Types of Engineers what is Engineering
I've spent 26 years of my life working as an engineer and it never ceases to amaze me how few non-engineering people understand what one is or even the differences between the major types of engineering. Part of the problem is the term engineer is overused terms such as "domestic engineer" which refers to a housewife or "chief engineer" for maintenance supervisor in an apartment or hotel or "sanitation engineer" for a garbage worker. Are they really engineers? In my opinion, "no".
An engineer is an interface between researchers and society. Their job is to take prototypes from the research labs like the bi-polar transistor and create stereo amplifiers or computers or perhaps the peristalic pump and make an artificial heart or perhaps a boiler and use it in a design to make a steam engine. This occupation has existed for literally thousand of years and as long as humans are around, will continue to exist.
Having said that, what are the major fields of engineering? There are four, Civil, Mechanical, Electrical and Chemical Engineers. Civil Engineers are the builders and frequently are called upon to design buildings, roadways and railroads. If you can see it, a Civil Engineer was involved with it. Within this field, are subspecialities such as Traffic Control (ha! and you thought the timing of the traffic lights were done at random), Structural (very important field to measure forces on structures to ensure they won't collapse if built) and Materials (understanding the different types of concrete, their advantages and disadvantages is not as simple as one would think).
Mechanical Engineers are the energy specialists. For some reason, most non-engineers will assume mechanical means they only design mechanical things like engines but they are way more talented than that. Who is responsible for making sure the amount of fuel burned in a power plant, provides the maximum amount of power? Who decided what components would be used to manufacture your car's air conditioning system? Who reviews the design of high-rise climate control systems to make sure the building is cool during the summer and warm during the winter? Because their job deals with both Civil and Electrical Engineering issues, it is not uncommon for mechanical engineers to have taken classes in both areas while working on their degree.
Electrical Engineers work with things that can't be seen. An Electrical Engineer designed the power lines that brings power to your neighborhood. Another designed the electronics used in the computer you're using right now. Still another designed the solar panels used on the Space Station orbiting Earth overhead. Persons who have this degree are required to take a number of math courses to allow them to understand the mathematical descriptions of what they're working with.
Chemical Engineers are the mixing and refinement experts. One created the process used to refine the gasoline you pumped in your tank this week. One figured out what components to use for the paint on the outside of your house. Still another designed the process used to dye that favorite aloha print shirt you have in the closet from your college days. There is a tendency to confuse a Chemical Engineeer with a Chemist and the best way to tell the difference between the two is to ask if the person in question is involved with figuring out how distribute items to society or researching new items for society.
Are these all the engineering fields that exist? Nope, not by a long shot and there are many specialties such as aerospace engineers (involved in space based technologies such as satellites or life support systems), nuclear engineers (involved in nuclear power generators), biomedical engineers (design prosthetics and medical monitoring equipment), acoustical engineers (if you can hear it, they did it), forensic engineers (called upon to figure out why something collapsed or blew up), industrial engineers (efficiency experts) etc. You will find persons in these fields either got a degree in one of the four types of engineering shown above or it was their major field of study while getting a degree.
So hopefully this has helped to provide some insight into the world of Engineering. Remember to hug Your Friendly Neighborhood Engineer Today!
