Engineering is a varied and extensive industry with many different types of engineering available to study if you are considering getting into this career. Choosing the right engineering sector fit for you is not always easy unless you know that you have a keen interest already in a certain area of engineering. If you know that you would like to become an engineer but aren’t sure what type of engineering to get into, it’s worth spending some time to think about what you are passionate about either in work or in your personal life. Considering what you like doing most and the topics that get you most excited might be helpful when it comes to determining which type of engineering role might be the best fit for you.
No matter what kind of engineering career you get into, all engineering disciplines require strong problem-solving skills and tend to be good career choices for solutions-focused people who want to work on projects designed to improve life. If this sounds like you, you could be an ideal fit for working in engineering; simply choose a topic that you are interested in learning more about. Engineering is a career option with many different disciplines to get into, so here are some of the most popular options.
Engineering management
If you like the idea of leading teams and managing projects as an engineer, then an overall goal to get into work as an engineering manager might be ideal for you. Typically, you will still need to choose an engineering discipline before you become a manager as, most of the time, managers are experienced engineers. Once you have chosen the discipline that you want to do and gained some experience in the field of engineering, you can get into management with a program such as the Masters Engineering Management from uOttawa. However, it is worth bearing in mind that engineering management can be very different compared to working as an engineer; you will be spending more time working with people and focusing on the business side of things rather than the technical. You may want to consider engineering management if you already have business and management experience and are considering a change of career into engineering.
Chemical engineering
If you are interested in science, chemical engineering might be a good discipline for you to get into. In this role, you will be using scientific processes to create useful substances or materials. Chemical engineering is very multidisciplinary and combines life, natural, and experimental sciences in the engineering process. Chemical engineers need to be highly knowledgeable and experienced in a wide range of scientific subjects including biochemistry, biology, and microbiology, along with strong economical and mathematical skills. If you are interested in the life science or natural sciences or have a strong science background, this could be the ideal choice of engineering career for you. There are several subsectors of chemical engineering to consider getting into including plant design, process engineering, transport phenomena, process design and more.
Computer engineering
The role of a computer engineer involves working on the design and prototyping of computer hardware and software. This engineering discipline often crosses over with electrical engineering, software engineering, and IT and computer science, and is an ideal choice for students with a strong IT background or students who are studying for another relevant IT major. Computer engineering students and graduates are usually interested in a career role such as software engineer and software designer. It’s a great choice for students who have strong science and maths skills and are interested in building their knowledge of the intricate workings of computers. You can choose from a wide range of specialist subsectors in computer engineering including computer architecture, computer graphics, microprocessor systems, network security and more.
Electrical and electronics engineering
Electrical and electronics engineering are two different but similar fields of engineering that focus on the application of electrical power. Electrical engineers are more focused on the production and supply of large-scale electrical power such as powering buildings, while on the other hand, electronics engineers work in a role where there is more focus on electronic circuits and small-scale electrical power such as those in home appliances, computers, and smartphones. If you have an interest in how electrical systems work and want to work in a role where you’ll be able to work on future tech development, either of these engineering disciplines may be a good fit for you. Electrical and electronics engineering roles tend to be an ideal choice for anybody who has a natural inclination to understand electrical systems and thinks outside of the box. Both roles allow you to come up with new ideas for improvement and there are several sub-disciplines to consider including power supply, power generation, communications and media, computing systems, robotics and more.
Aeronautical engineering
The role of an aeronautical engineer involves researching, designing, constructing, and developing science, technology, prototyping, and testing of aircraft. It is an engineering discipline that often overlaps with astronautical engineering, a type of engineering that is focused on spacecraft and space conditions. If you have a keen interest in the history and methodology of aircraft and air travel and are interested in learning everything that you can about it from the earliest planes invented to the modern planes that we travel in today, aeronautical engineering might be an ideal career path for you to consider. It is a highly interesting field that allows you to work on a range of different projects including developing new aircraft. You can get into a range of subsectors in this field including avionics, aeroelasticity, structures and materials, aerodynamics, propulsion, and more.
Mechanical engineering
Mechanical engineering is one of the broadest and most long-standing engineering fields available, and it might be a good choice for you if you want a safe engineering career with a lot of high demand. Despite being an engineering discipline that has been around for a long time, it is still one of the fastest-growing fields of engineering today. As a mechanical engineer, your role will involve focusing on the design, manufacture, and maintenance of mechanical systems. Students of mechanical engineering have the opportunity to learn more about a wide range of interesting topics including mechanical design, statics and dynamics, thermodynamics, stress analysis, and technical drawing. If you are interested in working with a broad range of mechanical devices and tools and are drawn to a career where you will have the chance to impact the future with new and innovative ideas, this could be the engineering discipline for you. It is a very broad topic that often has a lot of overlaps with other engineering disciplines including aeronautical and civil engineering. Subsectors of mechanical engineering are varied and interesting, including combustion, robotics, nanotechnology, transportation systems, manufacturing and more.
Civil engineering
The role of a civil engineer involves designing and developing infrastructure projects. Civil engineers may work on small-scale or large-scale projects, from single buildings and roads to huge, national travel systems, entire cities, and water supply networks. If building and designing is something that you are interested in, civil engineering might be an ideal career choice for you to consider. This engineering discipline could involve either a design-based role in an office or working out in the field overseeing various projects with different roles to suit your main preferences. Civil engineering as a degree program can be an ideal choice for you if you want to develop and improve your design skills including computer-aided design (CAD). If you are interested in mechanics, statistical analysis, hydraulics, materials science, or geotechnics, consider looking into the option. Civil engineering also has a range of subsectors to choose from including environmental engineering, hydraulic engineering, structural engineering, transportation engineering, and architectural engineering.
What to consider when choosing the right engineering discipline
Once you have a shortlist of engineering fields and disciplines that you may be interested in for your career, it’s worth thinking about some of the most important factors to keep in mind when choosing the right one for you. Before you make your final decision on the engineering discipline that you want to study and get into as a career, these are some of the most crucial things to think about.
Career outlook
While choosing something that you are personally interested in and excited about is always important, you should also bear in mind that in terms of career outlook, some engineering disciplines are doing better than others. Nuclear engineering, for example, is no longer seeing the same kind of demand for professionals as it once did, while new and emerging fields of engineering such as mechatronics engineering and environmental engineering have very positive outlooks. Before choosing the type of engineer that you want to be, it is important to spend some time researching your options and paying particular attention to the demand, future growth outlook, and salaries on offer.
Your interests
Just because you are interested in or skilled at something, doesn’t always mean that you should turn it into your career. However, working in a career field that you are genuinely interested in is always better than working in a job that bores you, which is why it will make sense to consider the things that you are interested in, either at home or in your personal life, before choosing the right engineering career for you. Even if you don’t know a lot about something, if you are interested in it, then you could get more personal satisfaction from choosing an engineering sector that allows you to broaden your knowledge.
Your skills
No matter what kind of engineering you decide to get into, it’s likely that you are going to need strong technical skills in math, technology, and science. However, soft skills are also important in any engineering career so it’s a good idea to spend some time reflecting on your skills and how they might help you get further in the career that you choose. For example, if you have good communication and leadership skills, working in engineering management might be ideal for you. If you’re a good problem-solver with strong attention to detail and have a strong interest in computers and IT, then computer or software engineering might be an ideal fit.
Ask current engineers
Sometimes it can be easy to read about different career options but hard to get a clear idea of what it might be like to work in these roles without actually experiencing it. Because of this, speaking to people who are currently working as engineers in the disciplines that you are most interested in could be an ideal way for you to clear up any doubts you might have about the role and learn more about what it entails from the perspective of somebody who does it every day. If you don’t know any engineers, you could consider attending industry events or events held by colleges and universities where you will not only get the chance to meet and speak to people who work in engineering but also learn more about the different roles and options for your career.
Get work experience
Work experience at an engineering firm can be useful for helping you improve your career prospects once you have graduated with a degree in engineering. However, you may also want to consider getting some work experience before you decide which engineering major to take. Working at an engineering firm or shadowing an engineer at work can be a great way to get a clearer insight into what to expect from the role and the type of work duties that you will be doing on a day-to-day basis if you decide to follow in their footsteps.
Engineering is a great career choice for anybody who is creative, filled with new ideas, and likes the idea of working on new solutions and technologies. With many different disciplines to choose from, it’s important to consider your strengths and what you’re most interested in to help you find the best discipline for you.