careernav.

Civil Engineers fit broadly are into categories of structural, construction, water resources, transport, soil and foundation and town planning. You plan design and build structures such as bridges, roads and dams or specialise in water related projects such as water supply schemes, sewerage systems and canal development to towns and cities or harbor development including navigation channels, jetties or breakwaters. You could be involved with town planning and local government working on recreation areas, pathways, building design and localized waste disposal and sewerage or water treatment systems. In transport you not only design and build roads but highways, embankments, tunnels, overpass and road systems but even a cities traffic flow, traffic lights and railway systems and their airports. You design and construct buildings, large factories and may even specialize in examination of the soil and site foundation for the structures.

Computer Software Engineers develop and test new software and related systems. This area is rapidly changing. Computer Hardware Engineers design and develop the computer hardware that uses the software! Your MP3 player was probably designed by one of these engineers. You could also work on developing equipment such as gaming consoles, modems and DVD players.

Electronic and Electrical Engineers work with electrical and electronic equipment such as communications systems, electric motors and machinery controls. You could also be designing the lighting, wiring in cars or planes or the latest in radar and navigation systems.  Perhaps working in the power industry would be more to your liking.

Industrial Engineers focus on efficiency, energy, workplace safety and effectiveness of people, materials and process. Usually you specialise either on safety or efficiency. Safety focuses on assessing safe manufacturing processes, equipment modification and internal controls. Efficiency aims to improve productivity by initially assessing existing plant, equipment, process and people, then proposing improvements to people, process, materials, new equipment and also includes involving finance

Mechanical Engineers are used in manufacturing, transportation, aviation, air conditioning, power generation any place where the design, build and installation of machines and engines is required. Your objective is to improve operating efficiency and your work is often linked to an organizations research and development, safety and profitability.

Mineral Engineers work in mining and the petroleum industries. You would be getting the raw materials out of the ground and be converting them to a form that is used by industry. The resources boom in Australia has created huge opportunities for this sector.

Sustainable Engineers design physical things using ecologically sustainable principles.  Perhaps you will be a ‘green’ engineer designing a new suburb, a building or refitting a building to be more energy efficient.

As a Systems Engineer you could be creating a new material using new technologies. You may be working on complex projects such as computer chip design, robotics or building a bridge.