Engineer

Apply the principles of science and mathematics to develop economical solutions to technical problems.
Job opportunities
Jobs on SEEK right now
Job growth
Projected job growth in 5 years
Salary
-
Typical salary
Job satisfaction
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What's it like to be an Engineer?

Engineers span many different disciplines, the main ones being chemical, civil, mechanical, electrical, mining and computer engineering. As an Engineer you will be involved in inventing, designing, analysing, building, and testing machines, systems, structures and materials to fulfil objectives while considering the limitations imposed by practicality, regulation, safety and cost. You may work across industries such as construction, manufacturing, telecommunications, mining, food production or aeronautics.
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Tasks and duties

  • Selecting locations and planning operations (e.g. Selecting a mining site for the safe, efficient and environmentally sound extraction of minerals, ores, petroleum or natural gas).
  • Researching and recommending materials (e.g. for use in manufacturing).
  • Planning and supervising construction, installing, maintaining and inspecting anything from machines and buildings to software and electrical systems.
  • As a Civil Engineer you may be working on projects that design and build skyscrapers, roads, and dams.
  • As an Aerospace Engineer you may be designing aircraft or space shuttles and probes for deep-space exploration.

How to become an Engineer


SEEK Learning
The common pathway to becoming an Engineer usually takes 6-7 years of combined education and on-the-job experience.

  1. Decide on what type of Engineer you want to be. Although many of the skills of an Engineer are transferable between disciplines, it is recommended that you choose a specialisation early, in order to better focus your studies and training.
  2. Undertake a Bachelor of Engineering degree, majoring for example, in mining or geotechnical engineering.
  3. Apply for a job as a Graduate Engineer. You will usually spend 2-3 years as a Graduate before becoming a Professional Engineer.
  4. Consider additional certifications. In Australia, there are a number of qualifications available, depending on your specialisation, such as Chartered Professional Engineer (CPEng) or Registered Professional Engineer (RPEng) from Engineers Australia.

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LocationAustralia
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How do Engineers rate their role?

Average ratings calculated from 56 Engineers surveyed on SEEK.
Work-life balance
3.8
Job satisfaction
3.8
Career progression opportunities
3.8
Job security
3.6
Pay / Salary
3.7
Variety of work
3.7

Job market trends for Engineers

Location
LocationAustralia

Job opportunities

Engineer jobs on SEEK
8,056
Jobs on SEEK right now

Projected job growth

National increase over next 5 years
10.5%
2021
2026
Source: National Skills Commission. Engineering Professionals
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Source: SEEK job ads and SEEK role reviews

Latest Engineer reviews

Latest reviews from 46 Engineers surveyed on SEEK.

All
Positive
Negative
May 2021
Engineers work in a variety of fields to analyze, develop and evaluate large-scale, complex systems. This can mean and improve and maintaining current systems or creating brand new projects. Engineers will design and draft blueprints, visit systems in the field and manage projects.
Reviewer's Qualification
Bachelor of Technology (Honours)
Experience
5 – 9 years
Organisation size
Large (200+ employees)
Specialisation
Quality Control
The good things
Quality control (QC) is a process through which a business seeks to ensure that product quality is maintained or improved. ... This is done by training personnel, creating benchmarks for product quali...
The challenges
Engineering – it’s a career path that has shaped the endeavours of some of society’s most well-known inventions,
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May 2021
Engineering is tough and unfulfilling career that doesn’t pay well. You won’t save the world.
Reviewer's Qualification
Bachelor of Engineering
Experience
1 – 4 years
Organisation size
Large (200+ employees)
Specialisation
Civil engineering
The good things
Don’t do it, pays terribly and slot of work
The challenges
Again, don’t do it. Overworked and underpaid is standard.
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