Different Types of Engineering Careers for Grads
If you just received a degree in engineering, you may be wondering what types of engineering jobs are available for recent college grads? So, you just received your diploma and now you're asking...what's next?
Well, don't worry, we've got you covered. This guide discusses five of the most common engineering career paths and 10 popular roles within each path (engineering is a broad industry - it would take a very long time to describe every possible engineering opportunity).
Also, feel free to contact us and inquire as to which engineering career path is the right choice for you! Our recruiters have been placing extraordinary engineers in incredible opportunities for over 10 years, and we'd be happy to start a conversation.
Civil Engineering
"Civil engineering is a professional engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including works like bridges, roads, canals, dams, and buildings."
In other words, civil engineers build the foundations of our modern world. Civil engineers handle most construction-related projects - from the busiest metropolitan areas to the most isolated rural communities. Civil engineers also improve numerous systems and amenities that we (as non-engineers) often take for granted.
So, if you can see yourself directing the construction of America's next super highway, or building the fire protection systems for a 50 story building, civil engineering might be the industry for you.
Different Types of Civil Engineering Jobs
- Fire Protection Engineer
- Welding Engineer
- Structural Engineer
- Drilling Engineer
- Contract Engineer
- Piping Engineer
- Construction Engineer
- Welding Engineer
- Commissioning Engineer
- Architectural Project Manager
Chemical Engineering
"Chemical engineering is the branch of engineering that deals with the chemical production and the manufacture of products through chemical processes. This includes designing equipment, systems, and processes for refining raw materials and for mixing, compounding, and processing chemicals to make valuable products."
If this description sounded incredibly general to you, that's OK! From Nike Footwear to nuclear reactors, chemical engineers apply their knowledge to a wide variety of different projects.
If you want to become a master of chemical processes and create better-tasting ice cream, a cure for the common cold, or design the world's first fireproof baseball cap, then chemical engineering will be right up your alley!
Different Types of Chemical Engineering Jobs
IChemE has a list of common chemical engineering job titles and dives into each:
- Process Engineer
- Fire & Explosions Engineer
- Biomechanical Engineer
- Blast Furnace Supervisor
- Food Hygiene Engineer
- Pharmaceutical Engineer
- Continuous Improvement Engineer
- Thermo-Fluid Engineer
- Design Authority Engineer
- Chemical Engineering Professor
Mechanical Engineering
"Mechanical engineering is the study of objects and systems in motion. As such, the field of mechanical engineering touches virtually every aspect of modern life, including the human body, a highly complex machine."
Much like chemical engineering, mechanical engineering is an incredibly general field. Whereas chemical engineers create raw materials, mechanical engineers ensure those materials are used effectively. Therefore, mechanical engineers are incredibly diverse and could find success in almost any industry.
If you have a knack for fixing things, building complex contraptions, or want to make people jump higher and run faster, we suggest you give mechanical engineering a try.
Examples of Mechanical Engineering Jobs
- Maintenance Engineer
- Construction Engineer
- Field Engineer
- Shop Assistant
- Aerospace Engineer
- Research and Development Engineer
- Turbine Engineer
- Pipeline Engineer
- Validation Engineer
- Automotive Engineer
Electrical Engineering
"Electrical engineering is the branch of engineering that deals with the technology of electricity. They [Electrical engineers] work on a wide range of components, devices, and systems, from tiny microchips to huge power station generators."
As the title suggests, electrical engineering deals primarily with, you guessed it, electricity. However, this doesn't mean electrical engineering is boring. In fact, electrical engineering is very cutting-edge! Electrical engineers work on the world's newest, coolest, and most advanced tech.
If you have a passion for robotics, space-age technology, and consumer electronics, electrical engineering is exactly what you're looking for!
Different Types of Electrical Engineering Jobs
- Electrical Design Engineer
- Instrumentation Engineer
- I&C Engineer
- Transmission Engineer
- SCADA Engineer
- Substation Engineer
- Electro-Mechanical Engineer
- Radio Frequency Engineer
- Electrical Engineer
- Product Engineer
Biomedical Engineering
"Biomedical engineering is the application of the principles and problem-solving techniques of engineering to biology and medicine."
Essentially, biomedical engineering is a mix of many engineering fields and modern medicine. If you mixed a chemical engineer, a mechanical engineer, and a physician together, you'd get someone who resembles a biomedical engineer. As a result, biomedical engineers almost always have a background/degree in medicine.
If you can't decide between med school or an engineering degree, you may not have to choose. If you're looking to advance modern medicine, design the world's coziest hospital bed, or cure cancer, biomedical engineering is the field for you.
Examples of Biomedical Engineering Jobs
- Biomaterials Development Engineer
- Manufacturing Engineer
- Independent Consulting Engineer
- Biomedical Research Engineer
- Rehabilitation Engineer
- Medical Technology Engineer
- Software Engineer
- Medical Imaging Engineer
- Clinical Research Engineer
- Co-operations Engineer
If you're looking for more information on engineering, feel free to check out our other awesome articles here.