ENGINEERING | AREAS OF WORK
ENGINEERING CONSULTANCY Use technical expertise to advise clients on perplexing engineering matters.
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esponsible for providing advice specific to the sector as well as relevant projects, engineering consultants are usually hired by companies to assist in conceptualising and managing projects in-house experience may not be able to cover. For instance, a rail company that wants to adopt new tunnelling technology may need to engage the services of a consultant to assess the suitability of the new technology as well as the organisation’s ability to use it for future projects. Bigger engineering consultancy firms like Surbana, Arup and Mott MacDonald generally comprise multidisciplinary teams of qualified engineers and other buildingrelated professionals catering to multiple areas of expertise, from airport crosswind monitoring to urban planning. On the other hand, there are also medium-sized or smaller companies, which, in contrast, may instead specialise in a specific area, such as geotechnical, environmental or structural engineering.
Career overview Defining clients’ needs and translating them into designs for new facilities, equipment or systems; conducting initial fact-finding surveys, project inception, formulation and concept planning; as well as managing and supervising engineering projects for clients, sometimes internationally, are just some of the typical work activities common in this industry.
But there is more to this line of work, and engineering consultants can also be found supervising subcontractors who, in turn, provide specialist assistance for parts of the project, like organising the project’s logistics, which includes purchasing materials and overseeing the supply chain; and liaising with others involved, such as architects and local authorities.
Trends and developments The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) has exploded on the engineering scene in recent times, leading to a growing significance of data and automation. And while automation and robotics are definitely not new in the trends and developments department, constant technological advancements mean that they are continuously revolutionising the sector. Sustainable engineering, a mix of social science, environmental science and civic engineering, also emerged not too long ago, propelled to the fore by Singapore’s water scarcity challenges.
Career highlights Various learning opportunities The opportunity to work on a variety of projects is one of the high points of a career in this sector. Graduates will not only be constantly picking up new competencies, skills and knowledge, but they will also be at the forefront of technology development.
Career progression As graduates continue to gain experience and skills, there will be the option to work towards a chartership and higher managerial positions. A wide variety of connections Engineering consultants often find themselves working with professionals from many different fields, from clients in non-engineering sectors to experts in related fields. The connections made can be diverse, which can be useful in knowledge expansion in other industries, as well as for future career opportunities. Skills required in engineering consultancy
• Strong theoretical knowledge in area of specialisation • Ability to work in, and manage, teams • Strong interpersonal skills • Project management skills • Time management skills • Ability to work well under pressure • Creativity • Critical thinking skills
STEM Career Guide 2021
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