agricultural engineer

Engineers with an interest in farming and food production could find themselves working in agricultural engineering. According to the UK’s Institution of Agricultural Engineers, these engineers are “at the heart of farming”.

This is because farmers “need the support of a sophisticated engineering industry to produce the machines and equipment they need to guarantee the crops and livestock they grow reach” the highest quality.

These engineers work on the development, creation, testing and maintenance of agricultural machinery and equipment, as well as that used in the horticultural and forestry industries.

Agricultural engineers assess the environmental impact of current production methods and work out if they might be able to lower this by designing better equipment. They work on designing vehicles to move on uneven ground in different weather conditions.

They also use tools like GPS and computer modelling in order to advise farmers and big businesses on the best use of the land available.

environmental engineer

Engineers with a passion for the environment could consider a career that involves improving recycling, waste disposal and pollution control.

Their duties include designing systems for cleaning public water supplies and calculating how to reduce the impact of climate change. They can work on projects that help in terms of environmental protection, such as systems that convert waste to energy.

Environmental engineers also work on developing renewable energy methods, which will involve collaboration with other engineering specialists, including those in the mechanical and agricultural fields.

Because of how governments are focusing on reducing the environmental impact of many activities, the field of environmental engineering has been forecast by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics to grow at a rate of 12 per cent from 2014 to 2024, which is far faster than the average. This means there are real opportunities for engineers.

marine engineer

Marine engineering is a perfect fit for any engineer who loves boats and water. According to the UK’s National Careers Service, they “design, build, test and repair boats, ships, underwater craft, offshore platforms and drilling equipment”.

Depending on the industry and company the engineer works for, diving work may be required. This makes it a great option for anyone who enjoys diving and being in the water.

Marine engineers commonly perform the duties of ship and boat building, maintenance of vessels and ensuring that the engines and instruments on board work safely. There are travel opportunities for marine engineers as they might be required to visit offshore drilling sites and the regions in which ships are being built.

Marine engineers need to have physical endurance and stamina since they could be working in the engine rooms of ships, which can reach 120 degrees Fahrenheit.

According to the Global Engineering Report 2016, marine engineering had an unemployment rate of 1.8 per cent between 2015 and 2016. This shows that there are plenty of opportunities available for newly qualified marine engineers.

petroleum engineer

Among the best engineering career options for travel is in the petroleum industry. Largely based in the Middle East and North America, the petroleum sector attracts engineers from around the world.

These engineers analyse new petroleum reservoirs to calculate whether it can be profitably exploited. If they establish that it can, they will work on drilling and extraction plans to pump out the stores beneath the earth’s surface in the safest and most cost-effective way possible.

Petroleum engineering is also a very financially rewarding career, with all levels of seniority being paid well.

The Global Engineering Report 2016 revealed that in the US, these engineers earn the highest median hourly wage, at $71.92 - the highest of all engineering and architecture occupations.

Forbes found that job growth in petroleum engineering increased by 30 per cent from 2010 to 2014 in the US and the US Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that the field will grow by 10 per cent from 2014 to 2024.

forensic engineer

When something goes wrong and a piece of machinery, structure or material fails and causes an injury or property damage, it is up to forensic engineers to investigate and establish the reason for it.

They are typically called on to investigate why a product did not work as expected in order to improve future performance or to act as expert witnesses in product liability and criminal cases.

Forensic engineers tend to specialize in specific areas, such as mechanical engineering, electrical engineering or civil engineering.

The role often involves translating complicated engineering terminology into a language that lay people understand. This would take place during a court case, for example.

mechatronics engineer

Engineers in mechatronics have to be experts in many fields, from mechanical and electrical to computer engineering. They use their knowledge to create complex machines.

The University of New South Wales, Australia, calls these “smart machines that are aware of their surroundings and can make decisions”.

With this technology being explored more than ever before, it means that there will be an increasing number of opportunities in this industry in the coming years.

Mechatronic engineers work on the design, testing and manufacture of smart machines in areas like robotics, medical and assistive technology, human-machine interaction, and manufacturing unmanned aerial and ground vehicles.

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