6 dream career paths for engineering students

The increasing impact of technology means engineering is now at the forefront of some amazing industries and opportunities. Dakota Murphey explores some of the career options open to engineering students.

Aerospace engineering

It’s easy to see the appeal of exploring the universe and trying to answer some of the most fundamental questions we have as human beings. So it’s no surprise that in a recent survey, NASA topped the list as the employer most engineering students would like to work for. But it’s not just government space agencies offering jobs in aerospace engineering. Private companies like Bigelow, Virgin Galactic and Elon Musk’s SpaceX are all developing crafts for different forms of space travel and there are lots of opportunities in areas like satellite development too.

Motor sport engineering

When you talk about dream careers – how about combining engineering with your passion for motor sport? The opportunity to design, build and test racing cars and bikes is something that many would love to do for free, let alone earn a living from it. Motor sport engineering is certainly not an easy job – expect to put in a serious amount of travel, as well as working long and irregular hours. And if you’re lucky enough to attend a race weekend, remember you won’t get a spectators’ view, as you’ll be fine-tuning the vehicle’s performance.

Civil engineering

Some of the most famous names in engineering are civil engineers, and none more so than Isambard Kingdom Brunel. Perhaps one of the great attractions in civil engineering is the opportunity to be involved in the creation of structures that stand the test of time. Whether that’s in the building of dams, bridges, airports or roads, civil engineers have the chance to leave their mark on the world.

Electrical engineering

If you’ve ever been interested in how different household machines work, electrical engineering could be the perfect career path for you. This field of engineering offers the opportunity to get involved in everything from developing products for the home, to working in state-of-the-art buildings and more.

Robotics

Think of robotics and machines like ASIMO – the humanoid robot that can complete tasks like running and climbing stairs – often spring to mind. Many careers in robotics however, focus more on developing robots that are used to carry out work that is dangerous for humans, or performing tasks that humans simply can’t do. This is a growing industry so while you might not get the chance to create your own C3PO, there are still lots of opportunities to work in a cutting-edge field.

Environmental engineering

Environmental engineers look for ways to protect the environment. This can involve working on pollution control, waste treatment or recycling. So if you are interested in doing your bit for your surroundings or making a real difference to people’s lives – then this could be the perfect career path for you.

Dakota Murphey writes for BSE3D who specialise in mechanical and electrical engineering. Since graduating from university she’s had a multitude of jobs in different fields and now enjoys working as an independent writer specialising in the business and careers sectors.

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