Jobs in engineering

Engineering graduates possess skills equipping them for many different careers. Within engineering itself, there are three main categories of work: aerospace; agricultural machinery; and process engineering and instrumentation. These service a multitude of sectors from electronics to food and drink.

Key areas of work

The construction industry especially seeks civil and structural, electrical, mechanical and environmental disciplines. Graduates can work in a range of environments, including construction sites, niche consultancies and public sector bodies, and responsibilities vary accordingly.

Within manufacturing, engineers are responsible for the safe and efficient planning, management and maintenance of production methods and processes. Key industries include food and drink, health, medical, pharmaceutical, chemical, electrical, electronic, materials and plastics/polymers. Degree requirements vary for each sector.

There are also good opportunities in the IT industry. Common roles for engineering graduates include application programming, software engineering, systems analysis, project managing, power engineering (electricity supply), and telecommunications.

Biomedical engineers research, design and develop products to diagnose and treat diseases, and are employed by university-linked and commercial research units. Relevant qualifications include physics, computer engineering, electrical and electronic engineering, mechanical engineering or mechatronics. Engineering graduates whose primary degree is not in the biomedical field can study at postgraduate level providing they have a relevant background.

Environmental engineering minimises environmental damage both internally in buildings and externally. Engineers can work on control systems for such things as ventilation, heating, pollution or light or on clean water supply. This area is open to many disciplines, eg civil and structural, mechanical, electrical and chemical.

There are many other positions and sectors available: health and safety positions, such as chief fire officer and engineering consultant, across a wide range of industries; work in the Patents Office, obtaining, protecting and granting legal monopolies on new products and processes; careers in technical sales and marketing; work as technical writers; and work in engineering research.

What skills do I need?

An engineering degree will have honed many skills that are attractive to employers: a strong understanding of technology; problem solving; numeracy; analytical and evaluative skills; and team work and project management. But in many cases you will also need to demonstrate a flexible approach to working and commercial awareness.

Engineering ahead

Most engineering fields continue to flourish, with leading Irish companies exporting globally. Employment prospects for engineering graduates are bright both here and overseas: currently 95 per cent of all engineering graduates in Ireland go into employment, many abroad.

A construction industry boom has created demand for civil and structural engineers and consultants, whilst growth in the IT sector should see electronic engineers remain highly sought after. Pharmachemical and biotechnological areas are also likely to grow, resulting in significant opportunities for chemical and biomedical engineers. Some regional specialities are developing, eg tool-making in the north-west and forklift manufacturing in the north-east.

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Your area of study: engineering
Your degree in biomedical engineering
Your degree in civil engineering
Your degree in electrical and electronic engineering
Your degree in mechanical engineering
Your degree in process engineering

Further information

For more information see the gradireland sector career guide Engineering, available to download from our Publications page.