Research and development
Design
Production
Operations
Management
Teaching
Consulting
Sales and marketing
Law
Manufacturing
Healthcare
Engineering companies
Consulting companies
Industry
Local, state, and federal government
Colleges and universities
Obtain relevant experience through co-ops or internships for industry-related career.
Develop strong verbal, written, teamwork and problem-solving skills.
Pursue Master of Science (MS), Master of Engineering (ME), or Master of Business Administration (MBA) degrees for increased opportunities in management.
Obtain Ph.D. for teaching and research careers.
Learn federal, state and local government job application procedures. Pursue Professional Engineering licensure.
Propulsion
Fluid mechanics
Thermodynamics
Structural design
Celestial mechanics
Acoustics
Guidance and control systems
Aerospace product and parts manufacturing industries (e.g., engines, communication systems, navigation systems, electronic devices)
Research and development firms
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Federal government:
Department of Defense
Aircraft, missile and space vehicle industries
Communications equipment manufacturers
Commercial airlines
Discipline develops technologies for use in aviation, defense and space exploration.
Anticipate specializing in the development of new technologies or in particular aerospace products.
Stay abreast of the status of federal funding for defense and space programs.
Seek knowledge of computer-aided design (CAD) software, robotics, optics, and lasers.
Seek co-op or internship opportunities in the aerospace industry.
Develop effective verbal and written communication skills and learn to work well on a team.
Join chapters of national organizations such as the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics to build a network of professional contacts and participate in design competitions.
Note, job prospects in aerospace engineering may be influenced by economic conditions and the demand for military products.
Bioinstrumentation
Biomechanics
Biomaterials
Systems physiology
Clinical engineering
Rehabilitation engineering
Medical equipment and supplies manufacturers
Pharmaceutical manufacturers
Hospitals and healthcare facilities
Research facilities of educational and medical institutions
Federal government:
Regulatory agencies
Veteran’s Administration
National Institutes of Health
Discipline combines engineering and biomedical sciences to study and develop tools, techniques and products to improve human health.
Build laboratory and research skills through courses and/or work with professors.
Seek internships, part-time employment or volunteer experiences in the biomedical field.
Join related professional organizations such as the Biomedical Engineering Society to network with professionals in the field and submit research and design projects.
Develop strong teamwork skills, as biomedical engineers often work closely with other engineers in related specialty areas (e.g., biomechanics and biomaterials as well as with medical personnel).
Many positions require a graduate or professional degree; some biomedical engineers pursue medical school.
Maintain an outstanding grade point average; seek experiences in hospital or healthcare settings through volunteering, shadowing, part-time positions or internships, secure strong faculty recommendations and plan to meet with a pre-health advisor periodically.
Industries:
Agricultural chemicals
Industrial bulk and fine chemicals
Plastics
Biotechnology
Pharmaceutical
Cosmetics
Textiles
Consumer products
Industries continued:
Petroleum
Food processing
Energy
Environmental
Automotive
Pulp and paper
Rubber and rubber products
Electronics
Private and national research laboratories
Federal government:
Department of Energy
Environmental Protection Agency
Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Department of Agriculture
Bulk and fine chemicals
Consumer products
Biotechnology and pharmaceuticals
Electronics
Environmental safety and health
Fuels and energy conversion
Materials
Process design
Discipline combines chemistry, physics, biology, and engineering to solve problems involving the use or production of chemicals and biological systems to develop new materials and processes and to increase efficiency and lower cost.
Pursue a strong foundation in fundamentals in lower division classes as well as specialized knowledge for specific career opportunities in upper division classes.
Develop exceptional communication and interpersonal skills for work on multidisciplinary teams. Attention to detail is crucial.
Pursue experimental design, data interpretation, and problem-solving competence through coursework and research with professors.
Seek internship or co-op experiences in the chemical engineering field.
Join professional associations such as American Institute of Chemical Engineers to maintain current knowledge of opportunities in the field.
Prepare for professional license via review classes.
Structural
Urban planning
Construction
Environmental
Water resources
Transportation
Geotechnical
Construction industry
Utility companies
Oil companies
Telecommunications businesses
Manufacturing companies
Railroads
Airports
Road construction companies
Engineering and architectural companies
Consulting companies
City, state, and federal government:
Department of Transportation
Army Corps of Engineers
Federal Aviation Administration
Department of Energy
Broad discipline providing for communities through development and improvement of services including construction, transportation, city planning, water, energy, pollution.
Pursue a strong background of engineering fundamentals as preparation for entering the work force or graduate school.
Develop the ability to communicate effectively, as civil engineers are likely to collaborate with professionals in a variety of disciplines.
Seek experience organizing and directing people and materials through related internships, co-ops, summer jobs and leadership experiences in student organizations.
Join the American Society of Civil Engineers to participate in projects and activities to increase marketability beyond graduation.
Note, states may require licensing or registration.
Industries:
Aerospace
Automotive
Computer and electronics manufacturers
Transportation
Telecommunications
Guidance and control systems
Defense
Electric power and energy/Semiconductor
Scientific service companies (e.g., instruments, lab equipment, software)
Industries continued:
Electronics
Environmental
Medical equipment
Chemical
Pharmaceutical
Computer
Pulp and paper
Textile and metal
Technical service companies (e.g., intelligence, information systems, defense)
Financial and business service companies
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Federal government:
Armed forces
Federal Bureau of Investigation
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Department of Defense
Department of Energy
Department of Transportation
National Institutes of Health
Information protection
Communications and wireless networks
Computational science
Operating systems
Computer networks
Computer systems
Embedded systems
Computer vision and robotics
Circuit design
Signal, image, and speech processing
VLSI
Bioinformatics
Discipline involves the design and development of computer hardware and software and hardware-software integration.
Expect to take classes in engineering fundamentals, math, science and computer science.
Develop strong attention to detail, analytical skills and the ability to persevere through lengthy projects.
Seek ways to enhance interpersonal, communication and teamwork skills for work with people of differing backgrounds.
Join student chapters of organizations such as Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) to build contacts with peers and mentors, participate in student competitions and develop job leads.
Industries:
Aerospace
Automotive
Computer and electronics manufacturers
Transportation
Telecommunications, guidance and control systems
Defense
Electric power and energy/Semiconductor
Technical service companies (e.g., intelligence, information systems, defense)
Scientific service companies (e.g., instruments, lab equipment, software)
Industries continued:
Electronics
Environmental
Medical equipment
Chemical
Pharmaceutical
Computer
Pulp and paper
Textile and metal
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Federal government:
Armed forces
Federal Bureau of Investigation
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Department of Defense
Department of Energy
Department of Transportation
National Institutes of Health
Automatic controls
Bioelectronics
Digital systems
Electromagnetics
Analog electronics
Power and energy systems
Communications and signal processing
Broad discipline applies engineering principles to the design and production of electronic systems and electrical devices.
Prepare for a course load including engineering fundamentals, math, science and electrical engineering.
Pursue design projects and laboratory experience throughout college career.
Seek related experience through research, internships, co-ops or part-time employment.
Join student chapters of industry organizations such as Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) to develop communication and leadership skills, to participate in competitions and to take advantage of professional networking opportunities.
Industries:
High technology
Semiconductor
Chemical
Aerospace
Agriculture
Industries continued:
Energy
Fuel
Computer
Transportation
Healthcare
National laboratories
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Federal government:
Department of Commerce
Department of Defense
Engineering (process and testing)
Quality control
Research
Development
Instrumentation
Broad interdisciplinary field involves applying physics principles in engineering contexts.
Choose a major in engineering physics or supplement physics major with engineering minor; both science and math aptitude are fundamental.
Seek internship, co-op and/or research experience with professors in an area of interest.
Develop strong oral, written communication and experimental design skills through coursework and laboratory practice.
Pursue an advanced degree in engineering, engineering physics or physics for increased employment opportunities.
Testing laboratories
Research firms
Consulting companies specializing in:
Water/waste water treatment
Water resource management
Solid and hazardous waste management
Air pollution control
Hazardous waste remediation
Industries:
chemical
energy
pharmaceutical
mining
manufacturing
Local water, sewer, health, and public works departments
Public interest organizations
Construction companies
State departments of Environment and Conservation
Federal government:
Department of Energy
Department of Defense
Environmental Protection Agency
Air quality
Water quality
Solid/Water waste management
Toxic waste management
Hazardous waste clean-up/bioremediation
Industrial hygiene
Radiation protection
Public health
Land/Wildlife management
Recycling
Discipline plays a vital role in preventing and developing solutions for environmental problems.
Plan to supplement engineering coursework with classes in biology, hydrology, chemistry, geology and computational methods.
Seek experience in the environmental engineering field through co-ops, internships, and part-time positions.
Develop strong interpersonal and communication skills for interacting with legal and business professionals to solve environmental issues.
Expect to work outdoors at least part of the time for environmental testing, quality control, and site investigation work.
Join community groups or service organizations such as Student Conservation Association that focus on environmental awareness; attend public meetings about waste management.
Maintain current knowledge of environmental issues, regulations, and statutes.
Consider membership in professional engineering organizations such as the American Association for Environmental Engineers for networking and job leads.
Project, program, or operations management
Manufacturing systems
Supply chain management and logistics
Productivity, methods and process engineering
Quality measurement and improvement
Human factors
Strategic planning
Management of change
Financial engineering
Engineering management
Six sigma
Lean
Industries:
Manufacturing
Aerospace
Transportation
Construction
Communications
Electrical and electronics machinery
State and federal government including armed forces
Small businesses, start-ups, entrepreneurship
Hospitals and healthcare organizations
Education and public service agencies
Utility companies
Retail companies
Consulting companies
Banks and financial institutions
Not-for-profit organizations
Discipline focuses on effectively utilizing people, products, machines, materials, energy, etc. to improve processes or systems.
Plan to take courses in engineering and business.
Seek experiences in student organizations to develop leadership, interpersonal and communication skills. Diplomacy is important in the field, as people are considered a factor of production.
Pursue practical experience through part-time jobs, co-ops or internships to develop a professional network and increase marketability.
Consider membership in student chapters of organizations such as the Institute of Industrial Engineers to participate in competitions on topics including operations research, manufacturing, human factors, ergonomics, management science, lean practices and simulation.
Earn MS or MBA for advancement in management or administration; some programs offer dual degrees.
Metallurgy
Ceramics
Plastics/Polymers
Composites
Semiconductors and electronic materials
Biomaterials
Nanomaterials
Material research and development
Extraction/Synthesis
Processing
Structure analysis
Performance
Failure analysis
Material selection
Optical materials
Industries/Manufacturers:
Automobile
Appliance/Electronic
Aerospace equipment
Machinery
Biomedical
Industries/Manufacturers continued:
Communications
Sporting goods
Security
Alternative energy production
Airlines
Railroads/Utility companies
Research institutes
National Aeronautics Space Administration
Federal government:
Department of Energy
Department of Defense
Discipline focuses on the development of new materials and the improvement of existing ones.
Gain laboratory and research experience as an undergraduate through coursework, projects with professors, co-ops or internships.
Develop effective problem solving, communication and teamwork skills.
Seek undergraduate membership in professional organizations such as the American Society for Materials to learn more about opportunities in the field and to build professional contacts.
Note, some areas benefit by additional study in business administration, medicine, management and/or law.
Plan to pursue a graduate degree to specialize in a particular material, process or characterization technique.
Industries:
Automotive
Aerospace
Electronics
Chemical products
Petroleum
Industries continued:
Textiles
Industrial equipment
Heating and air conditioning systems
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Utility companies
National laboratories
Federal government:
Department of Energy
Department of Defense
Federal Aviation Administration
Machine design
Systems design
Manufacturing and production
Energy conversion
Energy resources
Transportation and environmental impact
Materials and structures
Very broad discipline incorporating the research, design, development, manufacturing and testing of mechanical devices.
Learn computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM).
Obtain related experience through engineering internships, co-ops or part-time jobs.
Develop strong interpersonal and communication skills; consider a class in public speaking to enhance presentation skills. Plan to collaborate with other types of engineers and with those in industry.
Join student chapter of American Society of Mechanical Engineers to take advantage of mentorship programs, learn more about specialties in the field and participate in design competitions.
Industries:
Automotive
Energy
Environmental
Aerospace
Computer and electronics
Transportation
Chemical products
Plastic, textile, metal
Defense
Pharmaceutical
Scientific service companies
Instruments
Lab equipment
Software
Technical service companies
Intelligence
Information systems
Defense
Federal government
Department of Energy
Department of Defense
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Federal Aviation Administration
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Patent and Trademark Office
Robotics
Automation
Control systems
Computer-Integrated manufacturing
Analog and digital systems
Microprocessors and Microcontrollers
Machine design
Systems design
Manufacturing processes
Smart materials and structures
Intelligent systems
Artificial intelligence, machine learning
Discipline involves the design and development of smart electromechanical systems and devices.
Prepare for a course load including engineering fundamentals, math, and computer science, Computer Engineering, mechanical and electrical engineering.
Pursue design projects and laboratory experience throughout college career.
Seek related experience through research, intern- ships, co-ops or part-time employment.
Develop effective problem solving, communication, and teamwork skills.
Join student chapters of professional organizations such as Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME), and Society of Women Engineers (SWE) to develop communication and leadership skills, to participate in competitions and to take advantage of professional networking opportunities.
Nuclear utility companies
National laboratories
Industries:
Medical equipment
Power equipment
Defense
Aerospace
Industries continued:
Environmental
Waste management
Food preservation
Hospitals
Federal government:
Department of Energy
Federal government continued:
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Environmental Protection Agency
Department of Homeland Security
Department of Defense
Electrical power reactor facilities
Nuclear fuel cycle facilities
Nuclear instrumentation for industrial applications
Radioactive waste management
Environmental science
Medical research and technology
Space exploration
Food supply
Discipline focuses on research and development to derive benefits from nuclear processes.
Develop strong research skills as an undergraduate through coursework, internships or co-ops related to nuclear energy.
Exhibit curiosity, attention to detail, problem-solving skills and perseverance for success in the field.
Travel to some off-site locations including reactors, laboratories or installations sites may be required.
Consider student membership in the American Nuclear Society to learn more about specialties in the field, build contacts, and cultivate leadership potential.
Research and development
Design
Management
Reservoir engineers
Drilling engineers
Production engineers
Subsurface engineers
Completions engineers
Support activities for mining
Oil and gas extraction
Petroleum and coal product manufacturing
Maintenance and inspection
Sales
Energy production companies
Drilling companies
Oil companies
Health and safety
Geosciences
Procurement and construction
Government:
Department of U.S. Army: Corp of Engineers
Department of Interior
Bureau of Indian Affairs
Bureau of Land Management
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
Government continued:
Geological Survey
Bureau of Safety
Oilfield services
Pipelines
Petroleum companies and refineries
Discipline works in the production of hydrocarbons, in relation to crude oil or natural gas. designing, developing, investigating and producing methods for extracting oil and gas.
Seek knowledge of computer-aided design (CAD), software, drill, optics, and lasers.
See co-op or internship opportunities in petroleum engineering industry.
Develop effective verbal and written communication skills, research and analytical skills, mathematical reasoning, and problem sensitivity skills.
Prepare for the initial Fundamentals of Engineering (PE/FE) exam that can be taken after earning a bachelor’s degree.
Join the Society of Petroleum Engineers and Pursue SPE certification.
Note, states may require licensing, registration, or continuing education (CEUs).
A bachelor’s degree provides a wide range of career opportunities in industry, business and government.
A bachelor’s degree is good background for pursuing technical graduate degrees as well as professional degrees in Engineering, Business Administration, Medicine or Law.
Graduate degrees offer more opportunities for career advancement, college or university teaching positions.
Related work experience obtained through co-op, internships, part-time or summer jobs is extremely beneficial.
Develop excellent verbal and written communications skills including presentation and technical report writing. Learn to work well on a team to maximize collaborations with other engineers and those outside of the profession.
Develop computer expertise within field.
Engineers need to think in scientific and mathematical terms and exhibit the abilities to study data, sort out important facts, solve problems and think logically.
Other helpful traits include intellectual curiosity, creativity, technical aptitude, perseverance and a basic understanding of the economic and environmental con text in which engineering is practiced.
Because of rapid changes in most engineering fields, both continued education and keeping abreast of new developments are very important.
Join relevant professional associations, attend meetings, participate in design competitions and stay up-to-date on research/publications.
All states and the District of Columbia require registration of engineers whose work may affect the life, health or safety of the public.
Professional or technical societies confer certification in some areas.
Research Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam requirements, as this exam is typically the first step in becoming a Professional Engineer (PE).
Professional Engineer (PE) licensing guidelines vary by state. Check with the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) for links to state boards.
Become familiar with the federal job application and employment procedures.