An engineer is a specialist who creates new technical devices or technological processes and improves existing ones. This profession is the main one on the path of scientific and technological progress.
The country has set a course for scientific and technological progress, the introduction of innovative technologies. The scientific and technological breakthrough has become one of the key national priorities. The main specialist on this path is none other than an engineer. That is why this profession will be in demand for many decades to come.
Specialists with high-quality engineering education will never get lost in life. Before getting a diploma, people of this profession gnaw at the granite of science, comprehending such disciplines as higher mathematics, physics, thermodynamics, strength of materials (the legendary strength of materials, which is more difficult than nuclear physics), machine parts, as well as economics, production management, foreign languages with an in-depth study of technical terminology. All this diversity and huge amounts of digestible material train the brain so powerfully that a person with an engineering degree can be safely called an intellectual commando. Comprehension of the exact sciences is not a mechanical memorization of formulas, it is an understanding of logical connections and patterns, the ability to structure a task. That is why people with an engineering education, even if they have to change their field of activity, still find themselves at a loss – they succeed as lawyers, journalists, entrepreneurs.
Who is it engineer?
An engineer is a specialist who creates new technical devices or technological processes or improves existing ones. Repair and restoration of equipment also belongs to the engineering field. In fact, all the objects around us are the fruits of engineering. Houses, roads, bridges, cars, planes and trains, spaceships, factories and dams, computers, mobile phones, X-ray machines and dental chairs have all been invented and perfected by engineers. And if something goes wrong, they fix it.
By the way, working as an engineer is the path to world fame. Famous inventors and designers – Archimedes, Leonardo da Vinci, Nikola Tesla, Elon Musk.
A good engineer always relies on scientific knowledge, and in order to create objects that serve a person with their help, it is necessary to have technical thinking, spatial imagination, and engineering ingenuity.
Specializations
Engineering is divided into many areas, here are the main ones.
Design engineer
Develops parts and mechanisms, as well as entire components and products in general. It can be engines, cars, wagons and even pieces of furniture. A specialist of this profile not only creates drawings or spatial images of the product on a computer, but also participates in their production and testing. The peculiarity of the work of a design engineer is that, when developing a particular product, it is necessary to take into account what equipment you will use to create it. There are two ways: either a new production line is created for a new product, or, if it is expensive, then the design should be such that it can be manufactured with the maximum use of existing technologies. When it comes to cars, the design engineer knows the car like the back of his hand. Therefore, it can work both at a car factory and in car repair shops and car dealerships.
Civil engineer
This is another mass direction in the specialty. A civil engineer is engaged in the design, construction and repair of buildings and structures, roads, bridges, as well as planning, organizing and coordinating construction work.
He can work in a design organization or directly at a construction site. Create graphic layouts of buildings or run around the construction site. A separate area is the construction of roads and bridges. Before the revolution, there was such a custom: when testing a structure, an engineer stood under a bridge. This showed: I vouch for the quality of life. This is not currently part of the code of engineering honor, but some specialists do.
Mining engineer
The development of mineral deposits is also an engineering path. A mining engineer is engaged in the design and construction of mines, wells, tunnels, drilling rigs, ways of transporting minerals, drainage and ventilation of the deposit.
Environmental engineer
Now, great attention is paid to compliance with environmental requirements during technical work. An environmental engineer can develop systems for the treatment of wastewater and industrial emissions into the atmosphere, participate in the organization of production and make proposals for the use of materials and technologies that are not harmful to the environment. An environmental engineer can even kill a project if it harms nature.
Electronic engineer
This is a 21st century profession. An electronics engineer is responsible for computers, mobile phones, household appliances: TVs, dishwashers. You can also talk about high things – electronics engineers are also working on robotics, communication systems, including space ones. Now an important direction is the processing and systematization of large databases, this is also called “big data”.
Profession engineer – Pros
- Being an engineer is very rewarding. In principle, if you understand the engine or understand why the plane flies, then you can fix the tank and the faucet in the kitchen. Any engineer knows how to hold a screwdriver in his hands, so he is not afraid of any household breakdowns.
- The work of an engineer is creative, and this is interesting.
- A huge amount of learned material forms a broad erudition, which allows you to work in different fields. A normal engineer will never starve.
- There is a pioneer romance in the profession. This is the creation of new technology, the laying of roads, the development of new areas, the construction of cities and factories.
- The engineer sees the fruits of his work and can be proud of them. New cars, bridges, houses, attractions. An engineer can proudly show his handiwork.
Profession engineer – Cons
- Despite all the advantages, the profession of an engineer also has disadvantages.
- You have to think a lot – not everyone can do it.
- The spread in salaries is very wide, not all engineering specializations provide a high income.
- Quite a lot of routine associated with paperwork. Although, on the other hand, if we are talking about a creative team, then with the proper organization of work, the most “headed” can be freed from the routine so that there is more time for technical creativity.
Where to get an education
It is very important to choose the right university, because graduates of prestigious universities, as a rule, get an interesting, promising and well-paid job immediately after receiving a diploma. Moreover, they are picked up even before graduation, in senior years. So where do you go to study?
Of course, it is impossible to learn engineering in any short-term courses. Those who promise this and promise diplomas are scammers. But retraining or advanced training courses are definitely needed for existing specialists. Many regulations provide for the need to confirm qualifications every 5 years.
Today, applied science is developing rapidly, and in order to meet the requirements of the time, a specialist must master related disciplines and deepen his knowledge in the basic specialty. At many enterprises, personnel departments monitor this and periodically send employees for retraining and advanced training. Large enterprises also have their own retraining centers.
If someone wants to improve their knowledge on their own, then it is better to contact existing universities. Almost every one of them has institutes for advanced training. That’s where you need to improve.
The training courses usually last from 2 weeks to 3 months.
Demand
The engineering profession is one of the most sought after. Automobile fleets, subways, railways, construction, utilities – technical specialists are needed everywhere. This is a daily job for everyone and for everyone.
Engineers are also needed in breakthrough areas where new technologies are being developed, an attempt to guess what will “shoot” in 15-20 years and where we can be among the world leaders if we start working on this area right now. Thus, China has quietly become a world leader, for example, in the construction of high-speed rail transport.
In the coming years, the profession of an engineer will not lose its relevance.
Employment and career
Employment at first depends on the educational institution where the specialist studied. With a diploma from a strong university, employment is not a problem. At many universities, representatives of large companies are looking for specialists in their senior years. In the future, a career will depend on the personal qualities of a person.