Aerospace & Avionics Engineering

What is Aerospace & Avionics Engineering?

Aerospace and avionics engineering jobs is a sector which employs the engineers
responsible for the design and structure of air transport vehicles, such as aeroplanes
or spacecraft, as well as the internal structure of the aircraft, such as its
communication systems and fuel monitors. Aerospace engineers are responsible for
the structure of the craft itself whereas Avionics engineers deals with the internal
electronics of the craft.

Essential Aerospace & Avionics Engineer Qualifications/Skills

 A degree in aerospace engineering or avionics

 An electrical, mechanical or physics engineering subject
 Strong mathematics and IT skills, as well as a strong knowledge of CAD (computer aided
design) or CAM (computer aided manufacturing) software

Applications Engineering
What is Applications Engineering?
The job description of an applications engineer jobs can vary depending on the
chosen industry. Generally, this type of engineer takes care of the implementation
and design of computer programs or specialist industry equipment in most cases.
The primary role of this engineer is to build and test as well as design these products
based on the clients’ needs.

Essential Applications Engineer Qualifications/Skills

 Solid communication skills

 Ability to be able to deal with complex projects
 A degree in software engineering or computer science

Architectural Engineering
What is Architectural Engineering?
Architectural engineering is the design and the application of engineering principles
in the development of buildings and structures. The architectural engineer has
expertise in physics, mathematics and of course, engineering. The primary job of this
engineer is to orchestrate the construction of the building, as well as its structural
integrity and electrical systems.

Essential Architectural Engineer Qualifications/Skills

 Qualifications in a physics or mathematics-related subject

 The ability to work in teams, as well as being able to utilise extensive engineering knowledge

Automotive Engineering
What is Automotive Engineering?
Automotive engineering is the process of the design, production and operation of
vehicles such as cars, trucks, buses and other ground-based vehicles. From the
early stages of design to the production, an automotive engineer oversees all
aspects of the product design lifecycle of a vehicle.

Essential Automotive Engineering Qualifications/Skills

 A degree in either mechanical, automotive, electrical or production and manufacturing

engineering
 The ability to analyse and interpret data, have a unique approach to problem solving, along
with the ability to be able to prioritise workloads and stick to tight deadlines

Building Services Engineering?

What is Building Services Engineering?
Being a building services engineer involves a number of tasks depending on which
area of work it is, but it generally involves the development of the internal functions
of a building, such as the power, health and safety, security and heating. The
engineer negotiates contracts for the project as well as organising the work of the
contractors involved.

Essential Building Services Engineer Qualifications/Skills

 Qualifications in public health, mechanical engineering or electrical engineering

 Being able to negotiate and develop contracts for projects with clients and managing and
forecasting expenditure, keeping the project to budget are all highly desirable skills in this
sector
Chemical Engineering
What is Chemical Engineering?
Chemical engineering is the development and experimentation of machines and
plants, which lead to chemical reactions in order to create valuable products and
solve everyday problems. Many industries such as pharmaceutical, energy and
water treatment facilities harness chemical engineering.

Essential Chemical Engineering Qualifications/Skills

 An accredited BEng degree in chemical engineering or process engineering

 The ability to manage budgets, time, projects and people

Civil Engineering
What is Civil Engineering?
Civil engineering is the design of structures such as bridges, tunnels, car parks, train
stations or railways. There are two types of civil engineer jobs – consulting and
contracting. A consulting civil engineer is responsible for the communication of the
plan between the client and contracting engineers. The contracting engineers take
the plans from the consulting engineer and begin physical development of the
project.

Essential Civil Engineering Qualifications/Skills

 A degree or postgraduate master’s degree in civil engineering

 Strong maths and IT skills as well as being able to articulate design ideas

Commercial Engineering
What is Commercial Engineering?
Commercial engineering involves the creation of landmark buildings but is generally
a broad role which covers a range of engineers who have extensive knowledge, not
only for the practical applications of engineering, but also the needs of businesses
and prospective customers.

Essential Commercial Engineering Qualifications/Skills

  Generally, skills for this sector include strong interpersonal skills, being able to manage
projects in tight deadlines and ability to think outside of the box

Commissioning Engineering
What is Commissioning Engineering?
In commissioning engineering, the engineers involved oversee the installation of the
systems onsite and is generally responsible for the troubleshooting and client
operation training. Writing reports and documentation as well as co-ordinating work
to deadlines are tasks which a commissioning engineer is typically responsible for.

Essential Commissioning Engineering Qualifications/Skills

 A degree in a mechanical, civil or electrical field

 Problem solving, managerial and leadership and strong people and communication skills

Computing and IT Engineering

What is Computing and IT Engineering?
Generally trained in software design and hardware/software integration, computing
and IT engineeringis the process of analysing and designing hardware, software and
operating systems for computers. These engineers focus on making computers
faster and more efficient.

Essential Computing and IT Engineering Qualifications/Skills

 Essential qualifications for a role in this sector include a software or computer science related
degree
 Desired skills are critical thinking, time management and quality control analysis

Construction Engineering
What is Construction Engineering?
Construction engineering is an important part of the development of a construction
project. This particular role involves planning and directing projects, from the initial
design of the project right the way through to conducting surveys and overseeing
daily construction activities, making sure the plans are on the right track.
Essential Construction Engineering Qualifications/Skills

 A degree in either engineering mechanics or engineering design can lead to a role in this field
 Being able to solve problems, possessing strong analytical skills and being a team player are
desired in this field

Contracting Engineering
What is Contracting Engineering?
Generally, contracting engineering involves turning the plans of a building into a
reality through the physical building of the project. The engineer oversees all aspects
of the project from start to finish. Working with the design team to implement any
changes is also a part of this role.

Essential Contracting Engineering Qualifications/Skills

 Typical skills required for a role in this sector are being able to work tightly with the team as
well as the architects to implement any changes to the building, as well as being able to
oversee projects and a team of people.

Defence Engineering
What is Defence Engineering?
Defence engineering is the development and production of technology that focuses
on national security and stability of governments throughout the world. The
engineers in this sector are responsible for the design and production of military
equipment, vehicles and systems. Engineers in this sector have strong science, IT
and mathematics skills.

Essential Defence Engineering Qualifications/Skills

 Normally a three-year BEng or a four year MEng degree is needed for a job in defence
engineering
 Maths, IT and science skills as well as solid decision-making skills

Design Engineering
What is Design Engineering?
Design engineering is the research and development of ideas which lead to new
products. It requires a creative and innovative mind along with strong technical
knowledge in order to implement CAD tools into high quality details technical
designs.

Essential Design Engineering Qualifications/Skills

 A degree in mechanical, civil, computer or electrical related subjects

 A strong knowledge of CAD and CAE
 Strong skills in maths, science and IT

Electrical Engineering
What is Electrical Engineering?
Focusing on the design and manufacturing of electrical systems for buildings,
transport and construction, electrical engineers are involved with the design right
through to the implementation of electrical systems. This could include the wiring or
the lighting of buildings.

Essential Electrical Engineering Qualifications/Skills

 A degree or a master’s in electronic engineering

 Strong technical knowledge, project management skills

Electronics Engineering
What is Electronics Engineering?
A smaller, yet imperative sector, electronics engineering deals with the circuitry and
tiny intricacies of electronics. The engineers in this field generally test and design the
circuitries which are found in consumer electronics, digital electronics or analogue
electronics.

Essential Electronics Engineering Qualifications/Skills

 A degree in electronics engineering

 The ability to plan projects, write specifications and technical reports

Environmental Engineering
What is Environmental Engineering?
This is the branch of engineering concerned with the protection of people from the
adverse effects the environment can cause, such as pollution or global warming.
The engineers in this sector generally work to improve the environmental conditions
and public health.

Essential Environmental Engineering Qualifications/Skills

 Degree in environmental engineering

 Writing specifications, planning budgets and projects

Estimator Engineering
What is Estimator Engineering?
Estimator engineering is where the estimators make estimated costs of delivering
services or product to a client. The engineer will do this through an estimation of the
project cost and adjust the budget accordingly. The engineers in this sector must
work closely with the construction managers and buyers.

Essential Estimator Engineering

Qualifications/Skills
 Degree in construction management, engineering or equivalent
 Working closely with a team, exceptional maths and interpersonal skills

Facilities Management Engineering

What is Facilities Management Engineering?
Facilities management engineers maintain buildings to ensure the equipment within
operate an optimum efficiency and their operations continue running smoothly. The
purpose of this is to prevent risks occurring in the environment as well as making
sure resources are not overused.

Essential Facilities Management Engineering Qualifications/Skills

 Degree in engineering or HND/Foundation degree or apprenticeship experience

  Interpersonal, time management, ability to research and extrapolate information from a
number of sources

Geotechnical Engineering
What is Geotechnical Engineering?
Geotechnical engineering involves construction soil or rock. These engineers
evaluate the quality of the soil and other elements to determine whether the
particular project is suitable for the chosen site or not. Some projects may need
building on hills or swamp areas which can prove difficult, but a geotechnical
engineer can overcome these obstacles.

Essential Geotechnical Engineering Qualifications/Skills

 Geotechnical engineering degree or ideally an accredited degree

 Ability to work in a team, confident manner, presentation skills and willingness to accept
responsibility

Health & Safety Engineering

What is Health & Safety Engineering?
Health and safety engineering involves the health and safety of others in the
workplace. The responsibilities for this role can include producing safety
programmes to prevent hazardous working conditions and ways to avoid them in the
future.

Essential Health & Safety Engineering Qualifications/Skills

 A degree in engineering, mechanical, chemical or industrial

 Exceptional communication skills, ability to prioritise, problem-solving skills

Hydrology Engineering
What is Hydrology Engineering?
Hydrology engineering is the focus of quantity and quality of water on the land
surface. The general responsibility of a hydrology engineer is to test the quality of
water or checking the development of flood risk maps. The skills of this engineer are
particularly useful when working in developing countries when testing the level of
quality in drinking water.

Essential Hydrology Engineering Qualifications/Skills

 Degree in biochemistry, geology, geophysics, mechanical engineering

 Strong knowledge in engineering, ability to solve problems, commercial awareness and
excellent time management skills

Infrastructure Engineering
What is Infrastructure Engineering?
The role of an infrastructure engineer is to maintain the IT system within an
organisation. These engineers are imperative for the smooth running of the
operation. There are two types infrastructure engineers; network and hardware. The
network engineer generally focuses on the set up of the internet and communication,
whereas the latter focuses on the development and testing of the hardware.

Essential Infrastructure Engineering

Qualifications/Skills
 Degree in IT, computer science or engineering
 Strong problem solving skills, able to think logically and on the spot, excellent communication
skills

Instrumentation & Control Systems Engineering

What is Instrumentation & Control Systems Engineering?
An engineer in this sector generally deals with project budgets, researching relevant
topics, creating test procedures and interpreting data. Working under pressure and
to tight deadlines is a plus, as well as the ability to work well in a team. A control and
instrument engineer will also be expected to be fluent in fluid dynamic, material
selection, control and system engineering.

Essential Instrumentation & Control Systems

Engineering Qualifications/Skills
  Degree in applied physics, computer, chemical or mechanical engineering
 Strong communication and problem solving skills as well as an excellent attention to detail

Manufacturing Engineering
What is Manufacturing Engineering?
Engineers with a high level of technical expertise as well as analytical thinking are
strong attributes to have in this role. This sector is spread across a number of
industries, such as food and drink, pharmaceuticals as well as oil.

Essential Manufacturing Engineering Qualifications/Skills

 A degree in engineering, or a mathematic or mechanical based degree

 Strong communication, creative thinking as well as interpersonal skills

Marine Engineering
What is Marine Engineering?
Marine engineering is the engineering of ships, boats, oilrigs and other vessels which
reside in the sea. Engineers in this sector generally design, build, test and repair
these nautical vessels and are usually involved with the same work with drilling
equipment and offshore platforms such as oilrigs.

Essential Marine Engineering Qualifications/Skills

 Educated to a degree level in science, engineering and technology. Degree in marine

engineering is a plus
 Technical knowledge, communication and negotiating skills as well as people management
skills

Materials Engineering
What is Materials Engineering?
Materials engineering involves the research, specification development and design
of materials which allow various technologies to progress. The engineers in this field
generally have a strong understanding of the properties of many raw materials and
substances.
Essential Materials Engineering Qualifications/Skills

 A degree in materials science or materials engineering

 Problem solving skills, interpersonal skills as well as ability to work in a team

Mechanical Engineering
What is Mechanical Engineering?
Mechanical engineering is a broad discipline and is usually associated with
manufacturing, construction, transport, or anything which can be thought of as a
machine. An understanding of mechanics, thermodynamics and materials science
are amongst the few skills required for mechanical engineering.

Essential Mechanical Engineering Qualifications/Skills

 Degree in mechanical engineering

 Ability to lead a team, problem solving, data analysis and ability to accurately quality control

Petroleum, Oil & Gas Engineering

What is Petroleum, Oil & Gas Engineering?
Involved with the production of hydrocarbons such as natural gas or crude oil,
petroleum, oil and gas engineers are responsible for the economical and
environmentally safe handling of the activities related with this. There are a number
of engineers in this sector, such as subsurface engineers, reservoir engineers or
drilling engineers. Knowledge of geophysics, drilling and economics are a
requirement for this role.

Essential Petroleum, Oil & Gas Engineering Qualifications/Skills

 Degree in aeronautical, mechanical, civil or petroleum engineering

 Strong analytical, team working and team leading skills

Planning Engineering
What is Planning Engineering?
A planning engineer is the individual responsible for the overseeing and planning of
activities which are required to complete a project. Larger projects are generally
carried out on behalf of governments or construction companies.

Essential Planning Engineering Qualifications/Skills

 Degree in engineering
 Leadership skills, good attention to detail, creative thinker, strong maths and literacy skills

Plant Engineering
What is Plant Engineering
This sector employs the engineers who are responsible for the safety and efficiency
of power plants. They are also responsible for the maintenance and repair of
machinery and other equipment. Plant engineers are usually employed a few at a
time by larger companies to ensure absolute cover onsite throughout the day and
night.

Essential Plant Engineering Qualifications/Skills

 Degree in civil, electrical, chemical or nuclear engineering

 Strong problem solving skills, ability to manage, strong communication skills

Power Engineering
What is Power Engineering?
Power engineering is one of the most important forms of engineering. An engineer in
this sector is responsible for the generating of electricity and ensuring the power is
distributed across millions of homes and businesses. A power engineer usually
designs and constructs the motors and generators responsible for the distribution of
electricity.

Essential Power Engineering Qualifications/Skills

 Degree in electrical engineering

 Strong communication skills, problem solving as well as strong team working skills

Process Engineering
What is Process Engineering?
A process engineer develops the industrial processes which lead to the
manufacturing of products such as food, drink, fuel, pharmaceuticals, toiletries and
clean water to name a few. This form of engineering is heavily involved with
chemical and biochemical processes leading to the change of raw materials. Some
of the duties involved are designing equipment and installing control systems.

Essential Process Engineering Qualifications/Skills

 Degree in chemical, industrial or manufacturing engineering

 Skilled in technical processes, knowledgeable in sales, marketing. Strong maths and IT skills.

Production Engineering
What is Production Engineering?
Production engineers are responsible for the strategies which go into devising how a
particular product will be made, which machines will be used during the
manufacturing of the product and how it can be done using the most efficient and
safest ways possible.

Essential Production Engineering Qualifications/Skills

 A BSc in industrial, production or mechanical engineering

 Team leadership, time management, excellent maths and technical skills

Project Management Engineering

What is Project Management Engineering?
Project management engineering involves the planning and management of projects,
ensuring everything is completed within an allotted timescale as well as within the
given budget. Writing plans which involve the clients’ timescales, budget and
resources are involved in this role.

Essential Project Management Qualifications/Skills

 Qualification in PRINCE2 (projects in controlled environments), degree in project

management
  Time management skills, logical thinking, ability to problem solve as well as excellent
organisational skills

Quality Engineering
What is Quality Engineering?
A quality engineer assesses products to ensure they achieve the standard set by the
clients’ specifications. These engineers also focus on the improvement of current
processes through the collection of information from operations.

Essential Quality Engineering Qualifications/Skills

 A degree in project management, engineering

 Excellent written and oral skills, project management skills as well as being able to meet
deadlines and have an analytical mind

Rail Engineering
What is Rail Engineering?
This sector is responsible for the maintenance and improvement of railway systems
around the country while working to design further improvements to eventually
change the older systems and adapting to today’s newer technology. An engineer in
this sector will build and service the systems on the train engines as well as the
mechanical and electrical systems.

Essential Rail Engineering Qualifications/Skills

 Degree in civil or transport engineering

 Time management skills, ability to prioritise as well as excellent analytical skills

Research & Development Engineering

What is Research & Development Engineering?
Research and development engineers are responsible for the research of new
materials and current manufacturing processes. Finding solutions to existing
problems and ways to improve them are important parts of this role.
Essential Research & Development
Qualifications/Skills
 Degree in aerospace, civil, chemical, mechanical, electronics, depending on the field
 Problem solving, leadership, analytical and communication skills

Site Engineering
What is Site Engineering?
Site engineers are responsible for the application and design of plans to mark the
site. These engineers can be involved in a wide range of industries, whether it is
road, civil or rail. It is a broad role and can vary depending on the project and its
needs.

Essential Site Engineering Qualifications/Skills

 Degree in civil, construction, electronics engineering. Depending on the discipline

 Skills include strong team player, solid maths and analytical skills as well as good technical
abilities

Software Engineering
What is Software Engineering?
Responsible for the development and implementation of software in a number of
environments, a software engineer is a popular role in the IT sector. A broad
technical knowledge as well as fault finding, writing programs as well as analysing
user requirements are strong skills to have for this role.

Essential Software Engineering Qualifications/Skills

 Degree in computer science or other IT related equivalent qualification

 Strong technical and IT skills, as well as able to think logically and promptly, as well as being
able to work well in large teams

Surveying Engineering
What is Surveying Engineering?
Surveying engineers are involved with the testing and trials of new equipment.
Specific roles within this field can include the repair and maintenance of electronics,
fault finding, calibration of measuring devices and the installation of equipment on
remotely operated vehicles or on board ships.

Essential Surveying Engineering Qualifications/Skills

 Degree in civil engineering

 Must be self-motivated, resourceful, work well as part of a team and possess strong
communication skills

Systems Engineering
What is Systems Engineering?
Systems engineering is the sector involved with the co-ordination of the teams and
control of machinery. It is the field of engineering which focuses on the complexities
of how projects should be managed and designed over its lifecycle.

Essential Systems Engineering Qualifications/Skills

 Degree in systems engineering

 Able to stick to strict deadlines, tight budgets and being able to work well as part of a team

Telecoms, Digital Comms & Networks

Engineering
What is Telecoms, Digital Comms & Networks Engineering?
This field of engineering focuses on the design and development of communication
networks for voice, data and multimedia applications. These engineers are
responsible for the rapid progression of the internet, mobile phones and wireless
communications.

Essential Qualifications/Skills

 Degree in telecommunications, electronic or computer engineering

 Skills include solid managerial skills as well as being able to manage time efficiently and
appropriately
Test Engineering
What is Test Engineering?
Test engineers are responsible for the creation of processes to test particular
products in manufacturing or quality assurance. These engineers are essential to the
IT industry, as they ensure particular systems are working to specification and that
particular products meet the objectives of the design brief.

Essential Test Engineering Qualifications/Skills

 A degree in the appropriate field of engineering

 Being able to communicate effectively, possess solid maths and literacy skills as well as
strong technical knowledge

Transportation Engineering
What is Transportation Engineering?
Transportation engineering is the sector responsible for the construction of the UK’s
roads and public transport. These engineers are required for accurate road
development for the UK as well as the planning, design and management of the
facilities for transportation.

Essential Transportation Engineering Qualifications/Skills

 A degree in civil, transportation or rail engineering

 Skills include excellent time management skills as well as being able to lead a team
effectively and efficiently

There are a large number of disciplines in the engineering world, with each of these
having a unique attribute separating them from each other. Engineering is a broad
industry, offering a variety of jobs which require a varying spectrum of qualifications.