What Are the Different Types of Engineer and What Do They Do?

Engineering is one of the most adaptable vocations in the world. Many who start off life pursuing an engineering degree find themselves doing well in other business ventures. For example the heads of Google, Apple, Amazon, Tesla, and General Motors all sport background in engineering.

Yet when looking for someone to solve a technical problem for your projects, it can be confusing to know which will suit your needs best. And this is for good reason. There are over 40 different types of engineering, and as new problems demand more innovative solutions, we can only expect that the different types of engineer will only increase.

So to remove some of the confusion, we have put together a brief overview of some of the most common types. Which is the one that will resolve the questions that you need answered? Read on to find out.

Electrical Engineering

There is no competition for the most important types of engineer. But, it is fair to say that in today’s modern world, the demand for electrical engineering is starting to skyrocket.

Our reliance on technology is mirrored by big businesses. Yet, none of us would be able to use it without electrical engineers, who are behind everything that transmits electrical energy.

Electrical engineering is a wide-ranging field. It includes large substations that power whole cities to working solely on microchips. Electrical engineers can be involved in the design and distribution of complex electrical systems or they can choose to focus on electrical maintenance.

Mechanical Engineering

If it has machinery, moving parts, and needs to be put together, then chances are that a mechanical engineer has been involved.

Mechanical engineering could be viewed as the most expressive due to the creative design element found within it. It focuses on machines and products along with their various components. Mechanical engineering is extremely diverse, touching on everything from your car to your vacuum cleaner.

These types of engineer need to have well-rounded knowledge to fall back on. This is because designing, maintaining, and manufacturing products will nearly always involve some electrical, computer, and chemical engineering elements.

Compared to the different types of engineer out there, a mechanical engineer is very hands-on. They also need to have a good understanding of mathematics and physics.

Chemical Engineering

While both electrical and mechanical engineering benefits the world in very obvious ways, chemical engineering is a field that we are tremendously dependent on without even realizing it.

The work of a chemical engineer marries the areas of chemistry, biology, physics, and maths to create compounds that we use every day. Paints, medication, fuels, processed food, cosmetics, plastics, and more are all fields that a chemical engineer can work in.

It is also an area that is constantly changing. For example, in recent years there has been a push for companies to look for more environmentally friendly options, especially in the energy sector. Very often it is the work of chemical engineers to develop and design the means for this to be possible in practical terms.

With this in mind, chemical engineers need to be forward-thinking as well creative in the application of their knowledge.

Civil Engineering

Often viewed as the most ancient form of engineering, civil engineering is the basis of most societies. This is because civil engineering is related to the structure and construction of buildings, bridges, roads, sewage systems, and even cities as a whole.

Much of their work is focused on people and their use of their systems. For example, a bridge will need to accommodate for the expected amount of people that will use it and environmental factors. So those with civil engineering jobs really need to have math and physics as their strong suits.

Structural Engineering

Often confused for civil engineers, a structural engineer is a more specialist area of construction. It can be said to focus on three things, stability, strength, and safety. These pillars are the priority for structural engineers, many of whom have a civil engineering background.

There is also a heavy emphasis on design and close connections to the field of architecture, honing in on the best way to manage and distribute loads.

So what kinds of structures need a structural engineer?

The obvious answer would be something like a skyscraper. However, they would also be involved in work on bridges, dams, and even things like private homes and swimming pools may need the eyes of a structural engineer.

Aerospace Engineering

One of the most impressive feats of human potential is realized by the work carried out by aerospace engineers. These types of engineers focus on everything connected to planes, helicopters, and spacecraft.

Before getting to the point of taking off, engineers need to design and test these vehicles rigorously, taking into account the many variables that could cause something to go wrong.

While this line of engineering has been in existence for over 100 years, this is one of the types of engineering that has been able to maintain an element of wonder for the vast majority of people.

Find the Different Types of Engineer in One Place

We hope our oversight was informative and will help you either hone in on either which branch to study, or which type of engineer you will need to hire.

How many of the types of engineer discussed in this article were you aware of?

If you have a project that needs the eyes of a professional engineer then PE for Hire is the logical choice. Use our site to select from the best in class to fit your needs no matter how large or small. Get in contact with us today to see what we can do for you.