Student Times Engineering by Jon-Paul Daly

Student TIMES

Engineering www.studenttimes.org

YOUR GUIDE TO THE AMAZING WORLD OF ENGINEERING

CO NT EN T

Yes, it’s Rocket Science and it’s British!

Introduction Page 2

Engineering Today Page 2 Jobs in Engineering Page 3

GIOVE-A satellite designed and built by SSTL in Guildford, UK. Launched in December 2005 as a technology demonstrator and to validate transmission frequencies for Europe’s global navigation system. www.sstl. co.uk

Engineering the Future Page 4

Roles for Graduates Page 5-6

Industrial Engineering Page 7

The Big Players in Engineering Page 7

Aerospace Engineering Page 8

Chemical Engineering Page 9 Study Engineering abroad Page 11

Study Engineering and be a Top Earner Page 10-11 Contacts and associations Page 12

INTRODUCTION

Issue 4 2007

StudentTIMES

Introduction Engineering is the application of art, science, knowledge, mathematics, technology and practical experience to the design and production of objects, tools or processes. Professional practitioners of engineering are called engineers. Engineers design and build aircraft (Aerospace), roads and buildings (Civil / Architectural), computers andnelectronics (Electrical), machines and vehicles (Mechanical), medical devices (Biomedical) and much, much more. Without engineering, the world would be a very different place.

Engineering Today The engineering sector is huge. The Engineering Employers’ Federation (EEF) is more than 6,000 member firms strong. There are an estimated 800,000 engineers in a sector employing roughly 1.7 million people in total. At the end of 2005 the total number of Engineering Council UK (ECUK) registered engineers stood at 243,077. Of these, 188,367 were chartered engineers, 41,603 incorporated engineers and 13,107 engineering technicians. TODAY, MOST engineering sectors are thriving. In particular, chemical engineering graduates command some of the best salaries for new entrants. They can work in any field that involves the development of industrial processes: food and drink; pharmaceuticals and healthcare; and extraction industries. The most contemporary of these is energy production: climate change, alternative energy sources, innovative recycling methods, the development of sustainable technologies and the safe transportation of hazardous substances. These are current issues of public and governmental concern in which chemical engineers have a large part to play. Many chemical engineers also call themselves environmental engineers due to their commitment to sustainable energy production. Nowadays, increasing numbers of engineers of all persuasions and working in the full range of industries are undertaking work that has a link to sustainable energy. Concern over the safety and sustainability of our current energy sources has led to developments in alternative energy such as generating electricity from wind, waves and tides. The offshore alternative energy industry is growing at the rate of 20% a year and is moving ahead rapidly with government backing in response to the Kyoto agreement to cut the generation of greenhouse gases. This is a global industry with developments in other European countries, especially Scandinavia. In itself, it will provide a small but significant number of opportunities for a wide range of engineering graduates. Looking at the energy picture more widely, mechanical engineers have been instrumental in the development of renewable power, working on turbines and blades converting energy from wind into electricity. They have designed low-carbon car engines, and have developed more effective use of equipment in power stations. According to the Association of Graduate Recruiters (AGR), opportunities for mechanical engineers were up 7.9% in 2005 from the previous year (The AGR Graduate Recruitment Survey 2005: Summer Review, 2005). Just about anything with

moveable parts has been worked on by mechanical engineers and there are job opportunities in many areas including transport, energy, health, defence, manufacturing and building. Higher oil prices have enabled the British oil industry to exploit previously uneconomic oil deposits off the British coast. BP and Shell have now established new wells, and these developments have resulted in more jobs in the industry, especially for engineering graduates. Developments in other parts of the world, including Angola and Azerbaijan, have increased opportunities for petroleum engineers, wellsite geologists, mudloggers, wireline loggers and drilling engineers. The upsurge in the industry also provides equipment for chemical engineers in processing; mechanical and structural engineers, in the design of equipment; and electrical engineers, in providing control systems and telemetry. The aerospace industry employs 250,000 people and has an annual turnover in excess of £18billion in the UK (Society of British Aerospace Companies, 2006). The industry offers numerous opportunities, at many different levels, including modern apprenticeships and graduate development schemes. The UK’s aircraft and aerospace industry is the largest in the world outside the USA and is a significant driver of regional and national economic growth and productivity. The UK-based industry is a major technology innovator, acting as a key stimulus to academic research. The aerospace industry is another sector that works internationally. For example, Airbus makes the different parts for its aeroplanes in different countries and then assembles them in another. In the UK defence equipment market, products include civil and military aircraft, satellites, rockets and missiles, navigation and electronic guidance systems. Hundreds of small firms act as suppliers to the industry and there is work for a broad range of engineers from disciplines including aeronautical, structural, electronic and mechanical engineering. In telecommunications, employers include cable companies, mobile operators, internet service providers, as well as techni-

There are approximately 300 telecoms-related employers in the UK, for example BT, Cable and Wireless, AOL and Orange.

cal companies that develop equipment and technology for the communications infrastructure. There are approximately 300 telecoms-related employers in the UK, for example BT, Cable and Wireless, AOL and Orange. China has become a major market for new telecommunication systems, leading to the recruitment of more engineers in this sector. Developments in health, education and transport have a huge impact on the outlook for civil engineering jobs. At the moment, due to the government’s policies in these areas, prospects for civil engineers have never been better. The prospects for structural engineers tend to reﬂect those of civil engineers, as their work is to ensure that built structures stay watertight, stable and don’t collapse under everyday pressure. Similarly, activity in construction, transport, utilities and communication sectors, as exists at present, is good news for electrical engineers. Companies such as Metronet, Network Rail and Mott MacDonald are all on the lookout for electrical engineers and are oﬀering highly competitive salaries.

StudentTIMES

JOBS IN ENGINEERING

Issue 4 2007

Jobs in Engineering Aerospace Engineer Materials Engineer Aerospace Engineering Technician Materials Technician Agricultural Engineer Measurement and Control Technician Mechanical Engineer Agricultural/Horticultural Technician Broadcast engineer Mechanical Engineering Technician Chemical Engineer Mining Engineer Chemical Engineering Technician Motor Vehicle Body Repairer/Reﬁnisher/ Clinical Engineer Builder Computer Hardware Engineer Naval Architect Construction Plant Mechanic NDT Technician/Specialist Design Engineer Nuclear Engineer Electrical Engineer Ofﬁce Equipment Service Technician Oil and Gas Engineer Electrical Engineering Technician Oil and Gas Industry Technician Electricity Distribution Worker Production Engineer Electricity Generation Worker Electronic Engineering Satellite Systems Technician Security Systems Installer Technician Electronics Assembler Signalling Technician Electronics Engineer Sound Engineer (Recording Engineering Construction Industry) Sound Engineer (Theatre) Technician Engineering Craft/CNC Traction and Rolling Stock 6 1076 Class ...that only one of the 26 Machinist Engineer for the Great Engineering Maintenance steam locomotives built med, and Fitter Western Railway was na Engineering Maintenance ers? the rest had only numb Technician Marine Engineer Marine Engineering Technician The Company

DID YOU KNOW...

Ever thought of being a Satellite System Technician?

Or at a chemical reﬁnery?

PROFILE: ICI ICI is one of the world’s major coatings, adhesives, starch and synthetic polymers businesses. The Group’s principal businesses are National Starch and ICI Paints. ICI products today include starches for the food industry, specialty polymers for personal care products, adhesives for the electronics and packaging markets as well as a wide range of decorative coatings and specialty products for domestic use and the construction industry. Within the ICI Paints business, we have a number of the biggest brands in DIY and are brand leaders in all of the markets we compete in. Our brands include Dulux Glidden, Hammerite, Cuprinol and Polycell. Around a quarter of ICI’s sales are made in Asia Paciﬁc, with 30% in Europe and over 40% in the Americas. Listed on both the London and New York Stock Exchanges, ICI is a member of the FTSE100, FTSE4Good and the Dow Jones Sustainability Index. ICI has approximately 26,000 employees worldwide and sales in 2006 were £4.8 billion.

leadership in formulation science

Opportunities ICI’s graduate and internship opportunities in Europe and China cover areas as diverse as:

• Sales

• Purchasing

• Marketing

• Supply Chain

• Research & Development

• Finance

• Engineering for Manufacturing

• Planning & Logistics

from this…

• Human Resources

To find out more about a uniquely rewarding future visit our website:

www.icigraduates.com …to this

Graduate, Industrial Placement and Summer Internship opportunities at ICI cover a range of diverse areas, so it is important that you identify the right one for you. Each of our businesses has a distinct culture and environment, as well as its own range of products and opportunities. Areas include Research & Development, Supply Chain, Engineering for Manufacturing, Customer Business Development, Marketing, Sales, HR, Purchasing, Finance and IT. We have a wealth of opportunities for you to develop your career with ICI, but too much respect for your individual ambitions to dictate what your starting point should be. Our opportunities give you the chance to take advantage of what we can oﬀer and devel-

op a unique future for yourself. As such, we ask you to apply not to join a generic graduate programme, but to ﬁll a speciﬁc position, which will act as a starting point for your career with ICI.

Ici european graduate development programme Your development is as important to ICI as it is to you. We see you as a future senior business manager and can oﬀer you the opportunities to challenge you to achieve that vision. Your individual programme will be unique, deﬁned by your roles and supported by your ambition and motivation. Far from telling you what to do, we expect you to take the initiative and drive your career yourself. Alongside your functional and individual training you will be provided with development opportunities under “The ICI European Graduate Development Programme”. This Programme has been developed to provide graduates with an understanding of the ICI Group as a whole and a network of contacts throughout Europe. Each training event aims to enhance your business-based knowledge and your management and team working skills. Your manager will be familiar with the aims and objectives of the programme and will provide opportunities for you to put your learning into practice.

What we’re Looking For We are looking for individuals with strong drive and motivation, as well as being able to take ownership for delivering on your commitments. You must have achieved or be expecting to achieve a minimum 2:1 degree and have achieved a minimum 280 UCAS points.

How to Apply All applications are via our website: www.icigraduates.com

ENGINEERING THE FUTURE

Issue 4 2007

StudentTIMES

Engineering the Future Engineering is an ever-changing industry. We may not know the future with certainty but there are clear signs of developments to come. Nanotechnology NANOTECHNOLOGY PROMISES to have a huge impact on engineering. It is best considered as a catch-all description of activities at the level of atoms and molecules that have applications in the real world. A nanometre is a billionth of a metre, that is, about 1/80,000 of the diameter of human hair, or ten times the diameter of a hydrogen atom. The discovery of spinning molecular structures seems to herald the beginning of the ‘bottom-up’ stage of nanotechnology. These structures may open the door to understanding the basis of power generation and controllable motion at the molecular level, with huge applications in many industries, but none more than medicine. It will provide earlier and better diagnostics and treatment will combine earlier and more precisely targeted drug delivery. Nanotechnology, in the form of flexible films containing miniaturised electrodes, is expected to improve the performance of retinal, cochlear and neural implants. It could also lead to the miniaturisation of medical diagnostic and sensing tools. In this respect, nanotechnology could enable developing nations to leapfrog older technologies, in the way that copper wire and optical fibre telephony were superseded by mobile phones. Another feature of nanotechnology is that it is the one area of research and development that is truly multidisciplinary. Research at the nanoscale is unified by the need to share knowledge on tools and techniques, as well as information on the physics affecting atomic and molecular interactions. Materials scientists, mechanical and electronic engineers and medical researchers are now forming teams with biologists, physicists and chemists.

“The discovery of spinning molecular structures seems to herald the beginning of the ‘bottom-up’ stage of nanotechnology. These structures may open the door to understanding the basis of power generation and controllable motion at the molecular level, with huge applications in many industries, but none more than medicine.”

Molecular nanotechnology illustration

power supplies in the coming years, and mounting evidence that the UK is not on course to meet the government’s carbon emissions targets, all mean that the subject of energy is currently never far from the headlines. The immediate challenges facing engineers are to reduce emissions from carbon-based fossil fuels, to identify alternative sources of energy and to help manage the economic transfer of dependency from one source to another. Replacing nuclear energy with nuclear fusion oﬀers the potential for limitless, environmentally friendly energy. However, it is unlikely to realise this potential for some time and, until then, engineers will have to come up with ways of extending the lives of the nuclear power stations and developing alternative sources of energy.

It could also lead to the miniaturisation of medical diagnostic and sensing tools. In this respect, nanotechnology could enable developing nations to leapfrog older technologies, in the way that copper wire and optical ﬁbre telephony were superseded by mobile phones.

Energy A cursory glance at the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) website leaves us in no doubt that energy is the major issue exercising the minds of engineers and scientists alike. The major research highlights listed on the website l engineerare: ‘Efficiency begins at home’; ‘Locking ...that forensic electrica sic engineercarbon in’; ‘Bioenergy benefits fusion’; ing is a branch of foren is to and ‘Fusion: the materials challenge’. ing whose primary role was re fi More and more of our engineers, a investigate whether regardless of their discipline, are involved an of e caused by the failur in projects concerned in some way with the electrical appliance? problem of energy. A combination of rising energy prices, fears over potential disruption to

DID YOU KNOW...

With worrying levels of carbon emissions the and targets to meet, the UK will be looking to develop renewable power sources in the future

StudentTIMES

ROLES FOR GRADUATES

Issue 4 2007

ROLES FOR GRADUATES

These are some examples of roles commonly undertaken by graduates in engineering

AERONAUTICAL ENGINEER

BIOMEDICAL ENGINEER

Aeronautical engineers apply scientific and technological principles to research, design, maintain and develop the performance of civil and military aircraft, missiles, weapons systems, satellites and space vehicles. The role is focused on enhancing high-quality flight safety and standards, as well as reducing system costs. Aeronautical engineering offers a wide range of roles. Most engineers specialise in a particular area, such as research, design, testing, manufacture or maintenance. Professional roles within the industry include: chartered engineer status, with overall managerial responsibility for projects; incorporated engineer level, with day-to-day responsibility for problem solving and team supervision; and engineering technician level, with responsibility for manufacture and assembly.

Biomedical engineers apply engineering principles and materials technology to healthcare. This can include: researching, designing and developing medical products, such as joint replacements or robotic surgical instruments; designing or modifying equipment for clients of all ages with special needs in a rehabilitation setting; or managing the use of clinical equipment in hospitals and the community. Working closely with health professionals, such as occupational therapists and physiotherapists, biomedical engineers are often members of multidisciplinary teams. The amount of direct patient contact varies between posts but most engineers ﬁnd job satisfaction in the diﬀerence they can make to the quality of people’s lives.

AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEER

A chemical development engineer creates and develops industrial processes and plant to make the products on which modern society depends. These products include fuels, food and drink, artificial fibres, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, plastics, toiletries, energy and clean water. They may focus on one or more of the following: researching and developing new or improved product lines; bringing these new products and processes to an industrial scale; developing and modifying the manufacturing and processing plant that produces the products; designing and commissioning new plant. Protecting the environment and safety are significant concerns for the chemical development engineer.

Automotive engineers design, test and develop vehicles and/or components from concept stage through to production and are involved in improving the vehicle in response to customer feedback once on the market. Specialising in areas such as aerodynamics, alternative fuels, chassis, electronics, emissions, ergonomics, manufacturing, materials, motorsport, powertrain, rapid prototyping, vehicle and pedestrian safety or supply chain management, they use both traditional methods and state-of-theart technology to engineer vehicles to increasingly high standards. Although not directly involved in pre-concept development or manufacture, they will work with stylists and production engineers to ensure that the whole process is eﬃcient and thoroughly planned.

Automotive engineering can involve everything from designing to customer feedback. Image by S Jursen ©

CHEMICAL DEVELOPMENT ENGINEER

A chemical development engineer explores substances such as fuel. Image by Brith-Marie Warn ©

contracting engineers.

COMMUNICATIONS ENGINEER

A communications engineer works in a range of job roles. Some roles focus on managerial activities, with others placing an emphasis on applyCIVIL ENGINEER (CONing technical knowledge. These roles exist SULTING) within a number of sectors, including Civil engineers are involved with the internet and computing technologies, design, development and construcnetworking and telecommunications, tion of a huge range of projects in and radio. For those following the riment the built and natural environment. managerial route, the role involves ...that KATRIN is an expe the of Their role is central to ensuring planning and managing projects, to determine the mass the the safe, timely and well-resourced ensuring that they are delivered on neutrino by measuring en completion of projects in many time, within budget and to the agreed energies of electrons giv areas, including highways construcy standards of quality. Communications ca de ta be oﬀ from the tion, waste management, coastal develengineers following the technical expert m? of tritiu opment and geotechnical engineering. route use specialist knowledge to design Consulting civil engineers are responsible and deliver solutions, as well as provide techfor working with clients to plan, manage, design nical guidance to others within their organisation. and supervise the construction of projects. They work in a number of diﬀerent settings and, with experience, can run projects as project manager. They may also monitor the quality of work and safety on site in conjunction with

DID YOU KNOW...

Division of Engineering �� If you want to join the engineering profession, and study in a welcoming environment, then our degrees are for you.

Some roles in communication engineering focus on managerial activities, with others placing an emphasis on applying technical knowledge. These roles exist within a number of sectors, including internet and computing technologies, networking and telecommunications, and radio.

For further details please visit our website www.kcl.ac.uk/diveng or email the admissions tutors on ugadmissions.engineering@kcl.ac.uk or pgadmissions.engineering@kcl.ac.uk ��

ROLES FOR GRADUATES

ELECTRICAL ENGINEER Electrical engineers design and develop electrical systems and/or components to high speciﬁcations, focusing on: economy; safety; and reliability. They are involved in projects from the design concept through to implementation, acceptance testing and handover. Within these projects, most electrical engineers work as part of multidisciplinary teams, not only with engineers from other specialisations, but also with architects, marketing and sales staﬀ, technicians and customer service personnel. Electrical engineers need technical knowledge along with the ability to project manage and multi-task. Additional skills, such as the ability to work in a supervisory capacity, are usually required as careers in this role progress.

ELECTRONICS ENGINEER Electronics is the technology concerned with the development and behaviour of devices and circuits (televisions, computers), which make use of electronic components such as transistors or silicon chips. Electronics engineers develop and design products, processes or devices in the ﬁeld of lowpower electricity. Their main areas of work are in computer applications, control systems (from satellite tracking to domestic appliances), medical equipment, radio and television and telecommunications. Many organisations now operate cross-functional project management teams with electronics engineers involved at every stage of development, in collaboration with colleagues in research, design, testing, implementation, marketing and after-sales service.

MATERIALS ENGINEER

Issue 4 2007

StudentTIMES

ify materials in diﬀerent ways to improve the performance, durability and cost eﬀectiveness of processes and products.

MECHANICAL ENGINEER Mechanical engineers use engineering principles to provide eﬃcient solutions to the development of processes and products, which can range from small component designs to extremely large plant, machinery or vehicles. They work on the design, development, installation, operation or maintenance of plant, machinery or products, working at the concept stage in: research and development – searching for new engineering solutions; design – looking to develop new or existing products and processes; production – working to develop more eﬃcient production processes. Mechanical engineering is often thought to be one of the most diverse engineering disciplines with opportunities available in a wide range of industries.

NAVAL ARCHITECT Naval architects are professional engineers responsible for the design, development, construction and repair of surface and underwater vessels and operating systems. These include: civil and military vessels (eg, merchant ships and warships); submarines; high speed craft (eg, hovercraft and multihull ships); yachts; recreational craft; and oﬀshore drilling platforms and other marine structures. Building marine vessels involves teams of specialists: engineers, technicians and craftspeople. Naval architects lead and co-ordinate the design and build activity to ensure safe, practical and economic design and construction processes. Advances in marine technology, processes and materials mean that a naval architect’s role is constantly developing.

Materials engineers are responsible for the research, specification, design and developPROCESS ENGINEER ment of materials to advance technoloA process engineer develops economigies of many kinds. Their expertise lies cal industrial processes to make the in understanding the properties of difproducts on which modern society ferent materials. They are involved at depends. These products include: many stages of production: from the food and drink; fuel; artificial fibres; ematerials used in the actual processtel o rin ...that ANTARES, a neut in the pharmaceuticals; chemicals; plastics; ing plant, to the materials used in on scope under constructi toiletries; energy; and clear water. a finished product. They work with ll find Mediterranean Sea, wi The work concerns large-scale chemmany different materials, including: ace neutrinos from outer sp ical and biochemical processes in ceramics; glass; chemicals; composrd which raw materials undergo change. by looking downwa , ites; metals; minerals; plastics; polymers This involves scaling up the manufacture into the Earth? and rubber. Working in a diverse range of products and processes from the laboraof industries, they aim to combine or mod-

DID YOU KNOW...

Mechanical engineering is often thought to be one of the most diverse engineering disciplines with opportunities available in a wide range of industries. Image by Oziris©

Naval architects design, developement,construction and repair of civil and military vessels.

tory bench to full production plants. Designing equipment, understanding the reactions taking place, installing control systems, starting, running and upgrading the processes are all part of the job. Protecting the environment and safety are also signiﬁcant concerns for process engineers.

OTHER ROLES FOR GRADUATES ■ Armed Forces officer, technical ■ Biochemical engineer ■ Brewing engineer ■ Building control surveyor ■ Building project manager ■ Building services engineer ■ Cartographer ■ Chartered management accountant ■ Civil engineer (contracting) ■ Civil engineering surveyor ■ Control and instrumentation engineer ■ Customer service engineer ■ Distribution/logistics manager ■ Drilling engineer ■ Energy conservation officer ■ Engineering geologist ■ Environmental consultant ■ Environmental engineer ■ Financial manager ■ Geological mapper ■ Geophysicist (field seismologist) ■ Higher education lecturer ■ Maintenance engineer ■ Management consultant ■ Manufacturing engineer ■ Mining engineer ■ Mudlogger ■ Network engineer ■ Personnel officer ■ Petroleum engineer ■ Quantity surveyor ■ Rail operations manager ■ Sales promotion account executive ■ Seismic interpreter ■ Site engineer ■ Software engineer ■ Structural engineer ■ Systems developer ■ Technical author ■ Technical sales engineer ■ Training and development ■ officer/manager ■ Water engineer ■ Water quality scientist ■ Wellsite geologist

StudentTIMES

THE BIG PLAYERS

Issue 4 2007

The big players in Engineering The engineering sector has several big players that often recruit from the full spectrum of engineering degrees. Aerospace, engineering and defence THE PRODUCTS of these sectors set the technological standards. Global players such as Boeing, EADS, BAE Systems, MBDA and Thales operate in the international aerospace and defence industries. Such a high-tech industry requires highly qualiﬁed engineers with strong academic backgrounds. The customers in the UK are the Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces (The Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force (RAF)) and commercial aircraft producers such as Airbus. QinetiQ, the defence procurement company, recruits around 300 graduates every year who need to be ‘analytical, proactive and forward thinking’. BAE Systems, operating in the international aerospace and defence industries, takes on around 150 recruits every year, including all engineering disciplines. Airbus recruits around 80 graduates annually for work in aircraft design, engineering, manufacture and assembly, wings and systems. Rolls Royce spans the range from aero engine to turbine-producing engines for both civil and defence aircraft and ships, as well as turbines for electricity generation. Approximately 100 gradu-

ates are recruited each year for jobs in engineering, logistics, purchasing, ﬁnance, commercial careers and human resources.

ates are the train operators, consultants, rolling stock suppliers and London Underground.

Telecommunications

Automobile Opportunities in the automobile industry are more prone to peaks and troughs than other industries. In 2005, Peugeot, Jaguar, Rover and the MG sports car all saw their fortunes fall in Britain. A few other car manufacturers, such as Nissan and Ford, have had a better time. Nonetheless, opportunities for engineering graduates in the automobile industry are hard to come by.

Now that third generation phones are on the market, recruitment in this sector has improved considerably over the past two years. BT typically looks for over 200 graduates each year and Vodafone, 50. Jobs on oﬀer include research, product development, hardware and operations, marketing, sales and ﬁnance. Recruitment into telecommunications equipment manufacturers, such as Nokia, Philips and Siemens, has also improved.

Transport Rail There are over 100 companies in the rail industry and at least 40 of these recruit graduates. The biggest of these is the infrastructure operator Network Rail. Their role is to maintain, improve and upgrade an infrastructure that comprises track, signalling systems, bridges, tunnels, viaducts and level crossings. They require about 50 graduates from a wide range of engineering degrees. Other recruiters of engineering gradu-

Energy This sector has always had its share of big players. It includes the oil and gas companies plus electricity generators and the new sustainable

types of energy such as hydrogen. Employers include BP, Shell, ExxonMobil, Total, BG, Transco and Powergen. Jobs range from the exploration and production of oil and gas, to the manufacturing of petrochemicals. The work covers most engineering disciplines plus commercial, finance and IT opportunities. Consultants Engineering consultancies offer excellent careers for high-flying engineering graduates. Most of the leading firms, such as Arup, Atkins, Babtie and Bechtel, are international concerns with projects worldwide. Civil, electrical, mechanical and chemical engineers are among their recruits. The largest of these organisations typically take on 100-plus new graduates and postgraduate engineers annually.

“Rolls Royce spans the range from aero engine to turbine-producing engines for both civil and defence aircraft and ships, as well as turbines for electricity generation. Approximately 100 graduates are recruited each year for jobs in engineering, logistics, purchasing, ﬁnance, commercial careers and human resources.”

INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING is a branch of engineering that concerns the development, improvement, implementation and evaluation of integrated systems of people, money, knowledge, information, equipment, energy, material and process. Industrial engineering draws upon the principles and methods of engineering analysis and synthesis, as well as mathematical, physical and social sciences together with the principles and methods of engineering analysis and design to specify, predict and evaluate the results to be obtained from such systems. In lean manufacturing systems, Industrial engineers work to eliminate wastes of time, money, materials, energy and other resources. Industrial engineering is also known as operations management, systems engineering, production engineering, manufacturing engineering or manufacturing systems engineering; a distinction that seems to depend on the viewpoint or motives of the user. Recruiters or educational establishments use the names to differentiate themselves from others. In healthcare, industrial engineers are more commonly known as management engineers, engineering management, or even health systems engineers. Whereas most engineering disciplines apply skills to very specific areas, industrial engineering is applied in virtually every industry. Examples of where industrial engineering might be used include shortening lines (or queues) at a theme park, streamlining an operating room, distributing products worldwide (also referred to as Supply Chain Management), and manufacturing cheaper and more reliable automobiles. Industrial engineers typically use computer simulation, especially discrete event simulation, for system analysis and evaluation. The name “industrial engineer” can be misleading. While the term originally applied to manufacturing, it has grown to encompass services and other industries as well. Similar fields include operations research, systems engineering, ergonomics and quality engineering. There are a number of things industrial engineers do in their work to make processes more efficient, to make products more manufacturable and consistent in their quality, and to increase productivity.

The Ministry of Defence (Defence Engineering and Science Group) is open to applications from:

17th April to 14th May 2007. We offer World class Graduate opportunities through the DESG Graduate Scheme. Our Engineering and Science Graduates go on to work at the forefront of technology, managing defence projects worth millions of pounds.

The work is fascinating, valuable and unique. You could add to our community of 9,000 professional engineers and scientists, working within MoD Civil Service, to equip and support the Defence of the UK with state of the art technology. This fully paid scheme is accredited by: The Institution of Mechanical Engineers, The Institution of Engineering and Technology, The Institute of Civil Engineers, The Royal Aeronautical Society, The Institute of Physics and The Royal Institution of Naval Architects. We will provide you with a package of solid training and work placements – tailored to meet your individual development needs – and designed to make it possible for you to achieve Chartered status in just four years. You will be given the opportunity to work on a variety of challenging assignments and there are opportunities to work throughout the UK and overseas.

The MoD offers:

• Increasingly challenging roles • Work-life balance • Career opportunities at many locations, home and abroad • Flexible working hours

• A solid training programme • A competitive salary • Opportunities for internal education and career development

You can apply online now, please see the DESG website: www.desg.mod.uk The MoD is an Equal Opportunities Employer

AEROSPACE ENGINEERING

Issue 4 2007

StudentTIMES

Aerospace Engineering AEROSPACE ENGINEERS design, develop, and test aircraft, spacecraft, and missiles and supervise the production of these products. Those who work with aircraft are called aeronautical engineers, and those working speciﬁcally with spacecraft are astronautical engineers. Aerospace engineers develop new technologies for use in aviation, defense systems, and space exploration, often specializing in areas such as structural design, guidance, navigation and control, instrumentation and communication, or production methods. They also may specialize in a particular type of aerospace product, such as commercial aircraft, military ﬁghter jets, helicopters, spacecraft, or missiles and rockets, and may become experts in aerodynamics, thermodynamics, celestial mechanics, propulsion, acoustics, or guidance and control systems. Aerospace engineers are expected to have slower-than-average growth in employment over the projection period. Although increases

perature and engine performance ■ design - turning ideas into the plans for a product. Design can range from producing a single component to a whole aircraft engine ■ manufacture - making, modifying and assembling parts of an aircraft. Salaries range from around £18,000 to £50,000 a year or more. Aerospace engineers should: ■ have a logical approach to solving problems ■ have good numeracy and computing skills ■ be able to read and interpret diagrams and drawings ■ have good team-working and communication skills ■ have an interest in aircraft and ﬂight technology. Most aerospace engineers work for aircraft manufacturing companies, airline operators and the Armed Forces. Other employers include Government departments and agencies, and

Design of a private jet

“Most aerospace engineers work for aircraft manufacturing companies, airline operators and the Armed Forces. Other employers include Government departments and agencies, and regulatory authorities like the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).”

The construction of a Boeing

in the number and scope of military aerospace projects likely will generate new jobs, increased eﬃciency will limit the number of new jobs in the design and production of commercial aircraft. Even with slow growth, the employment outlook for aerospace engineers through 2014 appears favorable: the number of degrees granted in aerospace engineering declined for many years because of a perceived lack of opportunities in this ﬁeld, and, although this trend is reversing, new graduates continue to be needed to replace aerospace engineers who retire or leave the occupation for other reasons. The work of an aerospace engineer could involve: ■ research - to solve complex engineering problems caused by weight, altitude, tem-

regulatory authorities like the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). Studying for an aeronautical engineering degree is the most usual route into the profession. Entry to a degree course is with at least five GCSEs/S grades and two or three A levels/three or four H grades, normally including maths and a science subject, or equivalent qualifications. Apprenticeships may be available. Adults with relevant experience are usually welcomed. Experienced aerospace engineers are usually either Incorporated or Chartered engineers and it is worth getting as much training and as high a level of qualifications as possible. Promotion could be to senior engineering posts or management roles. There are also opportunities overseas or to work independently as a consultant.

StudentTIMES

CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

Issue 4 2007

Chemical Engineering As well as producing useful materials, chemical engineering is also concerned with pioneering valuable new materials and techniques. Image courtesy of Dfes

CHEMICAL ENGINEERING is the branch of engineering that deals with the application of physical science (e.g. chemistry and physics), with mathematics, to the process of converting raw materials or chemicals into more useful or valuable forms. As well as producing useful materials, chemical engineering is also concerned with pioneering valuable new materials and techniques; an important form of research and development. A person employed in this ﬁeld is called a chemical engineer. Chemical engineering largely involves the design and maintenance of chemical processes for large-scale manufacture. Chemical engineers in this branch are usually employed under the title of process engineer. The development of the large-scale processes characteristic of industrialized economies is a feat of chemical engineering, not chemistry. Indeed, chemical engineers are responsible for the availability

of the modern high-quality materials that are essential for running an industrial economy. Chemical engineers are aiming for the most economical process. This means that the entire production chain must be planned and controlled for costs. A chemical engineer can both simplify and complicate “showcase” reactions for an economic advantage. Using a higher pressure or temperature makes several reactions easier; ammonia, for example, is simply produced from its component elements in a high-pressure reactor. On the other hand, reactions with a low yield can be recycled continuously, which would be complex, arduous work if done by hand in the laboratory. It is not unusual to build 6-step, or even 12-step evaporators to reuse the vaporization energy for an economic advantage. In contrast, laboratory chemists evaporate samples in a single step. The individual processes used by chemical engineers (eg. distillation or ﬁltration) are

called unit operations and consist of chemical reaction, mass-, heat- and momentum- transfer operations. Unit operations are grouped together in various conﬁgurations for the purpose of chemical synthesis and/or chemical separation. Some processes are a combination of intertwined transport and separation unit operations, (e.g. reactive distillation). Three primary physical laws underlying chemical engineering design are conservation of mass, conservation of momentum and conservation of energy. The movement of mass and energy around a chemical process are evaluated using mass balances and energy balances which apply these laws to whole plants, unit operations or discrete parts of equipment. In doing so, chemical engineers use principles of thermodynamics, reaction kinetics and transport phenomena. The task of performing these balances is now aided by process simulators, which are complex software models (see List of Chemical Process Simulators) that can solve mass and energy balances and usually have built-in modules to simulate a variety of

common unit operations.

Modern chemical engineering The modern discipline of chemical engineering encompasses much more than just process engineering. Chemical engineers are now engaged in the development and production of a diverse range of products, as well as in commodity and specialty chemicals. These products include high performance materials needed for aerospace, automotive, biomedical, electronic, environmental and space and military applications. Examples include ultra-strong ﬁbers, fabrics, adhesives and composites for vehicles, bio-compatible materials for implants and prosthetics, gels for medical applications, pharmaceuticals, and ﬁlms with special dielectric, optical or spectroscopic properties for opto-electronic devices. Additionally, chemical engineering is often intertwined with biology and biomedical engineering. Many chemical engineers work on biological projects such as understanding biopolymers (proteins) and mapping the human genome.

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BE A TOP EARNER

Issue 4 2007

Study Engineering and be a Top Earner THE DEMAND for engineering professionals is set to rise in the UK in the next 10 years due to advances in technology and changes in industry and consumer demands. Research published by the UK Department for Education and Skills highlights this increase and forecasts that the market will expand at a rate of 2% a year. With the reported rise of six percent in the last ten years of the number of British undergraduates studying engineering, is the UK meeting this demand? Perhaps not. A recent report from

“Widening the access will lead to undergraduates who are not prepared for the depth of knowledge an engineering course demands. Universities, therefore, unwilling to recognise the importance of a good grounding in science and maths will continue to risk high drop-out rates or dumbing down”. Andrew Ramsay, the Director responsible for Engineers’ Regulation

Controlling the world: Microsoft founder Bill Gates, the American multimillionaire, made his money in personal computers and games consoles. Image by Stephen Davies ©

to achieve professional engineer status. With the increased the Engineering Council showed that the ‘drop-out’ rate in engi- demand for engineers neering works before graduation exceeded that of any other over the next ten years subject. and the reported high The study reveals that 15,931 UK students were accepted ‘drop-out’ rate, it’s obvious onto engineering undergraduate degree courses in 1999 - six increasingly important that per cent more than a decade earlier - and that they boasted all potential engineers are higher average A level scores than their counterparts of a few encouraged and developed. years previously (19.6 compared to 18.7). Yet the ‘drop-out’ rate Women represent just over in the first year among the 1996-97 intake stood at 12 per cent. a third of A level Mathematics Most ‘drop-out’ students, according to the HEFCE (Higher Educa- entrants, one fifth of those taking tion Funding Committee), had relatively low entry qualifications. Physics and half of the population. Andrew Ramsay, the Director responsible for Engineers’ Regula- They achieve the range of top grades tion, is concerned and has said that: in proportion with men. Based on edu“Widening the access will lead to undergraduates who are cational achievement there is no reason not prepared for the depth of knowledge an engineering course why women shouldn’t make up a similar prodemands. Universities, therefore, unwilling to recognise the portion of new engineering professionals. importance of a good grounding in science and maths will conEngineering is a well paid profession for those with the right tinue to risk high drop-out rates or dumbing down”. education, training and skills. The UK Department of Trade and To this end, the Engineering Council is encouraging universi- Industry has recently released figures that prove that engineerties to provide foundation courses to give students the experience ing graduates are amongst those who are more likely to start and knowledge they need to have the best chance of completing their careers on higher salaries - earning £18 000 pa six months their degree successfully and thus meet the standards required after graduation in comparison to the median of £15 000 pa of all other students. Additionally the report emphasises that engineering students rank amongst those more likely to find permanent employment on leaving university at 83 % in contrast to 64 % for all graduates. Most engineers have rewarding and fulfilling careers and enjoy huge job satisfaction. Some engineers do better still and go on to command high profile, high paying jobs. In 2000, 15 FTSE top 100 executives held engineering qualifications as opposed to 17 with accounting qualifications. So contrary to popular belief, engineers do make it to the top. Big earners with an engineering background include the Chief Engineer at Mclaren who earns in the region of £2 million and Chief Executive of BT, who is a Chartered Engineer and earns in excess of £1 million. Other Engineers who have found fame and fortune include James Dyson, the man who invented the Dyson vacuum cleaner, Microsoft founder Bill Gates, the American multimillionaire and the dance music sensation Basement Jaxx! Coming back to the more normal, engineers are involved in every aspect of daily life as well as more unusual projects that you may not be aware of. Did you know that engineers save more lives than doctors in the early stages of drought and earthquake disasters, by reconnecting water supplies, thus avoiding the spread of doubledisease? And had you ever ...that the technique of any s ow all wondered who creates and py co os ter en balloon maintains the technolwho the ng position alo ogy which doctors use to save be gastrointestinal tract to lives in our hospitals every day of the year? visualized in real-time? Clean water, light and heat in our homes, worldwide transport and

DID YOU KNOW...

Engineering is a well paid profession for those with the right education, training and skills.

StudentTIMES

BE A TOP EARNER

Issue 4 2007

WORKING ABROAD WITH ENGINEERING – CASE STUDY

Most engineers have rewarding and fulfilling careers and enjoy huge job satisfaction. Some engineers do better still and go on to command high profile, high paying jobs. In 2000, 15 FTSE top 100 executives held engineering qualifications as opposed to 17 with accounting qualifications.

technological advances in music are all the result of engineers’ achievements. It is the skill of engineers that has improved our quality of life and saved lives by designing and building artificial limbs, heart pacemakers and dialysis machines. But studying engineering not only qualifies you to work in an engineering-related job, it also opens doors to just about any other career you could think of. Many engineering graduates go into other fields such as music, media, finance and commerce

“With the increased demand for engineers over the next ten years and the reported high ‘drop-out’ rate, it’s obvious increasingly important that all potential engineers are encouraged and developed. Women represent just over a third of A level Mathematics entrants, one fifth of those taking Physics and half of the population.” because employers know that engineering is a good ‘general’ qualification. Numeracy, creativity, scientific knowledge and team working are all skills that professional engineers have and employers want. Today’s music industry relies increasingly on engineering and technology and on the electrical, sound and lighting engineers behind the stars of the pop world. Professional engineers are recognised throughout the world so engineering may provide an opportunity to work overseas, using other languages and experiencing other cultures. Employers want engineers because they recognise that their

skills are good for business and for the national economy. Economic research demonstrates that the employment of well qualified engineers and scientists pays off in terms of national competitiveness and company profitability. Recent developments in the economic theory and research suggest a very important role for technological change and education in the process of economic growth. Author: Margareta de la Touche, www.engc.org.uk.

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WE’VE ALL heard from someone or another that “The world is your oyster”. My advice would be to take them seriously! (Not literally as a big oyster would be far too slippery and you might fall off ) Because you asked, my background is as an electrical engineer from Swansea University. I completed my Masters degree in “Electronic Engineering and Computing Science” and haven’t looked back since. I wasn’t quite the proactive graduate who actively sought work in another country and yet by dint of chance when I finished university I was lucky enough to become employed by an international company. An international company who placed me on a graduate training scheme that involved a 6-month stint working in California. This was fantastic and not something I had previously dreamt would ever happen. Whilst studying for my degree at Swansea University, I never really envisaged marketing myself abroad. After 6 months working in California and 6 months working in Canada I can hardly imagine any other way of life. Interaction with other cultures is stimulating, becoming a part of that culture, however temporarily, is electrifying (quite appropriate I feel for a member of the IEE). The variety of work has been interesting, ranging from designing switched mode power supplies in California to writing software for embedded systems in Canada. Test engineering and reliability engineering have also played a large part and being able to work in areas that usually require an inordinate amount of experience is both demanding and thoroughly captivating. The experience I’ve gained has been two-fold. Obviously I’ve learnt a lot of new material in the fields in which I’ve been applying my academic knowledge, but also I’ve learnt a lot about interacting with people who maybe don’t think in quite the same way. People who have been taught to approach problems from different angles or using different methods have had a lot to teach me but also in return have learned a lot from my techniques. What does international experience show a future employer? Of course this is all my own (not so) humble opinion so you can probably treat it with a pinch of salt (and pepper if you like to bring out the full flavour)... You can work independently, you can work in another culture, you have international business exposure... of course the list could go on and on but I’m sure you get the picture. What about my qualification? I really feel that having a Masters degree rather than a Bachelors has helped me out tremendously. Through personal experience I’ve found other countries may be more wary of your qualifications and so having a Masters degree helps them to justify employment with thoughts such as “Well it must be worth at least a Bachelors degree here if not more”. On the surface, work is work and a job is a job. (Don’t moan, I’m not really getting philosophiThe hustle and bustle of Tokyocal now I promise!) would you be interested in the prospect of working in tokyo? ImWherever you end age courtesy of Dieter Vander Velpen up you aim to be working in a field you enjoy, whether it be dabbling with computer software or happily sending FETs dancing through the air (and yes, before you ask, I’ve done both.) So why not combine your working life with travel? Experience another culture... Before university I had never have considered it, now I’m just glad I did it!

CONTACTS AND ASSOCIATIONS

Issue 4 2007

StudentTIMES

CONTACTS AND ASSOCIATIONS Institute of Acoustics

Institution of Chemical Engineers

77A St Peters Street St Albans Herts AL1 3BN Tel: 01727 848195 www.ioa.org.uk/ Email: engineering@ioa.org.uk

165-189 Railway Terrace Rugby CV21 3HQ Tel: 01788 578214 www.icheme.org/ Email: info@icheme.org

Royal Aeronautical Society 4 Hamilton Place London W1V 0BQ Tel: 020 7670 4300 www.aerosociety.com/ Email: raes@raes.org.uk

Institution of Agricultural Engineers Barton Road Silsoe Bedford MK45 4FH Tel: 01525 861096 www.iagre.org/ Email: ContactName@iagre.org

Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers Delta House 222 Balham High Rd London SW12 9BS Tel: 020 8675 5211 www.cibse.org Email: enquiries@cibse.org

Institute of Cast Metals Engineers ICME Metalforming Centre 47 Birmingham Road West Bromwich West Midlands B70 6PY Tel: 0121 601 6979 www.icme.org.uk/ Email: info@icme.org.uk

Institution of Civil Engineers 1-7 Great George St London SW1P 3AA Tel: 020 7222 7722 www.ice.org.uk/ Email: profdev@ice.org.uk

British Computer Society First Floor, Block D North Star House North Star Avenue Swindon Wiltshire SN2 1FA Tel: 01793 417417 www.bcs.org.uk/ Email: bcshq@hq.bcs.org.uk

Energy Institute 61 New Cavendish Street London W1G 7AR Tel: 020 7467 7100 www.energyinst.org.uk/ Email: info@energyinst.org.uk

Institution of Engineering and Technology Michael Faraday House Six Hills Way Stevenage, Herts. SG1 2AY Tel: 01438 313311 www.theiet.org/ Email: postmaster@theiet.org

Institution of Engineering Designers Courtleigh Westbury Leigh Westbury Wilts BA13 3TA Tel: 01373 822801 www.ied.org.uk/ Email: ied@ied.org.uk

Society of Environmental Engineers The Manor House High Street Buntingford HertsSG9 9PL Tel: 01763 271209 www.environmental.org.uk/ Email: oﬃce@environmental. org.uk

Institution of Fire Engineers London Road Moreton in Marsh Gloucestershire GL56 0RH Tel: 01608 812 580 www.ife.org.uk/ Email: info@ife.org.uk

Institution of Gas Engineers and Managers Charnwood Wing Ashby Road Loughborough LeicesterLE11 3GH Tel: 01509 282728 www.igem.org.uk/ Email: general@igem.org.uk

Institute of Healthcare Engineering & Estate Management 2 Abingdon House Cumberland Business Centre

Northumberland Road Portsmouth PO5 1DS Tel: 023 9282 3186 www.iheem.org.uk/ Email: oﬃce@iheem.org.uk

Institute of Highway Incorporated Engineers De Morgan House 58 Russell Square London WC1B 4HS Tel: 020 7436 7487 www.ihie.org.uk/ Email: info@ihie.org.uk

Institution of Highways & Transportation 6 Endsleigh Street London WC1H 0DZ Tel: 020 7387 2525 www.iht.org/ Email: iht@iht.org

Institution of Lighting Engineers Regent House Regent Place Rugby WarwickshireCV21 2PN Tel: 01788 576492 www.ile.co.uk/ Email: info@ile.org.uk

Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology 80 Coleman Street London EC2R 5BJ Tel: 020 7382 2600 www.imarest.org/ Email: info@imarest.org

Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining 1 Carlton House Terrace

LONDON SW1Y 5DB Tel: 020 7451 7300 www.iom3.org/ Email: membership@iom3.org

Institute of Measurement and Control 87 Gower Street London WC1E 6AF Tel: 020 7387 4949 www.instmc.org.uk/ Email: education@instmc.org.uk

Institution of Mechanical Engineers 1 Birdcage Walk London SW1H 9JJ Tel: 020 7222 7899 www.imeche.org.uk/ Email: membership@imeche. org.uk

Institute of The Motor Industry Fanshaws Brickendon Hertford SG13 8PQ Tel: 01992 511521 www.motor.org.uk/ Email: imi@motor.org.uk

Royal Institution of Naval Architects 10 Upper Belgrave Street London SW1X 8BQ Tel: 020 7235 4622 www.rina.org.uk/ Email: hq@rina.org.uk

British Institute of Non-Destructive Testing 1 Spencer Parade Northampton NN1 5AA

Tel: 01604 630124/5 www.bindt.org/ Email: info@bindt.org

Institution of Nuclear Engineers 1 Penerley Road London SE6 2LQ Tel: 020 8698 1500 www.inuce.org.uk/ Email: inucewh@aol.com

Society of Operations Engineers 22 Greencoat Place London SW1P 1PR Tel: 020 7630 6666 www.soe.org.uk/ Email: membership@soe.org.uk

Institute of Physics 76 Portland Place London W1B 1NT Tel: 020 7470 4800 www.iop.org/ Email: physics@iop.org

Institute of Physics & Engineering in Medicine Fairmount House 230 Tadcaster Road York YO24 1ES Tel: 01904 610821 www.ipem.ac.uk/ Email: oﬃce@ipem.org.uk

Institution of Structural Engineers 11 Upper Belgrave Street London SW1X 8BH Tel: 020 7235 4535 www.istructe.org.uk/ Email: mail@istructe.org

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