CPS Careers & Strategic Destinations

Careers in Engineering

Engineering accounts for 18% of UK employment, with 5.5 million people in the UK working within the engineering and manufacturing sector. Skill shortages in the sector is currently a big issue, and we are seeing great demand for new hires across the board. Skill shortages in the engineering and manufacturing industry are down to a number of factors including, economic problems, limited awareness and education for young people surrounding engineering and an ageing workforce. As a result, engineers are in demand more than ever before, and it is estimated that 200,000 skilled engineers will be needed between now and 2024.

Below is a summary of some of the most in demand engineering jobs for 2022.

Quality Engineers

Quality Engineers work to ensure that manufactured products are made to a high standard. This will involve carrying out quality tests, creating documentation and specifying the standards test results should meet.

Quality Engineers work as part of a wide team, with their aim being to ensure that any manufactured products meet customer expectations, all whilst making sure that safety and criteria are met. The job role of a Quality Engineer can vary greatly from one organisation to another. Larger companies may require a specific area of expertise whereas smaller companies may task Quality Engineers with a wider range of responsibilities.

Average starting salary - £31,500

Average experienced salary - £47,500

Electrical Engineers

Electrical engineers design, build and maintain electrical systems, machinery, and equipment. Electrical engineers work across many industries and the field is very broad. Industries include transport, energy, manufacturing, and construction just to name a few. It is therefore no surprise that demand for electrical engineers is high.

Average starting salary - £28,000

Average experienced salary - £45,000

Civil Engineers

Civil engineering is one of the most in demand jobs in the world. There are lots of branches to civil engineering which makes it a fantastic field to work in. Civil engineers design, build and manage construction projects including roads, buildings, bridges, water systems and airports etc.

Average starting salary - £30,000

Average experienced salary - £70,000

Mechanical Engineers

Mechanical engineering is considered to be one of the most varied engineering disciplines. The majority of industries depend on mechanical systems and there are numerous employment opportunities available to mechanical engineers.

Mechanical engineers play a vital role in developing, designing, and implementing components and machinery used across manufacturing, construction, and many other industries.

Average starting salary - £26,000

Average experienced salary - £40,000

Renewable Energy Engineers

With a government pledge of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, the UK renewable energy industry is more important than ever. It is therefore no surprise that the demand for renewable energy engineers is projected to be high in 2022 and beyond.

Renewable energy engineers work on the production of energy through natural resources such as wind, hydro, solar or marine power. They look at ways of reducing the impact on the environment by researching and developing new technologies that will result in cleaner ways to supply energy.

Average starting salary - £28,000

Average experienced salary - £50,000

Automation & Robotics Engineer

Automation & Robotics Engineers are involved with designing and building machines to carry out automated jobs in manufacturing, aerospace, the medical sector, and more. Duties all depend on which part of a project you are working on, this can vary from building and testing prototypes, design, analysing data, finding and fixing faults, researching and demonstrating.

Average starting salary - £27,500

Average experienced salary - £55,500

Project Engineers

Project engineers manage engineering and technical projects. They are responsible for making sure everything on site is carried out and completed following plans and laws. Project engineers are also responsible for budgeting, planning, and working with stakeholders at all levels.

Responsibilities can vary from one task to another, and project engineers will spend time based in an office as well as on site overseeing projects.

Average starting salary - £29,000

Average experienced salary - £60,000

Chemical engineer Starting salary c£30,000 – experienced c£65,000

Chemical engineers help develop and troubleshoot new industrial processes to aid the transformation of raw materials into useful items. This engineering career is broad and can include everything from designing advanced fabrics for sportswear to improving the taste of food products. Bachelor degrees in chemical engineering or related fields are preferred and experience gained through internships is helpful.

You can get into this job through:

• a university course

• an apprenticeship

• working towards this role

University

You'll normally need a degree or postgraduate qualification in:

• chemical engineering

• process engineering

• biochemical engineering

You may be able to do a postgraduate conversion course if you have a degree in a related area like engineering, chemistry or polymer science.

Some universities offer a foundation year for people without qualifications in maths and science, which allows them to move onto the degree course afterwards.

You could take a postgraduate master's qualification like an MEng. This would include independent research and would give you a greater knowledge and understanding of chemical engineering science. It could also prepare you for further postgraduate study like a PhD.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English, maths and science

• 2 or 3 A levels, or equivalent, including chemistry

• a degree in a relevant subject for postgraduate study

Apprenticeship

You may be able to do a science industry process engineer degree apprenticeship.

You'll usually need:

• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship

Electrical engineer starting salary c£20,000 – experienced c£60,000

Electrical engineers design and develop new electrical systems, test equipment and oversee the manufacturing process. They work with everything from computers, mobile devices, household appliances, lighting and wiring of buildings, to telecommunication systems, electrical power stations and satellite communications. You don’t necessarily need a degree to start a career as an electrical engineer and can begin as an electrical engineering technician or build the relevant experience to get started.

You can get into this job through:

• a university course

• a college course

• an apprenticeship

University

You can do a degree in electrical or electronic engineering. You may also be able to get into this career with a degree in:

• electromechanical engineering

• building services engineering

• applied physics

• aeronautical engineering

• mechatronics

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

More Information

College

You could do a Level 4 and 5 Higher National Diploma in Electrical and Electronic Engineering at college before looking for work.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 1 or 2 A levels, a level 3 diploma or relevant experience for a level 4 or level 5 Apprenticeship

Apprenticeships relevant to this role include:

• Electrical or electronic technical support engineer degree apprenticeship

• Electro-mechanical engineer higher apprenticeship

These apprenticeships typically take between 4 and 6 years to complete.

You could start on an engineering technician apprenticeship and work your way up to qualified engineer.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship

Mechanical engineer salary c£20,000 – experienced c£52,000

Mechanical engineers plan and develop engines and powered machines and their components. This can include electric generators, internal combustion engines, steam and gas turbines, air conditioning systems, refrigeration and even escalators and lifts. Mechanical engineers are in great demand and often you don’t need a degree in engineering to be accepted. Many employers offer a graduate work scheme which allows potential electrical engineers to transition into the career while gaining crucial experience.

You can get into this job through:

• a university course

• a college course

• an apprenticeship

• working towards this role

University

You could do a higher national diploma or degree in subjects like:

• mechanical engineering

• electromechanical engineering

• mechatronics

• engineering manufacturing

The Engineering Development Council has information on accredited courses.

You should try to get some work experience during your course through things like:

• internships

• summer or Easter vacation schemes

• a year placement in industry

• a science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) ambassador scheme

This will help you to make contacts and gain work skills that will be useful when you start applying for graduate jobs. Your university careers service can help you find suitable opportunities.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 2 or 3 A levels, or equivalent, including maths and physics

College

You could do a Level 4 and 5 Higher National Diploma in Mechanical Engineering at college before looking for work.

You can get work experience and make contacts in the industry, through year in industry schemes like those run by the Engineering Development Trust.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 1 or 2 A levels, a level 3 diploma or relevant experience for a level 4 or level 5 course

Apprenticeship

You could do a higher or degree apprenticeship to become a mechanical engineer.

Some relevant apprenticeships include:

• Manufacturing engineer degree apprenticeship

• Electro-mechanical engineer higher apprenticeship

• Power and propulsion gas turbine engineer higher apprenticeship

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship

Civil engineer starting salary c£30,000 – experienced c£70,000

Civil engineers help ensure that our towns and cities operate as smoothly as possible. They focus on infrastructure, such as roads, water supplies, bridges and buildings. Although it is possible to get into this career without an engineering degree, it would take many years of hard work starting at an entry level position, so a related degree is preferred.

You can get into this job through:

• a university course

• a college course

• an apprenticeship

• working towards this role

University

You can do a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree in civil engineering. Many universities specialise in particular areas of civil engineering, like:

• structural engineering

• environmental engineering

• coastal engineering

Some courses include a work placement, which can be useful for making industry contacts to help find work after you finish your studies.

You can apply for a postgraduate master's award in civil engineering if you've got a related degree like maths, science or geology.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 2 or 3 A levels, or equivalent, including maths and a science for a degree

• a degree in a relevant subject for postgraduate study

College

You can take a higher national certificate (HNC) or diploma (HND) at college, which may help you to find work as a trainee engineer. You'll do further training on the job to qualify.

Subjects include:

• Level 4 HNC in Engineering

• Level 5 HND in Construction and the Built Environment

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 1 or 2 A levels, or equivalent, for a higher national certificate or higher national diploma

Apprenticeship

You could complete a civil engineer degree apprenticeship.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship

Software engineer starting salary c£18,000 – c£70,000

Software engineers design, develop, test and maintain the software technologies that are all around us. This includes apps, websites, operating systems, mobile devices and computer software. Again, an engineering degree for a career in software is not a necessity, but many employers prefer degrees in computer science, business management, computer engineering, information systems, mathematics or statistics. You’ll need to demonstrate that you have an in-depth knowledge of programming languages such as Java, Python and C++, SQL. Internships and placements are recommended.

Qualifications

Although this area of work is open to all graduates, applicants will be expected to have some technical ability. Having studied one of the following subjects may increase your chances of employment:

• computer science

• computer software or computer systems engineering

• electronics

• information systems

• mathematics

• physics.

Many of the larger graduate recruiters will only employ graduates with proven technical skills and a good degree (2:1 or above) in a computing-related discipline.

Smaller companies generally prefer degrees of a computing, scientific or numeric nature. In some cases, however, graduates with an unrelated degree may be considered if their technical knowledge and enthusiasm can be demonstrated.

Environmental engineer starting salary c£18,000 – Experienced c£45,000

Environmental engineers specialise in finding solutions to environmental problems. Using principles of engineering and the sciences, they focus on areas such as recycling, waste disposal, water pollution, air pollution and help ensure a better quality of life for the public.

You don’t need to have studied an engineering degree for a career in environmental engineering although it helps if you’ve studied a relevant degree in science or an environmental discipline. You can also move into environmental engineering via a postgraduate qualification through a graduate scheme.

Engineering degrees are highly relevant for this area of work. However, you don't always need to have studied an engineering subject to become an environmental engineer. You may have studied another subject that has relevance, such as a science or an environmental discipline. Subjects may include:

• chemistry

• environmental science

• geology

• geoscience

• geotechnical engineering

• maths

• physics.

It may also be possible to move into environmental engineering from other related occupations, such as environmental consultancy or sustainability.

Graduate schemes are offered by some large employers in areas such as engineering and construction.

Although you don't usually need a postgraduate qualification, a Masters in areas such as environmental monitoring, contaminated land or environmental engineering may make you more attractive to an employer.

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