Versatile Career Choice

Engineers are innovative and understand how ideas are turned into reality. Engineers are vital to happiness, safety, and health. They understand infrastructure and buildings like no one else. Just as importantly, engineers are essential to the energy industry. They are constantly trying to find ways to create efficient ways to generate and transmit power to your home. They are at the heart the process of creating nuclear energy. They design wind turbines and advance clean coal technology. If you are already an engineer or this is where your career path is leading you, the news is certainly good. Engineers are in high demand and entry level salaries are above average. Do you need more education? The answer is definitely a resounding yes, but there is no doubt it is well worth it. There are many types of engineers making this degree extremely versatile.

Electrical power and energy engineers make a big difference in the world of energy by working to assure that electric energy is generated and delivered reliably and efficiently while advancing environmental quality improvements. They help customers use electric energy to meet their needs economically. Electrical power and energy engineers are also driving the technologies of the future.

An environmental engineer develops techniques to recover usable materials and reduce waste created during manufacture of a product, including energy. Environmental engineers also design air pollution control for power companies and may also be responsible for monitoring systems in a facility for compliance with environmental regulations.

Mechanical engineers in the energy industry design and operate fossil fuel, hydroelectric, conventional, nuclear and cogeneration power plants. They are involved in all aspects of the production and conversion of energy from one form to another. Mechanical engineers are also involved in exciting projects such as developing alternatives to thermal energy, power cycle devices, fuel cells, gas turbines and innovative uses of coal, wind and tidal flow.

A nuclear engineer has a range of responsibilities at a nuclear power plant, including helping to develop complex troubleshooting plans to support plant operations. The nuclear engineer also monitors, assesses and improves the performance and reliability of plant systems and components.

Solar Energy Systems engineers design, develop, and evaluate energy-related projects and programs to reduce energy costs or improve energy efficiency during the designing, building, or remodeling stages of construction. Energy engineers may specialize in electrical systems; heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems; green buildings; lighting; air quality; or energy procurement.

Source: “Get Into Energy.” Get Into Energy. Web. 22 Mar. 2013.