Engineers
apply the principles of science and mathematics to develop economical
solutions to technical problems. Their work is the link between
scientific discoveries and the commercial applications that meet
societal and consumer needs.
Many engineers develop
new products. During the process, they consider several factors. For
example, in developing an industrial robot, engineers specify the
functional requirements precisely; design and test the robot's
components; integrate the components to produce the final design; and
evaluate the design's overall effectiveness, cost, reliability, and
safety. This process applies to the development of many different
products, such as chemicals, computers, powerplants, helicopters, and
toys.
In
addition to their involvement in design and development, many engineers
work in testing, production, or maintenance. These engineers supervise
production in factories, determine the causes of a component’s failure,
and test manufactured products to maintain quality. They also estimate
the time and cost required to complete projects. Supervisory engineers
are responsible for major components or entire projects.
Engineers
use computers extensively to produce and analyze designs; to simulate
and test how a machine, structure, or system operates; to generate
specifications for parts; to monitor the quality of products; and to
control the efficiency of processes. Nanotechnology, which involves the
creation of high-performance materials and components by integrating
atoms and molecules, also is introducing entirely new principles to the
design process.
Most engineers
specialize. More than 25 major
specialties are recognized by professional societies, and the major
branches have numerous subdivisions.
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Engineering Resources |
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Online |
Overview:
Overview of Engineering |
Engineering Disciplines:
Descriptions of Specific Engineering Degree Fields |
Preparation:
Admission Requirements, Alternate Degree Paths, Graduate
Programs, Accredited Programs |
Day in the Life:
Teams and Coworkers,
Tasks, the Workplace |
Earnings:
Employer Options, Salary Ranges, Types of Employers |
Employment:
Statistics, Industries, Employers |
Career Path Forecast:
Predictions, Employers |
Professional Organizations:
Resources, Networking, Support |
Internet Resources:
 American Academy of
Environmental Engineers
American
Council of Engineering Companies
American Institute of
Aeronautics and Astronautics
American Institute of Chemical
Engineers
American Nuclear Society
American Society of
Agricultural Engineers
American Society of Civil
Engineers
ASME
Institute of Electrical and
Electronics Engineers
Institute
of Industrial Engineers
TryEngineering |
Note: Some resources in this section are provided by the US Department
of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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