Engineering Career Guide

 

Potential Roles in Engineering

---

Engineers have the benefit of being able to choose from a wide range of engineering disciplines in which to train and specialise. Roles exist at entry-level, graduate and senior levels, with plenty of scope for career growth across all areas.

Electrical engineers work in any field that uses electrical products or systems, for example, power generation and distribution, electronics, construction, control systems, Telecomms and computing. Electrical engineering jobs centre on the principles of mathematics and physics and how they translate to industries that rely on electrical power.

Robotics engineers design, build, programme and maintain robotic machines for businesses and organisations that use automation. Robotics engineering jobs exist in the aerospace, automotive, medical, packing and manufacturing industries, amongst others. Robotics engineering is often at the cutting edge of innovation and can provide exciting opportunities to work with forward-thinking and dynamic businesses.

Chemical engineers work in chemical manufacturing, designing and implementing solutions for various industries, including food, pharmaceutical, energy and fuel. Some of the chemical engineering specialities include electrochemical, biochemical and nuclear engineering. Jobs in chemical engineering can offer excellent opportunities at all levels.

Civil engineers plan and improve the infrastructure and built environment of our communities. Civil engineering jobs may involve working with buildings, highways, airports, hospitals, waterways, bridges, and other structures or systems we rely on in society. Some civil engineers specialise in areas such as coastal regions, water processing, highways or buildings.

Mechanical engineers design mechanical products and oversee their use and maintenance. Mechanical engineering jobs involve assessing existing mechanical systems, researching and developing ways to improve them, and working with computer software (CAD/CAM) to design solutions. Engineers may then oversee a team of technicians building and maintaining the systems.

 

Salary and Career Progression

---

Engineering careers typically provide a lot of scope for career progression and attract salaries well above the national average wage.

Electrical engineers have vast potential to advance in their careers with experience and ongoing training. Engineers specialising in one area, particularly high-value areas like power distribution or large-scale construction, can take very senior positions for commercial companies or government bodies. A graduate electrical engineer can expect to start on a salary of around £22,000, whereas senior and specialist electrical engineers can earn upwards of £130,000.

Robotics engineers can advance to senior levels through generalised operations or by specialising in one area of robotics. The average salary for a robotics engineer in the UK is around £39,000. Entry-level engineers start on about £26,000, and for senior job positions, salaries above £100,000 are not unusual.

Chemical engineers can enter the industry at graduate level and progress to senior consulting roles with time and further training. Some engineers focus on the job’s design and planning aspect, while others pursue the operations and plant management route. Graduate salaries start at around £30,000, rising to £100,000 and above with experience and further training. Contracting or working in high-value fields such as oil, gas, and nuclear can attract much higher salaries.

Civil engineers can progress into consulting, project management, and specialised roles, with experience and further training. However, they must achieve chartered status to compete for senior jobs. Salaries in civil engineering can be very lucrative. Graduates start on around £30,000, with experienced civil engineers earning £130,000 and above if they choose to specialise.

Mechanical engineers can progress in their careers with the option to take senior project management or consulting positions with relevant experience and training. Salaries start at around £20,000 for entry-level positions, rising to £80,000 or more for senior roles. Consultants and specialists can earn upwards of £130,000.

 

 

Qualifications, Education and Experience

---

Electrical engineers may need the following:

• 4-5 GCSEs grade 9 to 4 (A** to C) and A’ Levels or equivalent to access training in electrical engineering (your chosen college or university will specify minimum requirements)
• An apprenticeship or college course in electrical engineering as a minimum to enter the workplace
• A Bachelor’s degree in a related field, such as electrical, electromechanical or electronic engineering
• A Master’s degree for some roles
• A Construction Skills Certification Scheme card to work on construction sites
• Electrical engineers can apply for professional registration with the Institution of Engineering and Technology

Robotic engineers typically need:

• 4-5 GCSEs grade 9 to 4 (A** to C) and 2-3 A’ Levels in subjects including maths and physics, to access a suitable training course
• An apprenticeship in engineering
• A Bachelor’s degree in an engineering field, such as mechanical, electrical or computer engineering
• A Master’s degree or other postgraduate studies for some job positions
• Robotics engineers can apply for professional registration with the Institution of Engineering and Technology

Chemical engineers must have a high level of education and advanced qualifications, including:

• 4-5 GCSEs grade 9 to 4 (A** to C) and 2-3 A’ Levels to access a degree course
• A Bachelor’s degree in chemical, biochemical or process engineering (your degree must be accredited by the Institution of Chemical Engineers for you to progress to chartered status at a later date)
• A Master’s degree or PhD for some roles
• Chemical engineers can apply for professional registration with the Institution of Chemical Engineers

Civil engineers need:

• 4-5 GCSEs grade 9 to 4 (A** to C) and 1-3 A’ Levels or equivalent
• An apprenticeship OR a higher national diploma OR a foundation or Bachelor’s degree
• A Master’s degree or post-graduate qualifications for some roles
• Civil engineers can apply for professional registration with the Institution of Civil Engineers

Mechanical engineers must have:

• A Higher National Diploma in Mechanical Engineering to work as a technician as an entry route to further training to become a mechanical engineer
• 4-5 GCSEs grade 9 to 4 (A** to C) and 2-3 A’ Levels, including in maths and physics, to access a degree course
• A higher or degree apprenticeship OR Bachelor’s degree
• Work experience to stand out from the competition when applying for jobs
• Mechanical engineers can apply for professional registration with the Institution of Mechanical Engineers

 

Skills

---

Engineers in every discipline must balance hard and soft skills to work well in a team, communicate their ideas effectively and carry out the technical work required for their role.

Electrical engineers must have the following skills:

• A conscientious approach to work
• The ability to risk assess situations
• Sound knowledge of mathematical principles
• Knowledge of computer systems and industry software tools
• Attention to detail
• Good written and verbal communication skills
• Diligence
• Analytical skills

Robotics engineers need the following skills:

• Sound knowledge of maths and physics
• Problem-solving
• Knowledge of computer systems and industry software tools
• Logic and reasoning
• Good written and verbal communication
• Patience and persistence

Chemical engineers must have the following skills:

• Attention to detail
• Analytical and problem-solving skills
• Innovative thinking
• Sound knowledge of maths and physics
• Good written and verbal communication
• Knowledge of relevant IT systems and tools

Civil engineers need the following:

• Critical thinking
• Problem-solving
• Excellent written and verbal communication
• Creativity
• An understanding of complex maths principles
• Diligence
• Analytical thinking

Mechanical engineers must have:

• A sound understanding of maths and physics
• Analytical thinking and problem-solving
• IT and computer skills
• Knowledge of relevant software design tools
• Attention to detail
• Innovative thinking
• A natural ability to fix equipment and machinery
• An inquisitive approach
• An interest in the way things work

 

 

Working Hours

---

In most cases, careers in engineering typically involve working standard office hours of 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, with weekends and bank holidays off work. If the expected working hours for a role are outside these times, it should be outlined in the job listing.

However, engineers who work with automation or industrial machinery (often robotics or mechanical engineers) may need to work on-call shifts to keep production running and deal with any problems as they arise.

Depending upon the work, civil engineers may also work outside of office hours to complete a project as quickly as possible to minimise the impact on the local community.

 

Notable Locations

---

Engineering jobs are available across the UK in city, town and countryside locations. Many of the large engineering employers in the UK are global companies, which can mean that employees have the opportunity to travel with their work.

Smaller regional companies also employ engineers in various capacities, although career progression and salaries may be limited.

Some larger companies with headquarters in the UK are located in:

• Surrey (Siemens and ExxonMobil)
• London (Shell, GSK and Balfour Beatty)
• Cheshire (AstraZeneca)
• Hertfordshire (Tesco)

A career in engineering also opens doors to working around the world, for British companies operating overseas or global companies.

 

Notable Companies

---

• ExxonMobil: a global energy provider and chemical manufacturer with its HQ in Texas and offices worldwide.
• GSK: a global biopharma company employing chemical, mechanical and automation engineers, among other disciplines.
• Shell: a global energy and petrochemical company with three UK locations, employing engineers across specialities.
• Siemens: a German technology company operating in more than 200 countries and employing engineers from all disciplines, including mechanical, electrical and chemical.
• Balfour Beatty: an infrastructure group that manages large-scale civil projects from start to finish and trains and employs civil engineers.
• RedR: a disaster relief charity providing engineering support to countries in need.
• General Electric (GE): specialises in the healthcare, energy and aerospace sectors, employing engineers from all disciplines in locations around the world.

 

Next Steps

---

Sign up to JobLookup for the latest engineering jobs straight to your inbox, and read The Ultimate Jobseeker Guide for tips and advice on landing your next role.