Most Demanding Engineering Fields in Future

All along the line, today's engineering students have many training opportunities that can lead to excellent short and long-term career prospects. Check out the best engineering careers for the future below:

Mechanical engineer

In 2014 there were 277,500 mechanical engineers with an average of $ 83,590 a year. More than 14,000 of these jobs are expected to be added by 2024. A promising development for machine builders is the rise of the Internet of Things, the huge network of interconnected devices and sensors.

According to IT research company Gartner, 26 billion IoT units from network equipment to factory-integrated infrastructure will be installed by 2020. This increase offers machine builders numerous opportunities to design and maintain the required IoT hardware and software.

Biomedical engineering

Biomedical engineers had a particularly solid career perspective in the 1920s. The total number of jobs in this area is expected to exceed 27,000 by 2024. This is an increase of 23% over 2014, which is much faster than the average growth rate of all professions in the United States. The average salary was over $ 86,000.

An aging global population, coupled with the increasing complexity of medical devices (e.g. network connectivity), has created an important opening for biomedical engineers in the coming years. These professionals are advised to develop the medical technology needed to treat patients on a larger scale than ever before.

Electrical engineer

Electrical engineers design and build critical components of various communication systems and infrastructures, including IT devices such as laptops and smartphones. They have a very high average wage of $ 95,230 a year.

While the sector is unlikely to create many new jobs by 2024, local employment will be high with over 315,000 jobs starting in 2014. Changes in employment in manufacturing affect future opportunities for electrical engineers. The expansion of the IoT could be advantageous for electrical engineers who are significantly involved in the design of the circuits of the IoT devices.

Where engineers' careers lead: paths to keep in mind

There are many different types of engineering than the three examined above, although this trio shows a good section of where engineering is leading. Increasing attention to computer hardware and software, network connectivity for the Internet of Things and the medical industry will change the career of millions of engineers around the world.

Against the background of this general trend, let's take a look at 5 more specific paths that are currently taking shape and becoming magnets for the best engineering students:

1. Robot technology

"Rise of Robots" is an important issue for the future of work and productivity. The International Robotics Federation has estimated that 1.3 million industrial robots will be used in factories around the world by 2018. Robots can perform many common tasks related to work that previously had only been performed by humans, eg . B. the assembly of complex electronics and support during operation.

Consequently, the demand for robotics engineers should be substantial as the field expands and a "fourth industrial revolution" develops, according to the IFR. You should be expert in:

·         Industrial design.
·         Behavioral control of the robot.
·         Social implications of robotics.
·         Autonomous robots.
·         Research on robotic applications.
·         Mechanical maintenance.
·         Creation of the algorithm.

Bachelor's and Master's programs can help develop these skills. There is also a considerable overlap with information technology, mechanical engineering and electrical engineering. Robotics engineers will make important contributions to the IoT.

2. Water / environmental technology

The demand for environmental engineers, especially those with experience in water systems, is increasing. One reason is the increasing attention of many states and municipalities to the quality and economic accessibility of their water resources.

Environmental engineers are also involved in high-tech projects such as designing environmentally friendly energy systems, including windmills, hydropower plants, and solar infrastructures. The job growth rate is 12 percent or more above the national average.

3. Data science and computational engineering

Many future engineering professions combine classic elements of mechanical engineering and electrical engineering with principles from relatively new areas such as computer programming and data analysis. Computational engineering is an excellent example of this combination. Computer engineers have interdisciplinary skills (including electrical engineering, math, computer science, and computer science) that enable them to solve problems using statistical models, computer algorithms, and other techniques that arise when operating large amounts of data. These specialists could work in the following areas:

·         Transport.
·         Power.
·         Physics.
·         Data science.

4. Aerospace engineering

Aerospace engineers help design aircraft and spacecraft. The good news for this sector is that the demand for these vehicles is likely to be strong in the foreseeable future.

KPMG predicted that the civil aviation and space market will need another 27,000 passenger aircraft, 24,000 commercial aircraft and 40,000 helicopters between 2013 and 2031. The aerospace engineers are in an excellent position to meet these requirements with their technical and research skills.

5. Development of virtual and augmented reality

In recent years, virtual and augmented reality have been a top priority for technology companies like Facebook (which acquired VR headset maker Oculus), Google and Apple. Virtual Reality / Virtual Reality involves using a visor or display to project new images onto what someone would see with the naked eye.

VR / AR has many uses in areas such as games and advertising. According to Markets and Markets estimates, the VR market alone could reach $ 33.9 billion by 2022, after just over $ 1 billion in 2015. Become an engineer with hardware and software experience, which is in great demand for development of the next generation of VR / AR devices for consumers and businesses.

Today there are many interesting opportunities for engineering students. UCR offers a practical and flexible online program for engineering with specializations in the fields of mechanical engineering, environmental and electrical engineering, as well as data science, materials in the nano range and bioengineering. Visit our program page to find out more today.