One of the most difficult questions an engineer has to answer is: What does an engineer do? One can answer the question with a description of his or her job, but that would describe only a small part of the world of engineering. Perhaps a more correct answer would be "anything". But that is not very enlightening. I could show job titles of my engineering classmates from my college alumni directory. Along with the rather cryptic "Joe Smith, che 70, dir des eng, American Widgets" one would also find listing showing that engineers are working as bank officers, lawyers, retail merchants, etc.
I think I could best define engineering as the use of scientific and technical knowledge in the design of devices, equipment, structures, or other things.
Most engineers, or most of the engineers that choose to remain in the field of engineering, work for companies that manufacture products that require technical knowledge to design.
What is the difference between a scientist and an engineer? Both scientists and engineers deal with physical science, including chemistry, physics, math, etc. The fundamental difference is that scientist discover knowledge about the world while engineers use this knowledge to create new things. In other words, the essence of engineering is design. But even that definition is not perfect. Some scientists do design. For example, some chemists design new molecules and then figure out how to make the new chemical from other chemicals on an industrial scale. Many computer programmers, who design software programs, have degrees in Computer Science, a field of academic study that is closer to engineering than science. The essence, therefore, of engineering is design.
That said, I must point out that, while many of us do spend a large part of our time doing engineering design, the real work of engineering includes many other activities, including sales, maintenance, management, and other activities.
Who does an engineer work for? Many engineers are working just where you would expect them to be: large, high tech, industrial companies designing, selling, and servicing equipment. Others work in manufacturing plants that make "low tech" consumer products but require technology in the manufacturing process. Many work for engineering firms that design everything from industrial plants to highways and buildings.
Who should consider a career in engineering? One requirement is an interest in math and science. An engineering education is very intensive in math and science; it takes both interest and ability in them to survive the four years of an undergraduate education. But is engineering suitable for someone who has other interests? What about other abilities, the ability and desire to work with people, for example. That is perhaps more important, particularly to one's success on the job and throughout a career. Only a few engineers work alone in a lab. Most work for large organizations and have to work with many people, often from other countries and cultures. The "soft skills" of interpersonal relationships are perhaps more important than the technical skills to an engineer's career.
Go To Page: 1 2
