INDUSTRIAL CAREER GUIDE
Whether you’re saving the environment from climate change, making a workplace safe or streamlining operations to make someone’s job more efficient, industrial careers can be some of the most rewarding out there. DuroVac have detailed some of the most popular industrial career paths that you may (or may not) have heard of, and how you can launch your career in the industrial sector.
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- Environmental Engineer
- Facilities Manager
- Occupational Health & Safety Specialist
- Industrial Engineer
- Materials Engineer
- Mechanical Engineer
Environmental Engineer
Environmental engineers are responsible for designing and implementing technology which helps
protect and improve the environment. This can include sanitation, disposal of waste and harmful
products, managing flood risk and drainage, and more.
As businesses race to become more environmentally efficient and reduce their carbon footprint,
environmental engineering is becoming an increasingly relevant field.
Responsibilities Include:
Assessing the environmental impact of their projects/commercial operations
Conducting research and gathering data sources on environmental impact
Creating plans to repair environmental damage and protecting from further damage
Design and implement technologies/waste management systems that reduce pollution and company waste
Liaising with policy makers and organizations on relevant environmental issues
Skills Required:
Degree Required?
Bachelor’s degree in environmental engineering or a related field
– civil, chemical or general
engineering (avg. 4 years).
A master’s degree may be preferred by some employers and may lead to further job progression.
You can find over 199 Environmental Engineering Masters courses here:
Work-Life Balance
- Travel to sites expected; this might require working outside normal office hours and potentially staying overnight or longer.
- Site work occurs year-round and in all weathers.
- Hours may be longer in case of emergencies or deadlines.
Median Salary
Job Progression
Environmental engineers can gain recognized qualifications to gain licensure, allowing higher levels of leadership (not necessary for entry-level positions):
A qualification on the Fundamentals of Engineering / a passing score on a (FE) exam
4+ years work experience in a relevant field
Professional engineering qualification / passing score on a (PE) exam
A degree from an ABET-accredited engineering program
Visit The National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) for more information on engineering exams, credentials and licenses.
Demand
The field is forecasted to grow by 8 percent between 2016 and 2026, which is as fast as the average for all occupations.
Source(s):
https://www.prospects.ac.uk/job-profiles/environmental-engineer https://www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/environmental-engineers.htm#tab-4 https://www.environmentalscience.org/career/environmental-engineer https://www.livescience.com/48390-environmental-engineering.html https://www.careerexplorer.com/careers/environmental-engineer/ https://www.careerexplorer.com/careers/environmental-engineer/salary/ https://www.payscale.com/research/CA/Job=Environmental_Engineer/SalaryFacilities Manager
Facilities managers are responsible for the management of services and processes within a
business. They oversee operations whilst also being responsible for managing work environment
standards, inventory, health and safety, property and more.
There are several different routes you can take as a facilities manager within a range of
industries. It’s a versatile, challenging and rewarding role role to pursue.
Responsibilities Include:
Managing, supervising and coordinating work done in the plant
Planning future developments
Managing change to ensure as little disruption as possible
Monitoring performance and improvements
Responding to emergencies
Skills Required:
Degree Required?
Bachelor’s degree, typically in business, engineering, facilities or information management,
although there is no specific degree needed for this role.
Accredited qualifications: You can view over 50 courses in the USA for facilities management here:
Work-Life Balance
- Longer hours may be required to meet deadlines
- Some roles with 24-hour operations may require shift work
- Long-term projects may require flexibility in location
- Overseas work possible
Job Progression
Facilities managers can gain recognized qualifications to gain licensure, allowing higher levels of
leadership and opening opportunities for further career progression.
The IFMA refers to the following recognized qualifications:
Facility Management Professional (FMP)
Certified Facility Manager
Sustainability Facility Professional
RICS Chartered Qualification (MRIS)
RICS Associate Qualification (AssocRICS)
Visit the International
Facility Management Association for more information on certifications and career progression in
the facilities management industry.
For more information on how you can improve your ‘soft’ skill sets, we’d recommend having a read of
Engineering & Leadership’s blog post on ‘how to
become your company’s top engineer.
Demand
Employment is projected to grow 10 percent from 2016 to 2026, faster than the average for all occupations
David Macartney
Title: VP, Engineering & Production
Interpretation of the systems sold into actual feasible deliverables, quality control
Production manager at our fabrication shop (outsourced)
The flexibility, the challenges, solving key and major technical integration issues from all disciplines (mechanical, utilities, electrical, instruments, ergonomics, etc.)
Occupational Health & Safety Specialist
Occupational health and safety specialists are responsible for ensuring workplace facilities and
practices don’t expose employees to harmful or unsafe environments.
They are responsible for ensuring that everyone adheres to safety policies and that their
workplace complies with safety legislation.
Responsibilities Include:
Carrying out health and safety checks to identify hazards in the workplace
Risk assessments
Working with managers to enforce health and safety regulations and legislation
Employee training
Investigating accidents and liaising with organizations to recognize the causes/identify how accidents like this could be prevented in the future
Skills Required:
Degree Required?
Bachelor’s degree in occupational health and safety or in a related scientific or technical field –
such as engineering, biology or chemistry.
You can find an array of universities offering Occupational Health and Safety degrees here:
Work-Life Balance
- May be required to work irregular hours in the event of an accident
- Shift work also possible
- Mixture of office work and visiting working premises (factory, building site etc.)
- Travel common for those responsible for multiple sites
Job Progression
Occupational health and safety professionals can earn professional certifications, including:
Certified Safety Professional (CSP)
Associate Safety Professional (ASP)
Occupational Health and Safety Technologist (OHST)
Construction Health and Safety Technician (CHST)
Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH)
You can find a list of professionally recognized health and safety courses available in North America here.
Demand
Employment is projected to grow 8 percent from 2016 to 2026, which is about as fast as the average for all occupations.
Source(s):
https://www.osha.gov/ https://www.dol.gov/general/topic/safety-health https://www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/health-and-safety-engineers.htm https://bit.ly/2xupXyK https://www.shponline.co.uk/global-legislation/occupational-health-and-safety-in-the-usa/ https://www.astutisinternational.com/north-america/nebosh-courses.html https://www.bcsp.org/ https://www.reed.co.uk/career-advice/how-to-become-a-health-and-safety-officer/ https://www.payscale.com/research/CA/Job=Health_and_Safety_Manager/SalaryIndustrial Engineer
An industrial engineer's main responsibility is to streamline operations. industrial engineers
analyze and
evaluate existing practices in the workplace and identify areas for improvement.
These improvements are to eliminate waste in production processes. They do this by balancing
multiple factors such as time, workforce safety, automation and environmental concerns.
Responsibilities Include:
Testing new methods and creating innovative solutions
Review process flows and identify opportunities to minimise waste and improve efficiency
Maintaining the (legally) required documentation
Design complex systems through statistical analysis, quality control e.g. material handling systems, production systems and facilities.
Employee training
Skills Required:
Degree Required?
Bachelor’s degree, in industrial engineering or a related subject – mechanical, electrical,
manufacturing or general engineering.
Graduate degrees can give an advantage.
Work-Life Balance
You may be required to work longer hours and irregular shift patterns – depending on the
industry. So, maintaining a good work-life balance in the industrial engineering industry can be
a challenge, particularly in the early stages of your career. However, this isn’t always the
case and will vary per organization/sector.
There are plenty of resources available for engineers who are looking to improve their work life
balance e.g.
Job Progression
Industrial engineers can gain recognized qualifications to gain licensure, allowing higher levels of leadership (not necessary for entry-level positions):
A qualification on the Fundamentals of Engineering / a passing score on a (FE) exam
4+ years work experience in a relevant field
Professional Engineering qualification / passing score on a (PE) exam
A degree from an ABET-accredited engineering program
Demand
Employment is projected to grow 10 percent from 2016 to 2026, faster than the average for all occupations.
Ravi Peri
Title: Engineering Manager
Design Engineering using SolidWorks, solving technical issues with overall offering.
Started by doing contract/freelance SolidWorks design work for us.
The flexibility, the challenges (lots of them!), the drive to innovate at DuroVac.
Source(s):
https://www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/industrial-engineers.htm https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-engineering-schools/industrial-engineering-rankings https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-engineering-schools https://mime.oregonstate.edu/what-do-industrial-engineers-do https://business.linkedin.com/talent-solutions/job-descriptions/industrial-engineer https://www.payscale.com/research/CA/Job=Industrial_Engineer/SalaryMaterials Engineer
Materials engineers use their expertise to design and develop new and existing materials. They
are specialists in understanding the properties of different substances.
Materials engineers work in a range of industries. They use their expertise to combine or modify
materials to improve their performance. The job area is also known as materials science or
materials technology.
Responsibilities Include:
Testing and selecting materials for specific purposes and properties
Developing prototypes
Supervising production process
Liaising with other departments to discuss manufacture, purchasing and marketing
Skills Required:
Degree Required?
Bachelor’s degree in materials science and engineering or a related field.
Master’s degrees can also be beneficial, as can courses with industrial placements.
For more information on how you can get into materials engineering, take a look at the top best
engineering schools here:
Work-Life Balance
- Shift work possible depending on industry
- Mainly office and/or lab work
- Possibility for manufacturing site visits
- Travel a possibility, especially in global companies
Job Progression
Materials engineers can gain recognized qualifications to gain licensure, allowing higher levels of leadership (not necessary for entry-level positions):
A qualification on the Fundamentals of Engineering / a passing score on a (FE) exam
4+ years work experience in a relevant field
Professional Engineering qualification / passing score on a (PE) exam
A degree from an ABET-accredited engineering program
Demand
Employment is expected to grow by 2 percent from 2016 to 2026, slower than the average for all occupations.
Source(s):
https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-engineering-schools https://www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/materials-engineers.htm https://collegegrad.com/careers/materials-engineers https://www.prospects.ac.uk/job-profiles/materials-engineer https://www.payscale.com/research/CA/Job=Materials_Engineer/SalaryMechanical Engineer
One of the most diverse engineering disciplines, mechanical engineering plays a key role in the
designing and implementing of moving parts. These could be anything from miniature components to
huge industrial plants and machinery.
Nearly all industries have some form of mechanical system, so mechanical engineers are in demand
across most sectors.
Responsibilities Include:
Researching and developing products
Designing and implementing product modifications
Developing and testing theoretical designs
Producing specifications and prototypes
Planning and designing production processes
Managing projects and resources
Skills Required:
Degree Required?
Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering.
Master’s degrees and industrial placements can also be useful for gaining experience and job
progression.
Work-Life Balance
- Work may include extra hours
- Weekends or shift work generally unusual
- Visits to factories and building sites common
- Overseas travel may be required
Job Progression
Mechanical engineers can gain recognized qualifications to gain licensure, allowing higher levels of leadership (not necessary for entry-level positions):
A qualification on the Fundamentals of Engineering / a passing score on a (FE) exam
4+ years work experience in a relevant field
Professional Engineering qualification / passing score on a (PE) exam
A degree from an ABET-accredited engineering program
Demand
Employment is projected to grow 9 percent from 2016 to 2026, as fast as the average for all occupations
Pritika Saini
Title: Technical Communication & Planner
Project management, project planning, liaison between internal teams and external (clients, suppliers)
The flexibility, the challenges, the responsibilities and the bird’s eye view of projects