What kind of job can you get with a degree in engineering?

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If you’re a problem-solver with an interest in technology, you’ve got a creative spark and the ability to see things from different angles, engineering could be your calling.

Engineering has had a monumental role in creating modern society. From cars and robots to electricity grids and running water – we owe a lot to the ingenuity of our past and present engineers.

You could have this kind of impact on the world too. Your next step is to find out how to become an engineer in your area of interest. It’s a broad field, so we’ll run you through some of our engineering courses and your career options.

What job can I get with a degree in chemical and metallurgical engineering?

Most people have no idea how raw materials (for example, iron ore mined from the earth) are converted into a usable product (for example, steel to build with). We can thank chemical and metallurgical engineers for that. But this is not only a job for heavy industry. Chemical engineers have a hand in producing the clothes we wear, the food we eat, and the cool tech we line up for hours to buy.

Jobs are typically found in a lab or office, but fieldwork is sometimes necessary. You might be involved in finding new uses for a natural resource, designing manufacturing processes, or in plant operations. Employers are in oil and gas, mining, renewable energy, biotechnology, government, food technology, and commercial enterprise.

Want to know more? Find out here.

What job can I get with a degree in environmental engineering?

The world is at a crossroads and we need our brightest minds dedicated to sustainable and ethical progress. A key responsibility of these engineers is to promote, develop and deliver environmentally-conscious practices to new projects. Other duties include upgrading ageing facilities and reducing hazards from existing projects.

In your career you might focus on waste management, water quality, air pollution or preserving natural environments. Working as an environmental engineer is an obvious choice but you could also find jobs outside of engineering, as a natural science manager, an environmental ecologist or an urban and regional planner. Because this is an evolving field, your dream job may not exist yet.

Explore the path to environmental engineering.

Environmental engineering student Tom Wheeler recently returned from a six-month internship in Indonesia, where he worked with a non-ministry renewable energy organisation to provide a sustainable source of water to some of the most vulnerable people in the world.

Studying at Murdoch isn’t just theory based. You are provided with opportunities to have real-life practical experiences that you can learn so much from.

What job can I get with a degree in engineering technology?

Some people may love certain aspects of engineering but don’t actually want to be an engineer, or they’re keen on a more hands-on role with less theory. If this is you, take a look at this Bachelor of Science course. An engineer first conceptualises and designs a project, then the technologist takes the reins and brings the idea to life.

This degree gives you flexibility to learn about a range of engineering areas, such as electrical power, renewable energy, and industrial computer systems. And if you decide you’d like to become an engineer after all, you can transfer into an engineering degree.

Learn more about a career in this field.

What job can I get with a degree in industrial computer systems engineering?

This is a ‘big thinker’ specialisation that ensures equipment functions as it was designed to do. You’ll also likely be the central cog in a project that makes all the parts move, such is the nature of this subdiscipline. During your studies, you’ll have access to the $10.1 million Bayer Pilot Plant; a real-world engineering plant with a dedicated control room, and the only one of its kind in Western Australia.

Carve out your career as a control systems engineer, developing systems that are constantly changing. For example, cars’ anti-lock braking system or cruise control, aircraft flight controllers, or processes in the latest smartphones. With this engineering degree, you could also be a functional safety engineer or a systems assurance engineer.

Combine your love of computers and engineering.

What job can I get with a degree in electrical power engineering?

Where would we be without electricity? Still under the glow of an oil lamp, most likely! This degree focuses on the electrical engineering subdiscipline of power systems, which ensures power generation, transmission and distribution is safe and efficient. This is a solutions-driven job, typically found in large-scale plant operations, where you need to think on your feet and solve power failures and other concerns swiftly.

As we move into more modern – and increasingly sustainable – systems and technologies, electrical power engineers are stepping up to meet growing demand and integrate this with current systems.

Start your electrical power engineering career.

What job can I get with a degree in renewable energy engineering?

We are in a race to discover sustainable ways to power our world. If you want to be part of a discipline where the path is wide open for discovery and you have the potential to make a huge difference, enrol in an engineering course in renewables.

We’re only just on the cusp of what this field can offer. You might advise and provide guidance on building energy-efficient homes, or conceptualise and develop wind, geothermal solar, or hydropower systems. Jobs not only exist as renewable energy engineers, but also in energy management, policy development and as a renewable resource analyst.

Discover your career options.

Murdoch is ranked number one in Australia for students’ overall experience in engineering, according to the Good Universities Guide. Join us at Open Day on Sunday 28 July to find out more about our courses and study options. 

Posted on:

19 Jul 2019

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