openings in the
sector by 2020
engineers every year just so it can meet
industry demands.
Its chief executive Paul Jackson said:
'Engineering is a growth industry that has
the potential to continue to drive
productivity in the UK. This is a great
opportunity, tempered only by concern
about the need to train many more
engineers if we are not to be left behind by
countries like South Korea and Germany.'

How much can I earn?
According to Tomorrow's Engineers, an
organisation working to encourage more
young people to choose the sector,
'engineering and technology graduate
starting salaries are around 20% higher
than the average graduate starting salary.'
Depending on the area of engineering,
starting salaries vary between £18,000
- £35,000 a year. Potential earnings rise
to £90,000 a year or more.
Tomorrow's Engineers:
www.tomorrowsengineers.org.uk
The Institution of Engineering and
Technology: www.theiet.org
Engineering UK: www.engineeringuk.com

J O B S & C A R E E R S /// 1 2 7
http://www.tomorrowsengineers.org.uk http://www.theiet.org http://www.engineeringuk.com
JobsAndCareersWithSarahWillingham2016

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