An engineering degree is an investment that can take your career in many directions. While some educational backgrounds prepare students for a single profession, an engineering degree can lead to a diverse array of occupations, in areas as far ranging as music, sports, conservation, and construction.
When you earn a bachelor’s or master’s degree in engineering, you may enter the program with the expectation that you will end up working in a traditional role, such as that of a civil, mechanical, or chemical engineer. However, your career can take unexpected twists when you have a background in engineering. If you’re looking for something outside the norm, consider one of the following alternative careers for engineers.
Alternative Careers for Engineers
An engineering degree doesn’t mean you have to stick to conventional roles. Engineers are needed in countless industries and fields, allowing graduates to apply their expertise in a way that aligns with their interests. Some possible alternative careers for engineering professionals include the following.
1. Skate Park Engineer
Engineers help design and construct bridges, buildings, and other structures. However, if you’re looking for something beyond the ordinary, what about skate parks? These areas where skateboarders, cyclists, and Rollerblade skaters can safely practice their sport need to be designed with care. Improper angles or incorrect spacing can turn these parks from fun to hazardous in an instant.
To help prevent injuries and ensure the functionality of the park for skaters, skate park engineers need to be involved in planning and construction. According to The Skatepark Project, developing a skate park can take anywhere from six months to five years, depending on size, materials, layout, and other factors.
Engineers are also needed to design playgrounds, snowboarding half-pipes, theme parks, and other recreational areas. Consider indulging your inner child while making use of your engineering degree in one of these interesting positions.
2. Sports Engineer
Counting down the minutes until you can get home and watch the big game? Whatever your sport of choice, you can indulge your passion for athletics while working as an engineer. Sports engineers help to research and develop the equipment and environments of the sports industry, from shoes to stadiums. While sports scientists typically measure and enhance the performance of the athletes themselves, sports engineers are more concerned with the development of products used by the athletes. A sports scientist may look at an athlete’s swing, for example, while a sports engineer may focus on the bat.
Aspiring sports engineers should pursue an undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering, physics, medical physics, or sports medicine, according to Indeed. A graduate degree such as a Master of Science in Engineering can advance your technical skill, and a sports technology certification can further develop your knowledge about sports equipment and tech.
3. Food Engineer
There’s more to making a sandwich than just slapping some peanut butter and jelly on bread. Before the ingredients of any meal get to your kitchen, a lot of work goes on behind the scenes in food creation and sales, much of which involves food engineers. Since everyone needs to eat, food engineering is an especially important alternative engineering career.
When you work with food as an engineer, you may end up on the chemical side of the process, working with elements such as preservatives, or you may be in production, which can entail tasks such as ensuring safe packaging of food or managing the equipment in factories.
According to the Houston Chronicle, common backgrounds for professionals in this position include industrial engineering, chemical engineering, and food science, either at the bachelor’s or master’s level. Precise educational requirements will vary based on what facet of food engineering you wish to pursue.
4. Preservation Engineer
If you spend your weekends reading about historical structures or watching home renovation shows, a career as a preservation engineer may be for you. When historical buildings need to be preserved, there’s a lot that goes on to ensure that the integrity and design of the original structure is retained. This focus is a specialty in the field of structural engineering.
When working as a preservation engineer, you may evaluate historical buildings, consult on renovations, and ensure the cost-effectiveness of projects. You will likely work within a larger team in these efforts, and may collaborate with others in related fields, such as architects and historians. Consequently, interpersonal skills are key.
The role of engineers in preservation has not always been clearly defined, but it is a subspecialty that is growing in importance. In 2003, the APT Preservation Engineering Technical Committee was formed to promote the role of engineers in this field, encourage continuing education efforts for those in the industry, and establish a process for the work.
As a preservation engineer, you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing that you’re playing a role in maintaining the history of your community. It’s an important job that ensures that the past is not completely sacrificed in the name of progress.
5. Pyrotechnic Engineer
Clearly, fireworks displays don’t go off all by themselves. A great amount of work takes place before the first fuse is lit, and engineers are well placed to play an important role in the design of these blazing signs of celebration. If you have expertise in engineering and an interest in fire science, you may want to consider a career as a pyrotechnic engineer.
Firework design is a rapidly advancing field that has come a long way from the gunpowder and bamboo creations of the past. In this role, you can experiment with materials and combinations to create products and displays that will enhance the performances of musicians, celebrate important sporting events, and more.
If you’re interested in entering the field, a background in chemical engineering will serve you well. However, even with a master’s of engineering degree, you will still typically need to pass a safety certification course. Many companies offer their own program, but you will need to look into specific requirements when you apply for jobs.
6. Fashion Engineer
While you likely will not find the specific term “fashion engineer” on a job posting, there are a number of careers that allow engineers interested in apparel to pursue these two passions. For example, the background in math and science that an engineering degree offers can be particularly beneficial in developing running shoes or creating lightweight, breathable materials. Engineers can even pursue careers in cosmetics and other beauty products.
However, if you’re interested in working in retail, the design of items and materials isn’t your only option. Engineers sometimes create the machines that produce clothing and may also determine the amount of merchandise to send to a particular store. It may take some creativity, but it’s entirely possible to apply your engineering skills in the fashion world.
7. Race Car Engineer
Although drivers get most of the glory in Formula 1 racing, engineers behind the scenes work tirelessly to create the perfect driving machine. Race car engineers are responsible for the design, construction, and performance of vehicles. Race cars consist of several different parts, and some engineers focus on engines while others work on aerodynamics.
Race car engineers rely on a combination of vehicle diagnostics and close communication with the driver to monitor track performance. The goal is to create a vehicle that best reflects how the driver wants the car to handle.
According to Dominic Haines, race car engineer for the Haas F1 Team, it takes a deep background in mechanical engineering to make it in racing. Additionally, you should be prepared to work under pressure and travel a lot, as racing season requires teams to compete around the world.
”Nonengineering” Alternative Careers for Engineers
Being an engineer doesn’t have to involve design and construction. While these alternative careers rely on an engineering background, their daily duties lie outside the conventional bounds of engineering work.
1. Technical Writer
After completing an engineering degree, you shouldn’t feel pigeonholed into a position that has “engineer” in the title. If you enjoy putting pen to paper, you may find that you enjoy writing about engineering more than actually working in a traditional industry role.
Working as a technical writer, you’ll be able to act as a liaison between engineers and the general public, translating technical jargon into stories, press releases, or even instructional aids. While engineering companies often need communication professionals with expertise in the field to write their own publications, you do not have to work with this kind of specialized firm. Magazines, newspapers, and other more general publications also need science writers, and they’ll likely see a degree in engineering as a major asset.
2. Product Tester
Engineers design and create products; however, most products aren’t perfect right out of the gate. They need to be tested to work out any kinks before moving into mass production. This is where a product tester, also referred to as a product test engineer, comes into play.
Product testers review either a specific product or the process surrounding a product, ensuring that the process or product meets standards of safety, efficiency, and quality. As such, product testing represents a vitally important alternative career for engineers.
Product testers are also responsible for devising the testing measures to evaluate a product or process. When an issue or a failure is identified, the product tester offers solutions. The critical role of the product tester helps prototypes advance to production.
3. Construction Manager
Building a structure such as an office building or apartment complex is a massive undertaking that requires competent leadership. Construction managers ensure that construction stays on schedule, that it adheres to the predetermined budget, and that stakeholders are kept informed of the project’s progress.
Construction managers should be extremely organized and skilled at delegating. Although construction managers don’t build anything themselves, they’re responsible for keeping employees on task and on schedule. They also deal with unforeseen challenges, such as adverse weather, building material shortages, and staff turnover.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics recommends an undergraduate degree in business, construction, or a related field for aspiring construction managers. A master’s in engineering can expand your engineering expertise and open the door to senior-level job opportunities.
4. Occupational Health and Safety Manager
Occupational health and safety managers oversee safety policies, procedures, and evaluations. This includes establishing safety procedures in the event of an accident in the workplace, such as a fire or chemical spill.
Health and safety managers run regular safety programs to keep employees aware of current safety regulations and best practices. In the event of an accident or other incident, they investigate the issue, identify its causes, and take steps to prevent its recurrence.
Common work environments for health and safety managers include warehouses, chemical plants, and construction sites. Before earning a master’s in engineering, aspiring safety managers may consider an undergraduate degree in human health, chemistry, or environmental health sciences.
5. Technical Sales and Marketing
Engineers spend their careers conceptualizing, creating, and testing products; however, creating a product is only the front end of the process. New products need to be marketed and sold to start turning a profit; this is where technical sales and marketing comes in.
A technical sales representative specializes in selling scientific products, such as software, electronic equipment, and chemicals. Technical sales representatives possess scientific knowledge about the product while also having the interpersonal skills to clearly and compellingly relay that information to potential customers.
Technical sales representatives generally work in industries like telecommunications, manufacturing, biology, and chemistry. A significant part of the job is establishing and maintaining relationships with customers, so they must be excellent communicators with strong presentation skills.
Engineers who know their product information, can effectively relay it, and aren’t afraid to put in the effort to meet their sales goals do well in this role. Aspiring technical sales representatives should consider an undergraduate degree in marketing or business, followed by a master’s in engineering.
Become an Engineer in a Field of Your Choice
Plenty of alternative careers for engineers exist outside the standard industries of civil, mechanical, and chemical engineering. You can enter the exciting world of Formula 1 as a race car engineer or chase your dream of a career in athletics as a sports engineer. Opportunities for engineering graduates who are passionate about their goals are available all over the country.
If you’re drawn to engineering in its many forms, you should consider investing in your education. The Master of Science in Engineering at the University of California, Riverside is fully online, with no residency requirement, and can be completed in as few as 13 months. The program can help graduates develop the essential tools and knowledge to enter the job market and make an immediate impact in their fields.
Take the first step to a career in engineering — traditional or otherwise — with the University of California, Riverside.
Recommended Readings
Bioengineering vs. Environmental Engineering: How They Differ
Biomedical Engineering: Salary, Careers, and Education Requirements
Sources:
Indeed, “What Is a Sports Engineer? (And How To Become One)”
Indeed, “What Is a Technical Sale Rep? (With Duties, Qualifications and Skills)”
Motorsport, “How to Become an F1 Race Engineer — Qualifications, Skills & More”
PracticalAdultInsights, “What Does a Product Test Engineer Do?”
The Association for Preservation Technology International
4. Preservation engineer
If you spend your weekends reading about historical structures or watching home renovation shows, a career as a preservation engineer may be for you. When historical buildings need to be preserved, there is a lot that goes on to ensure that the integrity and design of the original structure is retained. This focus is a specialty of the field of structural engineering. When working as a preservation engineer, you may find yourself responsible for tasks such as evaluating historical buildings, consulting on renovations and ensuring the cost-effectiveness of projects. You will likely work within a larger team in these efforts, and may collaborate with others in related fields, such as architects and historians. Consequently, interpersonal skills are key.
The role of engineers in preservation has not always been clearly defined, but it is a subspecialty that is growing in importance. In 2003, the APT Preservation Engineering Technical Committee was formed to promote the role of engineers in this field, encourage continuing education efforts for those in the industry and establish a process for the work.
As a preservation engineer, in addition to the professional fulfillment that comes from using your skills in an intellectually stimulating role, you will have the satisfaction of knowing that you are playing a role in maintaining the history of your community. It is an important job that ensures that the past is not completely sacrificed in the name of progress.
5. Pyrotechnic engineer
Clearly, firework displays do not get up into the air all by themselves. There is a great amount of work on the back end that occurs before the fuse is lit, and engineers are well-placed to play an important role in the design of these blazing signs of celebration. If you have expertise in engineering and an interest in the science of fire, you may want to consider a career as a pyrotechnic engineer. Firework design is a rapidly advancing field which has come a long way from the gunpowder and bamboo creations of the past. In this role, you can experiment with materials and combinations to create products and displays that will enhance the performances of musicians, celebrate important sporting events and more.
If you are interested in entering the field, a background in chemical engineering will serve you well. But even with a master’s of engineering degree, you will still typically need to pass a safety certification course. Many companies offer their own program, but you will need to look into specific requirements when you apply for jobs.
According to the job and salary website Indeed, the average salary of a pyrotechnic engineer is $76,000.
6. Fashion engineer
While you likely will not find the specific term “fashion engineer” on a job posting, there are a number of careers that allow engineers interested in apparel to pursue a career that combines these two passions. For example, the background in math and science that an engineering degree offers can be particularly helpful in developing running shoes or creating lightweight, breathable materials. Engineers can even pursue careers in makeup and other beauty products.
However, if you are interested in working in retail, the design of items and materials is not your only option. There is also demand in the manufacturing and sale of retail items as well. Engineers are sometimes used for responsibilities such as creating the machines that produce the clothing and determining the amount of merchandise to send to a particular store. It may take some creativity, but it is entirely possible to use your engineering skills in the fashion realm.
7. Technical writer
When you complete an engineering degree, you do not need to feel pigeonholed into a position that carries the specific title of engineer. If you enjoy putting pen to paper, you may find that you enjoy writing about engineering more than actually working in a more traditional role in the industry. Working as a science writer, you will be able to act as a liaison between engineers and the general public, translating technical jargon into stories, press releases or even instructional aids. While engineering companies often need communications professionals with expertise in the field to write their own publications, you do not have to work with this kind of specialized firm. Magazines, newspapers and other more general publications also need science writers, and they will likely see a degree in engineering as a major asset.
While the job and salary website Glassdoor reported that the average salary of a science writer is $64,481, professionals with a higher science degree – such as a master’s of engineering – are often well-placed to pursue a position that makes well above the average.
Recommended Reading:
5 Careers for Environmental Engineering Grads
Leading U.S. Cities with The Best Opportunities for Engineering Graduates
University of California, Riverside Online Master of Science in Engineering
Source:
ISEA, HOW TO BE A SPORTS ENGINEER
Engineering.Com, Engineering Job Market Growth is Slow Entering 2016
Chron, What Kind of Degree Do You Need to Be a Chemistry Teacher?