How You Can Become an Engineer

Aerospace engineers: Develop aeroplanes, spacecraft, missiles, and other vehicles and machines that fly here in Earth's atmosphere or in outer space. Aerospace engineers who specialise in aircraft are called aeronautical engineers, while those who focus on spacecraft are called astronautical engineers.

Agricultural and biological engineers: Combine their expertise in engineering technologies and biological sciences to develop, for example, agricultural machinery and structures. They also work to solve related environmental problems, such as soil erosion, and create new ways to use agricultural byproducts and natural resources.

Biomedical engineers: Use their knowledge of engineering, medicine and biology to find creative solutions to medical and health-related problems. Some biomedical engineers, for instance, design devices for medical procedures, while others develop artificial organs or artificial joint replacements.

Chemical engineers: Combine engineering and chemistry principles to study the production and uses of chemicals in a wide range of practical applications. For example, it is often a chemical engineer who works on improving food-processing techniques or developing better fertilizers.

Environmental engineers: Use their backgrounds in engineering, biology and chemistry to solve problems that have an environmental element. They can be involved in everything from controlling water and air pollution to creating effective recycling programs to conducting studies on hazardous-waste management.

Industrial engineers: Typically work in manufacturing facilities, making sure that organisations produce their products as efficiently, cost effectively and safely as possible. Some industrial engineers are involved in designing production processes and factory-floor layout schemes. Others address work site or product safety and health issues so that both workers and the consuming public are protected.